I'm been skateboarding for about 6 weeks now and I've decided it is time to pick up some few tricks... So I started with the ollie... I don't know if this newsgroup has an ollie faq or something... but this is the way I do and I did several ollies but I couldn't land any of them Right now I am practicing a standing ollie placing the rear wheels of my skateboard in a crack on the sidewalk and... 1.  Assume the proper stance, front foot in the middle of the board, my back foot has the ball of its feet on the tail 2.  My rear foot pushes down on the tail of the board and at the same time my front foot raises (actually grazes, there is a hole in my tennis shoe, anyone know how to prevent that, or can recommend some good, durable, long-lasting skateboard shoes?) 3.  Then I land the board with both of my feet over the trucks (hopefully) This is kind of working for me, does anyone have any tips or modifications to my steps? The biggest problem I am having is that I have a hard time getting the rear wheels of the board up off the ground, I can see getting the rear wheels of the ground is my lack of timing when I kick the tail down and I graze my front foot up the board... And one more thing, does anyone out there skateboard in Phoenix, Arizona? Maybe help me out with some actual visuals or something?  I'm in the Arcadia neighborhood, and sometimes (hopefully a lot more) around ASU on an entirely blue skateboard, if you see a blue board its most likely me. Daniel Silverman