How to Ollie to Blind

[Slyde]

Talk me through the ollie to blind, man I cant seem to get the pop and then spin the board to blind, i always overrun the board, guess its just practice.

[Todd]

I just learned this one. I can only do it on port tack (left hand forward). So the most important thing is to commit to the trick ahead of time. When I think I'm going to stick it, I usually do. Try to be comfortably powered while unhooked and going slightly downwind. As with most unhooked skim tricks, if it's gusty, the difficulty goes up exponentially. Once unhooked, try to keep both hands on the bar, keep the bar low, and at your lead hip. Do the ollie and point your toes (this keeps the board stuck to your feet as it pushes the bottom into the wind) as you look hard over you right shoulder and let go of your right hand as you twist the right end of the bar down and then around your hip (keep the bar in close to your body and push down on it a little - elbows in whenever possible!!) behind your back. If you extend your right leg as you spin around, then you will land with most of your weight on your now front (left) foot. The whole while that you do this, try to swing your right hand/arm hard around to your backside once you let go - this will help the rotation and will put your right hand in position to pass the bar. So at this point, you have landed, your head is looking back over your right shoulder, and your left hand is in position with the bar to pass to the right hand. Just pass the bar and whip 180 back to heal side!! That's the easy part. The most important thing is to spin super fast once you ollie. You really kind of have to go more than 180 to land blind, so that part is super important. Also, keep your left hand as close to the middle, or even straddle the middle of the bar - that's what I do.

Get out there and stick it. Take some photos and post them too!

Todd

[Slyde]

cheers, its on my todo list for the next skim day. I think the pointing the toes thing will help.