Skateboarding has increased in popularity over the last few years, with many people turning to this sport or form of transport. To take your skateboarding up a notch, you should learn how to do the important trick known as a nollie.
This guide will walk you through each step of mastering the nollie, so you can expand your tricks and become a better skater!
Why Learn How to Nollie?
Learning how to nollie isn’t just about adding another trick to your skateboarding repertoire – it can also help improve balance, coordination, and timing.
The nollie is also essential for more complicated tricks such as nollie flips, nollie heelflips, and nollie shuvits. Making the effort to learn this trick will benefit you in multiple ways and will increase your skill level as a skater!
What Are the Prerequisites to Learn How to Nollie?
Before starting on learning how to nollie, it’s important that you have a good grasp of the basics – specifically the ollie. The ollie is the foundation for most skateboarding tricks and is essential for mastering the nollie.
You should be able to perform your ollies comfortably, pop the deck quickly and accurately, move your front foot while in mid-air, and land with a level board. Additionally, make sure you feel comfortable riding at moderate speeds, as well as maintaining balance when riding your board.
Setting up Your Stance for the Nollie
To set up your stance for the nollie, start by positioning your feet like you would for an ollie – with your back foot in the tail’s pocket and your front foot slightly angled towards the nose, closer to the middle of the board.
Unlike an ollie, however, where your back foot is usually positioned perpendicular to the board, when performing a nollie you should angle your back foot towards the nose, almost like you’re trying to scoop up the tail with the inside of your foot.
This slight change in stance can make all the difference when it comes to mastering this trick!
How to Pop a Nollie
To pop a nollie, you’ll need to press down on the nose of the skateboard using your front foot, which will cause the tail to pop up. As you do this, shift your weight back onto your rear foot to lift up your front foot off the board.
The more force and speed behind your pop, the higher your board will go! Practice popping quickly and powerfully from both feet for best results when transitioning from an ollie to a nollie.
The Nollie Motion
As soon as the board pops up in the air, you’ll need to slide your front foot towards the tail of the skateboard. This motion will help to level out the board, enabling you to land more smoothly. Simultaneously lift your back foot slightly while sliding your front foot towards the tail, which will also help to level out the board.
It’s very important to keep your eyes focused on the nose of the board while popping and during the slide motion as this will help you maintain control of its position in the air. With practice and patience, you’ll be able to master this trick in no time!
Timing is Everything
It’s essential to get the timing of your pop and slide just right when doing a nollie. For the best results, you should pop the board and slide your front foot as soon as the nose makes contact with the ground.
If you wait too long to slide your foot, the board will tilt towards the nose, causing you to lose balance; if you slide your foot too early, it won’t level out correctly and make it difficult to land properly. Timing is key when it comes to executing this trick!
Common Nollie Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
One of the most common mistakes when performing a nollie is not popping the board high enough. If your pop isn’t forceful enough, the board won’t reach a proper height, making it hard to slide your foot and level it out.
Another frequent mistake results from not keeping your eyes focused on the nose of the board; this causes you to lose control of its position in the air. Additionally, beginners may struggle with getting their timing right for both the pop and slide, leading to either a tilt towards the nose or difficulty getting the board to level out correctly.
To avoid these issues, make sure to focus on mastering the fundamentals first, practice regularly, and get feedback from experienced skaters if necessary.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Practicing stationary and rolling nollies is essential for learning this trick. Start by mastering the stationary kind, then move on to rolling nollies when you feel comfortable. Remember that nailing this skill takes time, dedication, and patience. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t perfect it overnight.
The only way to become a proficient nollie skater is to practice consistently and diligently until you’ve nailed all the necessary moves. With enough time and effort, you’ll eventually get there!
Conclusion
In conclusion, learning the nollie is a key part of improving your skateboarding skills. It will help you with balance, coordination and timing, so take the time to practice consistently and focus on all the fundamentals. Seeking feedback from experienced skaters can also be a big help in mastering this trick.
At the end of the day, remember that skateboarding — just like any sport — should be fun! Give it your best effort and have a good time while doing it. Happy skating!
I’m John Peterson, a passionate skater, blogger, and lifelong enthusiast. I’ve been skating for over 9 years and have gone on to write a blog dedicated to the sport of skating and its culture. Through my blog, I strive to share my knowledge and experience of the sport with all who are interested. From beginner tips, tricks, and equipment reviews to interviews and event coverage, I cover it all. So read my blog as I explore the wonderful world of skating!