Skate Skills Session #3: Flat Ground Basics

Ollieing over obstacles is mainly about timing and your ability to pop. As you approach the object, bend your knees and prepare to pop your tail. Snap the tail down sharply while dragging your front foot up the board to level it out in mid-air. Focus on lifting both your board and knees high enough to clear the obstacle, then land with your knees bent to absorb the impact.

The frontside 180 is one of the most fun basic tricks to learn. Start with winding your shoulders up backside (the opposite way you are turning), and as you pop a solid ollie, focus on using your shoulders to guide the rotation frontside (begin turning just before you pop, so your shoulders are inline with the board as you pop. This will give you the momentum to turn). As you pop, turn your body frontside and let your board follow, turning a full 180 degrees in the air. Keep your weight centred, spot your landing, and ride away switch with your knees bent to absorb the impact.

The backside 180 builds off your ollie, but this time your body rotates in the opposite direction to a frontside 180. It is generally thought of as the harder of the two regular 180s, but potentially the more important to learn in your skateboarding journey. Wind your shoulders slightly before popping, then unwind as you pop your ollie and let your board follow through a 180-degree spin. Stay over your board and lean slightly (diagonally) back. Ride away switch with your knees bent to absorb the impact.

The pop shove is all about control and subtlety. Place your back foot slightly on the tail’s edge and your front foot near the middle. Pop your tail while scooping your back foot behind you to spin the board 180 degrees, whilst lifting your front foot clear. Keep your front foot light, catch the board mid-air, and land with both feet on the bolts as it completes the rotation.

The backside half cab combines fakie riding and a backside 180 spin (although arguably easier that the BS 180). Start rolling fakie and wind your shoulders ready, pop an ollie while turning your shoulders backside, and let the board follow your body around 180 degrees. Keep your eyes on where you want to land, bend your knees, and ride away clean in regular stance.

The nollie is essentially an ollie off the nose of your board, but with your weaker popping foot. Place your front foot on the nose and your back foot a few inches below the back bolts. Slam down with your front foot to pop the nose while sliding your back foot upward to level the board. Stay centred over your board and land softly with knees bent to maintain balance and roll away.