when i ollie do i pop down or pop down and back
When you ollie, think pop down , then immediately jump up and slide the front foot. You do not want to stomp hard straight down and stay there; the pop is a quick downward snap of the tail as your body rises with it.
Simple cue
- Back foot: press the tail down fast.
- Body: jump up at the same time.
- Front foot: slide forward to level the board.
What “and back” means
Some skaters feel a tiny follow-through or slight pull back from the back foot after the pop, but the main action is still downward. The key is not to drag the tail along the ground or lean back too much, because that kills height and control.
Best way to think about it
A useful mental cue is: jump first, pop with the back foot, then let the board come up to you. If your ollie is low, usually the issue is timing, not that you need a bigger backward motion.
Quick drill
- Stand still on grass or carpet.
- Crouch a little.
- Pop the tail down sharply.
- Jump as the tail hits.
- Slide the front foot up the board.
TL;DR: Pop down, not down and back. Any backward motion should be minimal and natural, not the main part of the pop.
