The Is Ollie’s Open on 4th of July is a competition held in Michigan. It is an official roll of the quarter. The rules and details can be seen on the official website. There is an application fee, but you get the opportunity to travel to Michigan and compete for a place on the podium. I have done some preparation for those who want to apply.
My first experience with this skateboard event was at the Isotopes Open in January. There were only two divisions then and only one grand prize. The winner got a brand new Isotopes video camera. The other division was won by Matt DiMaggio. Since the rules have changed just recently, I am going to take the opportunity to explain how the new divisions work.
In the first round, there are two teams of skaters. They race down the half pipe and try to flip their skates. They need to keep in contact with each other using some sort of contact patch. The first team to complete the loop without touching the other team wins. There is also a time restriction as to how long a skater can stay in the loop.
For the second round, there are two skaters. Each team sends one member to roll a mini. Once the mini is rolled, each team member must attempt to do a 360 flip while staying connected to their partner. When they miss, they lose.
So what does the first part of the race look like? First, there is a safety skip, a jump and then a landing. Once they are all lined up, the first skater slides in behind them. Then Matt DiMaggio does a jump and starts from the side. He uses his mind to slow himself down for his first flip. Finally, he rolls forward and tries to complete the loop again.
What makes this video interesting is that it takes a common event and makes it incredibly creative. It shows the importance of proper skating, how to work together as a group and how to complete a difficult trick. It shows how important a good attitude is as well. The humor is a perfect compliment to the competition and it certainly is a must see video on this 4th of July. So head over to YouTube and watch the are Ollie’s open on 4th of July!
