As simple as it may be, the ollie is important for all skaters. Once you learn it the gate to hardcore skating will be open to you. Do not feel discouraged if you mess up your first few attempts. And don't worry if you don't learn it moving or don't learn it at all for some time-it took me over a month to learn it in motion. It's best to learn standing still at first. Anyway, let's get on with it shall we.
Step 1: Put your feet in the positions shown (the other way round if you're goofy). Although it's more effective to ollie with your front foot right in the middle at the start, it's also easier to do it a little closer to the nose of the board. Step 2: Stamp down on the back and kick off at the same time. Slide your front foot up towards the nose of the board (don't slide it on the sole, slide it up on the side of your foot). Step 3: Pull your knees up into your chest as much as you feel neccessary. If you're doing this right then congrats-you're flying. As you start to descend make sure that your knees are NOT locked and are flexible. Step 4: Land with your knees bent and roll away (if you're doing it moving). Practise this loads and make sure you don't forget it. If you screw up a few ollies every once in a while then chill-it happens to everyone. Now get out there and skate!
The heelflip. It's quite a fun trick to do-just make sure you don't slump forward, this will make you end up landing miles away from your board. Keep your weight above it. now, on with the lesson... Step 1: Get your feet in the position shown and ollie. It might feel unconfortable doing it in this position, but you'll get used to it. Step 2: As you slide your foot up, stick your heel out more and kick the board on the toe rail. Step 3: 'catch' the board to stop it flipping too much with your back foot-try to get it over the bolts (unless you want to do a heelflip to manual). Next put your front foot on. Step 4: Finally, land with your knees bent. Don't show off too much and act like a poser, as fate will turn against you and you'll go into a brick wall or something...
This trick was invented by Steve Georgiou-someone who doesn't know how to skate. It was cool they day he invented it-well done Steve! Step 1: Skate along and jump off your board when you're around 3-4 metres from the wall. Step 2: Pick up the board, tuck it under your arm and jump up onto the wall. Step 3: Whack the board into the wall so it makes a thunk noise and flip it. Step 4: Land on the board. Ride away.
I refer to the old-school shuvit without the ollie here by the way. This trick just needs you to get the confidence to put both your feet on the board when you land. This morning (26/7/02) I discovered that after you learn to spin the board properly, you should look in front of you, and not down at the deck when you try to land. This makes you less afraid. Try not looking whenever you're afraid of landing in skateboarding-just don't close your eyes or you'll be six feet under before you know it... Step 1. Put your feet in the position shown. Don't ollie, just push down on your back foot as if you were ollieing without the 'pop' (or the tail hitting the ground) and push back with that foot sharply, while pushing forward with your front foot. Step 2. Jump up into the air, high is okay but to look more professional (when you're comfortable with landing this trick shabbily of course) just don't try to be friggin' Superman. Jump a little forward, as that's where the board will go when it spins. Step 3. Land on the board. Ride away looking like a sick fucking pimp! Yeah bitch! Ahem...
More coming soon!