How to Do an Ollie Impossible (2026)
The impossible wraps the board vertically around your back foot. It's tricky but learnable. Here's the setup, motion and common fixes.
What Is an Impossible?
In an ollie impossible, the board flips end over end vertically, wrapping around your back foot before you land. It's widely credited to Rodney Mullen, who invented many core flip tricks. It's not a beginner trick: get a consistent ollie, pop shove-it and ideally a kickflip first.
Before You Try It
- Have a solid, consistent ollie.
- Be comfortable with frontside and backside 180s.
- Know the feeling of scooping the tail; pop shove-its help.
- Pressure flips can be a useful stepping stone for the back-foot motion.
Foot Position
| Foot | Position |
|---|---|
| Back foot | Toes on the tail's toe-side corner, a little further back than an ollie |
| Front foot | Behind the front bolts, angled slightly, ready to lift away |
Step by Step
- Roll slowly on smooth ground (or practice stationary on grass).
- Pop the tail while scooping it up and forward with your back foot.
- Lift your front foot out of the way.
- Guide the board around your back foot; your back foot stays in contact as the board wraps vertically.
- Let it come around a full rotation and release.
- Catch with your front foot, then plant your back foot.
- Land over the bolts with knees bent.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Board shoots behind you | Scoop up and around, not straight back |
| Board doesn't wrap fully | Keep your back foot guiding longer |
| Board turns sideways | Keep the scoop vertical, shoulders square |
| Landing on your back foot only | Catch with the front foot first |
The Back-Foot Scoop Drill
Step off the board and practice the back-foot motion on its own: push the tail down, forward and up in one quick, scooping move so the board wraps around your foot and lands on its wheels. Repeat it until the board lands right side up every time. This is the core of the trick.
A Short History
Rodney Mullen is credited with inventing the ollie impossible in 1982, during his freestyle years. The name reportedly came from how impossible the trick looked at the time. It later became a street staple and is now often done off ledges and down stairs.
Variations
- Nollie impossible: the front foot wraps the board from the nose.
- Fakie and switch impossibles: the same wrap from other stances.
- Impossible to grind or into a manual: combinations for advanced skaters.
Practice Drills
- Stationary scoops on grass, focusing on the wrap.
- Hold onto a rail or friend while practicing the motion.
- Film yourself to see where the board goes.
- Try Skater Trainers to learn the motion in place.
Gear
Triple Eight Saver Series Pads
Knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards for trick practice.
Check Price on AmazonSee more in skateboard tricks and heelflip vs kickflip, and read about Mullen in best skateboarders of all time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ollie impossible?
A trick where the board wraps vertically around your back foot in a full rotation before you land on it.
Who invented the impossible?
The trick is widely credited to Rodney Mullen, originally as a freestyle trick.
Is the impossible hard to learn?
Yes. It's usually learned after a solid ollie, shove-it and kickflip, and takes patience.
Why does my board fly away?
Usually the scoop goes backward instead of up and around. Keep your back foot guiding the board upward.
Should my front foot touch the board?
Your front foot helps lift, then comes off the board and returns to catch it.