How to ollie

INTRODUCTION
Skateboarding is so much more than just rolling on a piece of wood with wheels. Skateboarding is mostly about doing tricks. Many complicated tricks are derived from a number of simpler tricks. One such trick is called an ollie. Doing an ollie consists of getting yourself and your board up in the air without using your hands, and then returning to the ground with you and the board right side up. When mastered, this trick can then be the basis on which other skateboard tricks are built.

INSTRUCTION
Difficult

STEPS
Step One
Begin with a stationary board (as you get better you can do this while the board is in motion). Put one foot on the tail of the board, and the other in the middle of the board.

Step Two
Bend your knees and crouch as close to the board as you can.

Step Three
With all your strength, jump up from the board. The foot that is on the tail of the board will press the tail down to the ground, and the other side of the skateboard will go up in the air.

Step Four
The energy from jumping up will cause the skateboard to go up into the air. Raise your feet as high as you can so that your feet don't stop the board from going as high as it can.

Step Five
When the board is as high as it can go, then level the skateboard in the air.  The tail and the other end of the board will be at the same height. Stabilize the board in the air so that it is level. If this step fails, the whole trick will not work.

Step Six
With all the force in your legs, press down on the deck of the skateboard. This will bring it back to the ground. Balance your body so that you don't fall of the board.

Step Seven
After you are able to master the trick doing it with the skateboard not moving, attempt to do it slowly while the board is in motion.

TIPS

• Practice, practice, practice!
  
• Invest in a good quality skateboard.
  
• Do the trick while standing in place before attempting while moving.
  
• Watch others who know how to do the trick, and see how they do it. Try to imitate them.

WARNINGS

• Make sure to use the proper safety equipment when skateboarding. It may not be "cool", but it can save you from getting injured or worse!
  
• Don't practice skateboarding in unsafe conditions, such as where there is a lot of traffic or other people around.
  
• When descending back to the ground, try and keep your feet over the wheels of the skateboard. If one of your feet lands in the middle of the deck, it could break the board or at least put extra stress on it and you will have to replace the deck sooner.
  
• Make sure to concentrate on what you are doing. Don't have your mind on other things while you are attempting skateboard tricks. You can get hurt!