this pop technique makes a difference

[@renmage2311]

I'm a returning skater learning Ollie's. I had been popping down and always had the board fly out in front of me and my back foot losing its connection. I sorta figured out popping backwards at the same time I figured out weight distribution. Once I knew to put more weight on my front foot, the back pop happened naturally and my Ollie's instantly got more consistent and less scary.

[@thundernixon]

Figuring this out was such a revelation for my ollies. It’s some combo of popping back and jumping forwards, and this really helps me more consistently ollie higher and leveling out the board. I also think about snapping quickly and back to bring the nose up and back towards my knee, with the pop.

[@kylespevak6781]

Relating it to fakie helped me understand. Great tips!

[@Bahomar]

nice, cant wait to hit the park tomorrow to adjust my pop

[@Unlockingparadoxes]

Believe in yourselves and each other and never give up on your dreams and aspirations and remember to be kind and uplifting to each other and open minded and genuine and respectful and humble.

[@Knuxsega]

Heard a lot of different takes about this, this makes so much sense P.s. Friendly health tip: Sitting with kneeled knee on a hard floor can be bad for the cartilage of the knees. It was a big habit of mine when resting during skate sessions. Over time it lead me to develop a mild knee condition with bad flare-ups (known as chondromalacia), especially after I a lot of jumping.

[@goatphew]

I'm not amazing at them but years ago when I realised just popping my ankle whilst imagining that I was hopping forward did this, you really get that 'board stuck to your feet' feeling.

[@nerigarcia7116]

In my experience, popping it a little backward helps while you're moving better than stationary. It allows you to get centered over your board better too when you land in order to keep rolling forward. Especially for me, I'm a shorter skater so popping more back allows my front foot to hit the nose more solidly because the boards are a bit too long for my stance. Otherwise, my front foot contacts around the bolts more and I don't get as much lift from the nose. I'm still trying to find a shorter board but they usually are a bit narrower too, so until then I try to pop back a bit and I also put my back foot more in the the center of the tail than the end just to gain that little bit to get to the front. I do notice that when I do pop down my ollies are more straight up and down opposed to traveling a bit and the landing isn't as smooth flowing as when I pop back. This video was cool because I never really analyzed my pop prior to this and now I understand the mechanics of it better.

[@SarahParkMatott]

Ah, I know exactly what you mean. It's why I've always preferred to skate my freestyle decks over popsicle boards--since I don't mind them being narrow. Just love the natural stance I have on the shorter boards. Though, recently I've learned Real often makes some slightly shorter decks and there are the new creatures stumps too..making boards shorter without making them narrower if you haven't tried them yet! Anyway, glad you liked the video. Sometimes it's fun to articulate stuff you've been doing without realizing it 😂

[@nerigarcia7116]

@@SarahParkMatott Cool, thanks. I'll have to check those decks out. Usually the 31" decks I've found are 7.0-7.5 wide and I like riding 8-8.25. If you're used to riding a freestyle board you might be able to get used to a 7" popsicle better than I can. I'm 53 and I've just started skating again after many years off so I like to see your progression because it's about where I'm at again. Keep on pushin'.

[@saulorocha3755]

This tip really works, it helps keeping the skate beneath you. Another good one is to angle the back foot toe backwards.

[@dawnone8924]

I find it necessary when going fast? Something something inertia

[@2bin]

Great timing. I've also been contemplating this aspect and rewatching all the vids on here just to analyze vloggers' pop. Thanks!

[@PickledHumann]

This is honestly really good advice. I had never thought about it that way for ollies. I know other tricks needed directional pop like pressure flips and fakie tricks but It just never occurred to me. I learned a few tricks as a kid and a few others as a teenager but I don't remember how I learned most of them so it's hard to explain to others when people at the park ask for help. I do my best though. Thanks for the post!

[@SarahParkMatott]

ah thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video 😃

[@jeffli480]

This is a really good tip! Pulling the board as you pop also helps keep the board straight/aligned with your sliding direction, it's what helped me get my ollie's consistently down stairs back in the day

[@dneck]

I love your analytical approach. so cool you skate a freestyle board too sometimes. I thought about getting one but as a big, tall guy, my andy anderson egg feels like a freestyle board so I'm just gonna rock that, don't need more setups in the quiver

[@SarahParkMatott]

thanks Dan! Happy to hear that. Though, I know some big guys skating tiny freestyle boards, I feel you! Gotta stick with what you enjoy skating :D It's why I always want to skate my freestyle board even at a park. I just love the shape and size haha

[@mushroomman1856]

Great tip Sarah. This will help my 48 year old self and my 9 year old boy.

[@Unlockingparadoxes]

Much love and respect to you and your channel Sarah Park-Matott

[@SarahParkMatott]

Thank you! 🙏

[@manolisjam3322]

Such an essential topic.Ive tried both ways and poppin straight down just doesnt work for me and i was popping for a year like that.Although when i did my first ollies i was popping backwards cause actually it is more natural to keep the board stuck to your feet.I changed back to popping backwards and it is life changing.Brings the board to my feet and the catch and everything you mentioned.After 2 years of skating i think the ollie motion is kind of a circular motion bring it back and then forth again with front foot.

[@ZhenqiTV]

Wow, Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and findings in skating! you not only think about all of the important physics and factors that go into tricks, but you are also kind enough to share that information with all of us in these well made videos! Cheers to you!:)

[@SarahParkMatott]

Absolutely! Always happy to share what I am learning 😃 and stoked when it helps someone! 🙏

[@ManualClips]

3:18 TIL through your video why I learned the varial flip before the kickflip 30 years ago lol

[@artsbymus3mbi]

it’s crazy how i learn so many hacks from you compared to other channels around. Love it

[@SarahParkMatott]

ah happy to hear that Caleb! 🙌

[@wildefirecontent191]

I think of it less like popping off Center and more like creating outwards tension between my feet during my crouch - which essentially produces the same effect but with less shooting board problems

[@SatraSkate]

I’ve been trying to relearn how to pop and people always say to pop backwards, there was a video talking about how according to physics it’s also better to pop at an angle but sometimes I give it a go and and don’t see the immediate results and forget about it, but I will try to commit to learning to pop at an angle after seeing your vid 😂

[@SarahParkMatott]

I think it's one of those things where knowing why is more important than what...because I might not want to in all situations and understanding why helps me make those choices haha you definitely got it though. Since you've been absolutely killing it lately

[@dataghost2307]

Much needed advice at the moment. 😅 I've been getting ghost pop on my kickflips. I was thinking it had something to do with my wheel base and wheel size. I'm gonna try this to hopefully fix my problem before I buy new trucks and wheels.

[@SarahParkMatott]

very possible! This was a major problem for my kickflips for the first year. I really had no choice but to pop down!

[@marcovieira6697]

I’ve never heard about it. Thanks for sharing, I’ll try this evening. Cheers from Brazil.

[@jamponyexpress7956]

I agree, but with a moving nollie (the nollie in particular) down gaps (like stairs) I have heard people say it helps to pop with your forward foot at an angle (rather than straight down) -I think this may help cover longer distances, but not so sure if it would apply to nollieing over or up stuff like curbs.

[@SarahParkMatott]

Definitely! You don't really have a choice but to pop nollies and fakie ollies at an angle in any situations since there is nothing to catch and pull the board with you, you have to pop at an angle to keep it under you 😃

[@SaccoBelmonte]

Very clever study of those nuances, I never thought about it that way. You freestylers breaking down tricks to their bare minimum ;-). Love your video.

[@b4sh936]

amazing advice, i just figured this out today while practicing jumping over stuff, the pop technique mattered a lot. Yesterday i couldnt even jump through curbs and now i can jump over my standing backpack. This video made me realize why was it (i filmed my session and i compared with the vid)

[@SarahParkMatott]

that's awesome! 🙌 Stoked for you!

[@noname-nm3ts]

Hello Sarah! I just wanted to tell you that I love watching your videos and that you have great clarity in your explanations :DD

[@SarahParkMatott]

ah, thank you! I'm happy to hear that 😃

[@frankc2119]

I do nollies and fakie ollies with directional pop. Will have to try the same for ollies and switch too and see if I can get more yield.

[@RyannJoyRule]

Came back to say it made a big difference! Thanks

[@SarahParkMatott]

ah! happy to hear that 💪

[@erall1673]

I always kept this in mind it just made sense but alot of videos I watched didn't mention I just try to make it muscle memory now.I have landed one kickflip stationry but I can't land while rolling I end up shooting the board out but it still flips to me the problem is my pop i pop straight down when I should be popping out it's cool watching fresh videos like these makes it easier

[@rz4525]

I''ve been experimenting with popping the board slightly back for my kickflips and it seems to help. When I try to pop straight down, even if I get the board to rotate quickly, it would still end up in front of me and I wouldn't be able to catch it. I think the reason is when I'm a little scared, consciously thinking about popping straight down would actually make me pop the board slightly in front of me because I low key want to avoid that board. Consciously trying to pop backwards just happens to cancel that out.

[@ethanlohr5653]

This will likely help my nollies as I think I’ve been popping them straight down. I wonder if popping inward toward the big toe instead of outward toward the edge of the board would also help with nollies like when applying pressure for nose manuals.

[@SarahParkMatott]

I bet it would make a difference! Even if just a subtle one. I'd imagine it could help control exactly how much force is going down versus in front of you...with more going down when popping with a focus on the big tow for more power 🤔 at least, that'd be my hypothesis going out to experiment with it 😃

[@Diaramamond]

I have been working on kickflips and nollies and noticed this connection between the way I pop them too. For me I need to jump forward and push the board back to stay over my kickflips. I have started to move my popping foot an inch or so down from the edge of the tail/nose. I have noticed in a lot of nollie tutorials people recommend to do this but they nearly always say that it is to get a quicker pop, but I think they are overlooking that fact that putting your foot flat on the centre of the nose puts your whole foot on an angle which pushes the board forward.

[@SarahParkMatott]

I can totally see that connection! 🙌

[@scatpack1381]

My board keeps turning back side. Tried a few variations but can't keep my board straight on my olies.

[@SarahParkMatott]

backside for an ollie? Hard to know without seeing it..but it is possible your foot is too far toeside on the tail! That can encourage the board to move backside 🤔 But there are many possibilities

[@barisharslan6997]

wonder if you have any advice for this, I usually pop straight down too. I am SOOO close to landing my heelflip. Last good session I landed both feet on it twice. First time my front foot landed on the nose and just like fell off. Second time I landed close to bolts but slipped out. Anyway I keep having attempts where one of two things happens - first, I sometimes don't get my flick in the right angle, I think I do it too outward and so the board lands at a 15-30 angle in front of me instead of right under me. This usually stops happening when I warm up and get my flick more "through" the nose. The other issue, and the reason I wanted to write this comment, is sometimes it seems like everything is on point, I get a strong pop and a good flick, board comes all the way around. BUT I catch it with my back foot on the middle of the board, and my front foot in front of the nose. So I kept thinking this is either due to a weak flick (which I've worked on) or my pop direction, so I tried really hard to pop straight down rather than backwards. It seems to help at times but other times it doesn't too, so I don't really know. But based on what you say in this video I wonder if that's not really the issue here. Would appreciate any thoughts.

[@SarahParkMatott]

That could definitely be an issue here. Of course, it's hard to tell when you don't have a video to look at, but I had something very similar happen to me with kickflips. I'd accidentally pop angled back and the board would flip but also travel back behind me and I'd land on the nose/middle of the board. I think it also had to do with the fact that my flick was really on the edge of the board. My foot didn't make a ton of contact with the nose or it was flicking closer to the bolts than it should..and in that case, I couldn't really push the nose forward to counter act the backward pop like I can now. A stong pop back with a strong flick off the nose--where your foot makes good contact to push the nose forward--can work. But it might be a combination of those two things. A fast flick off the side with a backwards pop could definitely push the board behind you. I'd think about 2 things if I was you...where my foot comes off the nose and flick direction--the whole path my front foot takes--so that I can ensure I have enough time/friction/grip to push the nose forward and then also that pop direction. Pop direction can change over time, but it might help in the short term to try and pop more down. And also be patient because there were many many many tries when I thought I was popping down, but I was not at all. That's what comes to mind for me though 😃

[@barisharslan6997]

@@SarahParkMatott Can always count on you for great advice. I definitely think your point about not making enough contact with the nose in order to push it forward might really be it. The problem is even worse for kickflips which I am much worse at (though I haven't landed either, I'm much closer to heelflip). I will take this advice for my next few sessions, and as always, thank you for the wonderful video and good discussion.

[@SarahParkMatott]

@@barisharslan6997 ah! I certainly hope it proves to be helpful. It’s definitely a hard thing to adjust. Friction and flick aim. So, don’t worry too much! Keep going for it, and it will happen! 💪

[@ariekanibalie]

Sarah again bringing the secret knowledge other people don't mention. Your ollies look great! As you rightly point out, this tip may be more for when you start to get a feel for how ollies work - I feel popping slightly back helps snag your board on your front foot more, making it easier to level out, counter-intuitive as that may sound. When you see people ollie stationary, you'll notice their back wheels roll back ever so slightly before lifting off - which is why popping on softtrucks or skate trainers is hard and imo counterproductive. One other thing I've recently been playing with is trying to push the tail down with my ankle, but trying to be retracting my back foot before the tail actually hits the ground. This is also something very few people talk about, but it can make a huge difference: you want to give the tail room to 'bounce' off the ground, not jump off it while it's making contact, as this muffles your pop. This may not work for absolute beginners either, as you still need to push down hard enough to avoid 'ghost pop', but I tried this for the first time recently and was like OMG, I've been doing it wrong for 20 years, lol. Great stuff, as always, Sarah!

[@SarahParkMatott]

ahh thanks Arno! 😃 And I know exactly what you're talking about. When I learned to ollie, tutorials made it sound like you jumped off the tail when it was touching the ground. And I felt so frustrated because something seemed wrong.Thankfully, I was able to slow mo enough other skaters to gather my proof their their feet didn't actually touch the ground, and I wasn't just over-reacting lol 😂

[@voidvoidvoid7274]

1:49 this is exactly why I can't pop ! My board ALWAYS does this !

[@kennybraverman9719]

I noticed that you have a tail and nose skid on your board. I don't see this and am interested in getting them for my deck. Please give me your thoughts on skids. I am still learning how to ollie. I can but not well. I have noticed that bending my back knee forward seems to help. Is this my imagination or have I discovered something.

[@SarahParkMatott]

Yes! The board I am riding here is a freestyle skateboard. I actually have a whole video discussing "pop" with skids here kzbin.info/www/bejne/nH_LoYaii8athZY I like them because I freestyle. They help the board last longer, but if you don't freestyle, you don't really need them. They can get in the way skating ledges and such if you're a big park skater. (And depending on how you're bending the knee, it could definitely help. It's all about pushing the nose forward, so that bend knee might be helping you do that.)

[@kennybraverman9719]

@@SarahParkMatott Thank you

[@PsychoCitySkateboards]

I’m so confused.. so pop back and not straight down. This is going to be hard to do since I’ve developed the muscle memory from 30 years of popping straight down

[@SarahParkMatott]

Hey, if it works for you, no need to rewrite 30 years of muscle memory 🙌 for me...most of the time when I was popping "down" there was a slight angle back anyway since the tail is curved haha

[@yodecahedron9915]

How could this be applied to front 180 ollie's 🤔

[@SarahParkMatott]

pop back at an angle to really pull the nose up against your front foot! I found it helped me get a really good solid catch and pull. But, was a little weird to try and pop back a bit for the first time!

[@scizophrenic2602]

very interesting. we can experiment with it and see what happens.

[@RyannJoyRule]

Super interesting

[@ryanrowe1975]

Can't wait

[@yes11889]

I feel like I developed this technique with my Ollie's without even realizing it

[@SarahParkMatott]

it's really natural to do since the tails angle your feet 😂