Invented in the late 1970s by Alan “Ollie” Gelfand, the ollie has become a skateboarding fundamental. In its simplest form, the ollie is a jumping technique that allows skaters to hop over obstacles.
The Inventors and Innovations
Rodney Mullen, a legendary skater whose innovative style changed the game forever, was born in Gainesville, Florida in 1966. He began skating at an early age and quickly developed a passion for the sport.
In 1982 Rodney Mullen invented the modern form of the trick in Florida, originally naming it the “Ollie Flip”; the term “Magic Flip” was popularized by other skaters who could not figure out how Mullen was flipping his board. Having begun his professional career as a freestyler, he made his mark on the sport through the many tricks he invented and his work as an inventor and entrepreneur.
In 1978, Alan Gelfand learned to perform no-handed aerials in bowls and pools using a gentle raising of the nose and scooping motion to keep the board with the feet. In 1982, Rodney Mullen debuted an ollie on flat ground, which he had adapted from Gelfand’s vertical version by combining the motions of some of his existing tricks. Mullen used a “see-saw” motion, striking the tail of the board on the ground to lift the nose, and using the front foot to level the board in mid-air.
The kickflip was another invention by Mullen in 1983, opening the floodgates to innovation and creativity in skateboarding.
The Legacy of the Ollie
Both amateur and experienced skateboarders use the ollie. It remains one of the most recognizable tricks today. The original kickflip was invented by pioneer Curt Lindgren prior to 1978 and was later modified and popularized by Rodney Mullen.