Craig Snyder is working on a book called “A Secret History Of The Ollie And The Pioneers Of Skateboarding.” Believe it or not, he’s got not two, but three whole volumes planned. I’m tempted to kick in if only to see how he can fill three books on the subject. He’s been working on it for six years, so there’s got to be at least one volume’s worth. From the description it seems to be focusing on the east coast, specifically Florida, at least the first volume. He’s publishing it himself, and to that end he’s got a project set up on Kickstarter. Here’s how it works. People pledge money to the project. It can be as small as $3, or large enough ($25) to get you a copy of the book if it is published. There’s a funding goal that has to be met, and if it isn’t nobody gets charged a penny. If it is, the book gets published and you get your copy if you pledged enough. You can find more info at theolliebook.com, or the blog.
27 comments
Bret Burrill Taylor
Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
skaterdave
Shouldn’t the flatground version of the ollie be called a Mutt, Mullen, or Rodney?
skaterdave
And b/s smiths should be Nolder grinds
Cave Man
Yep, and doing “Nolders” even has a nice ring to it. “Mullening” up on to that rail, though, (even though Rodney totally deserves credit for his massive influence on modern non-transition skating) sounds a little unwieldy, as does “Mutting”. And “Rodneying” sounds like something a rollerblader might do.
skaterdave
You’re right, none of those work – at all
Cave Man
Well, that Craig person would certainly know better than I. But I do know Alan blew his knees up at 16, and has had serious trouble with them every time he has tried to fully get back into it. About the worst thing that can be accurately said about him is he had some really goofy childhood friends (though I have no idea if Craig fit that bill), which made Olliewood A)possible B)less than cool. But he definitely deserves credit for trying. And I don’t know whether he insists – [in the way the Dogtown documentary proclaims with certitude that they invented frontside airs, even though Jim McCall had done one in front of thousands in Florida months before the documentary even claims they came about] – that he was unquestionably the first anywhere to ever DO Ollie type airs, but, it is unquestionable that the Ollie IS named after him. And would you rather have all those legal hassles and some prospect of compensation, or be able to skate? He’s always seemed, mood-wise, like he’d much prefer the latter.
freezine
I just want my nickel for every time a kid at a skatepark asks me how high can I ollie.
Nooner
on Vert Jeff Tatum may have been the first with backside ollies in the Kona Bowl
Jerkins
Cab has never stopped skating, or progressing for that
matter, so please don’t compare him with Mr.Gelfand.
Kind of like apples and oranges IMO.
Craig Snyder
The lawsuit was largely misunderstood. It was not about making every skater pay a royalty on each Ollie they did
Fitz
On the contrary. Here in awesome-skate NW, it’s all about the nickname, Eggs.
egbert
But your real name is Larry Pepperwood. I don’t get it.
bailgun
tl;dr.
Fitz
Settle down. You’re profiting off someone’s name.
"Fail." is not a word
With his blessing, Don Quixote. Whereas, if a little local day-care paints, among other characters, some Disney ones on the outside of the building, Disney tends to be the sort of company that will see it not as a free ad but an unacceptable rip-off, and make them remove it. So turn about is fair play… not some windmill of hypocrisy. Speaking of free ads, though, why don’t you go watch Skirdoosh; I’m thinking your harping about that might be amusing.
Fitz
And my good buddy from ther north is using none of his. See below.
egbert
You’re using half your name if you want to be factual.
Fitz
Hey, you can go right ahead and suck my whole dick. Skate culture is tired, and your sad trolling is no better. At least I have the brain to think crtically, the sack to put an opinion forth, and the spine to use my own name.
...it's a uniform bleat
Not to worry Fitz, I would never hold my breath waiting for you to be amusing… or unpredictable.
Fitz
Don’t hold your breath.
egbert
He seems like he may be a bit of a fucktard looking for his payout http://www.daledietrich.com/gaming/ollie-skateboarder-sues-game-companies-over-use/
Were they calling it the Alan “Ollie” Gelfand everytime one of the characters ollied?
Cave Man
A lot of people assume that, but I think that’s a countersuit and they came after him first legally, though that may be cuz he copyrighted his nickname or something, no doubt with the idea of making money (though he has an auto repair shop). At any rate, I think his countersuit was more about not letting those big corporations bulldoze him… and the only ones making out on either side are the lawyers.
kilwag
I thought it started when Disney or someone else wanted to make a skateboarding character or toy called “Ollie.”
But that’s more hearsay adding kindling to the fire.
egbert
Interesting, didn’t know that. Thanks for enlightening me.
mezmer
this should be a good series of books!
Alan Gelfand changed skateboarding forever. check him out:
http://www.ollieair.com
Christiandeath@yahoo.com
Jeff Tatum first backside Ollie, let’s face it people any one approaching a lip w/ speed will kick turn no handed in the air, thus ollying so do u really want to give anyone credit for inventing it? Mullen really invented the modern Ollie.
Pontius Pilate
I can “kick turn no handed in the air”, a la Tatum, but I don’t use a purposefully exaggerated scoop when hitting the coping, like an ollie, (and thus wind up hanging up if I go more than six inches out)… so, I’d say you’re full of it.