Needless to say, it is necessary to learn to ollie first. The frontside 180 ollie is basically an ollie with a 180 turn in mid-air. Setting up for it is essentially the same as for an ollie, but as you crouch down for the "pop," wind up your body a little by turning your torso backside (your leading hand should "reach" across your stomach). As you hop into the ollie, unwind by twisting your torso frontside. By the time your tail smacks the ground, your torso should be "ahead" of your legs; when the board lifts into the air, your body is already turning frontside, pulling your legs along. Your legs, in turn, are pulling your feet along, which are guiding your board around. Voila! You're on your way. The board should remain directly beneath you the entire time. When you've turned all the way around and the board is lined up and drifting fakie, extend your legs and land. You will now be rolling backwards. It may seem strange to land this way, but get used to it. You will soon learn many tricks that will require landing backwards or switch-stance. One way to learn to land backwards is to try a rolling 180 body varial (jump and turn your body 180 degrees, landing on the board switch-stance). You will find that the frontside 180 ollie is a good set-up trick and that many variations are possible.

Click here for Quicktime video clip (297k), or here for MPEG (302k)

The most sensible way to learn the frontside half Cab is to learn fakie ollies first. Foot placement for the fakie ollie is like that for the ollie. This trick differs in that the tail is the leading tip of the board and can stick in the ground if the "pop" is not quick and accurate. Other than that, the motions are essentially the same as for an ollie.

Once you've learned to fakie ollie you can try the frontside half Cab by winding up your torso backside a little before hopping into the ollie. As you hop up, unwind your torso and guide your board around with your body once airborne. Keep the board directly beneath you at all times. Once you've swung around and your board is pointing forward, extend your legs and land.

Click here for Quicktime video clip of Frontside Half Cab (378k), or here for MPEG (455k)

Click here for Quicktime video clip of Fakie Ollie (297k), or here for MPEG (293k)

back to trick tips