TIME TO OLLIE
One of the most basic tricks it may be, but perfect this technique and you’ll soon be hitting jumps like a pro. Expert Pascal Prot explains how
Pascal − pictured in action in both photos − is on hand to help you pop, flex and enjoy some airtime
The ollie is the most basic tricks in snowboarding, and one of the most useful – it refers to jumping the board all the way off the ground. It is the most efficient way of getting into the air and can be used all over the mountain, whether you’re hitting jumps or freeriding.
With a little pop and flex from the board, and lateral motion from one leg to the other, it’s an awesome feeling to enjoy the airtime and it’s achievable for any level.
Other, more difficult snowboarding tricks are built upon the ollie (for example spins), so you’ll need to perfect your technique to advance onto harder moves.
GETTING STARTED
To perform an ollie you must become familiar with the pop and flex of your board, alongside laterally shifting your weight from one leg to another to land safely.
When out riding, play around with shifting your weight over your back foot. You’ll see the front of the board rises up. There’s no need to take the board off the snow that much – just feeling all your weight on the tail is enough. Now try moving your weight onto your front foot and feel your back foot rise up a little. On a flat surface, see if you can switch between the nose and tail to practice the lateral motion of shifting your weight.
Top tip: If the sole of your foot is flat to the board, and your weight is on that leg, you know your board will be flat too (which helps a lot for this trick).
POP IT To quote Isaac Newton: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Have you ever tried to do a jump without bending your knees first? Please give it a go now (just make sure nobody’s watching as it’s ridiculously fun).
Now we’re all on the same page as Mr Newton, let’s talk about the pop. When you see a snowboarder doing an ollie, it looks as though it’s all about the jumping up. The fact is going up is only the result of how much you’re able to go down. By bending, flexing and pressuring your board, you can get so much higher. So to conclude: the lower you go, the higher you’ll get.
PERFECT THE TIMING Find a gentle slope with lots of space, because now it’s time to give it a go. Start with your bodyweight over your front foot. Then quickly slide your board underneath to shift the weight onto the tail of the board. It will feel like your board is speeding up and running away underneath you. Now is the time to bend, flex and press to pop you off the ground.
Top tip: During the airtime you can bring your knees to your chest in order to get higher. But make sure you've nailed the timing first, as it can be a little tricky initially.
NAILED IT! Just keep practicing these tricks – the board will tell you if it’s right or wrong. Did you fall? Did you flex the board? Did you land on both feet at the same time? Did you shift your weight onto the tail in time? Did your board land flat on the snow or on an edge? Just keep playing around with what feels good and you’ll eventually find the sweet spot for feeling perfectly balanced in the air and on the landing.
Perfect your technique then hit larger and larger features
THE NEXT STEPS
Once you’ve grown comfortable hitting small drops, the next step is to start gradually building the height of the drop. As the height increases, you will need to learn to make small adjustments fore and aft to the initial pop to ensure you land in an appropriate position and that you travel far enough forward to clear any obstacles below you. Very few cliffs are truly vertical.
FACTFILE
Pascal Prot is a ski and snowboard instructor for New Generation Ski School in Tignes. New Generation will help you develop technique, build confidence and have fun in 18 resorts throughout the Alps, from Tignes and Les Arcs to St Anton and Lech
