Last Updated7 June 2022

Exploring Freestyle looks at a series of tricks to develop freestyle riding both outside and inside the park. A good understanding of park safety and the ATTL model is essential to successfully break down and teach each trick safely.

Freestyle is often one of the main reasons why people start snowboarding. Remember that, whilst extremely popular, freestyle is not for everyone. Be mindful of your students’ interests and do not push them into freestyle if they appear uncomfortable. The tricks featured in this resource are some of the fundamental tricks required to become a well-rounded freestyle snowboarder. Students will need a variety of turn sizes and shapes before learning these tricks. In some tricks, students will require the ability to flat base and ride switch, for the approach and takeoff and/or to perform or land the trick.

Ollies, Nollies & Presses

What, Why, How

A grouping of basic ground tricks taking off or balancing on the nose or tail of the snowboard.

To develop a range of tricks that challenge the rider’s ability to move along the length of the board and time these movements to gain varying trick outcomes.

VIDEO: Ollies, Nollies & Presses with Guy McCully

Ollies

Review skidded turns on an easy green, include a flat base straight run down the fall line for a couple of seconds mid way through each turn to practise the approach. It will also be good to learn a countered frontside speed check to brush off excess speed in the approach by pivoting the lower body and board into a heel edge sideslip while the shoulders remain pointing down the fall line. Once the board slows, pivot the lower body and board back into the straight run again.

On flat ground in an active stance, move the hips towards the tail of the snowboard, at the same time pulling up the front foot to perform a ‘wheelie’. Notice how much weight goes to the outside sole of the back foot. Keep the shoulders level to the ground when doing this. This helps load or pressure the tail of the board.

Now try to jump off two feet while stationary, taking off and landing with a flat base

Combine these two movements and takeoff by springing from the tail of the snowboard, pull the knees up equally in the air and land centred over both feet. Keep looking up to help with balance.

On a gentle pitch allow the board to flat base downhill at slow speeds and practise the ‘wheelie’ and hop separately.

To perform the complete trick, blend the two movements together (just like in the stationary practice) the focus here is on timing and not the amplitude of the trick.

Nollies

On flat ground, move the hips towards the nose of the snowboard, feeling more weight on the sole of the front foot, at the same time pulling up the back foot to perform a ‘nose wheelie’. Keep the front hand over the nose of the board when doing this. This helps load or pressure the nose of the board.

Now try to combine with the hop used to learn the ollie and takeoff by springing from the nose of the snowboard, pull the knees up equally in the air and land centred over both feet. Keep looking up to help with balance.

On a gentle pitch allow the board to flat base downhill at slow speeds and practise the nose wheelie and hop separately. Then blend together to perform the complete trick.

Example

Your students play the drums and can relate the feeling of pressure under their feet to create a beat from the bass drum and high hat. When teaching a nollie, you ask your students to imagine they have a pedal under each foot. To help them with timing, explain that they should jump off one pedal to pressure the board and land evenly on both pedals to create a single beat. If they are creating a double beat when they land then they are landing on each pedal separately.

Presses

On flat ground to practice the tail press, move the hips over the tail of the snowboard, at the same time pulling up the front foot to lift that end of the board off the snow. It will help to feel the front foot pressing against the top of the boot. Lowering the back shoulder and hand can help to shift more weight to the tail.

Try to hold the press for a few seconds to find a balanced position over the end of the board then gently release the press by recentering the hips and shoulders back to an active stance.

Now reverse the movements and try the same over the nose of the board to practise the nose press.

On similar terrain used for ollies and nollies, allow the board to flat base downhill and practise nose and tail presses down the fall line.

As confidence grows try to hold presses for longer.

Movements & Board Performance

Longitudinal with Pressuring

The student should try to utilise the natural flex of the snowboard to assist them by shifting the COM towards the nose or tail of the snowboard, or shift the snowboard under the COM by shuffling the board forward or backward. The flex and rebound from the tail can increase the height achieved in the ollie and nollie. The COM is returned to the centre of the board for landings. Longitudinal movement of the upper body through the spine and shoulders can also be explored to find ideal positions for presses.

Vertical

The more range and power of movement a student exhibits vertically, the bigger the resulting ollie or nollie. The rider must begin with flexed ankles, knees and hip joints, and make a strong extension to lift the board into the air. The knees should be sucked up towards the COM in the air to increase stability. For landing, the legs should be extended, then flexion in the ankles, knees and hips is used to absorb the impact.

Lateral

A neutral position is best so that students can approach, takeoff and land from a flat base for stability. Students may find it beneficial to pressure the toeside edge slightly when taking off and landing ollies and nollies. This utilises the ankle joint for a greater range of movement and increased pop in ollies and nollies. When ready students can try ollies, nollies and presses across the fall line where lateral balance will be required.

Rotational

Rotational movements should be kept relatively neutral to maintain stability.

Terrain & Group Management

A flat area with minimal traffic is advisable to begin with. A gentle pitch to progress to is also necessary. Choose terrain that students can ride a flat base on for several seconds without picking up too much speed. This will allow ample time to make the required movements without onset of fear. To complement this, ensure that areas of low traffic are selected so students feel like they have enough space to practise. Encourage students to try a trick once or twice then put in a speed check or sideslip to allow time to re centre before attempting the trick again.

In larger groups ensure students are even more aware of their surroundings, more specifically each other. It’s common for students to focus heavily on themselves, making it easy for them to pick up speed and catch up with students in front, leaving minimal time to slow down.

Hot Tip

When comfortable with ollies, nollies and presses, try to ride a little faster and look for mellow areas to keep practising. Develop the tricks by adding more power and/or range of movement to achieve higher ollies and nollies or longer bigger presses. More confident riders can also try combining these tricks by doing an ollie into a nose press and/or nollie out of the nose press or vice versa with a tail press.

Corrective Teaching

Student jumps off both feet when performing an ollie or nollie:

Explain and practise pulling the front or back foot up first to pop off the nose or tail.

Have them explore their longitudinal range and its effect on the board. Students are often surprised how much more they need to move longitudinally to get closer towards the nose or tail.

Ensure that the terrain selection is accommodating for mileage over a flat base without gaining too much speed.

Start with small ranges of movement and increase energy and effort as timing improves.

Student keeps landing on the nose or tail of the board:

Focus on when the ollie is released. The pop from the vertical extension of the back leg is often released too late and the COM projected towards the nose or tail.

Have students practise their ‘wheelies’ and get to know exactly when their snowboard is going to rebound. With this knowledge, students will begin to understand that they should release their leg extension just before the board rebounds.

Student has difficulty holding a press:

Review the stationary step adding more longitudinal movement through the hips and upper body.

Try a hands-on approach. Place one foot in front of the nose or tail of their board, hold their closest hand so they can balance, and have them lean further towards you focusing on lifting the other foot.

Self Reflection

“Is my terrain selection mellow enough to promote success and build confidence?”

“Can my students even create the trick on flat ground before trying whilst riding?”

“Do they have the physical strength to bend the board and balance on it and/or pop into the air?”

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