| Alan "Ollie" Gelfand | |
| Birth Date: | 1 January 1963 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Other Names: | Ollie |
| Occupation: | Skateboarder, Entrepreneur, Racing Driver |
| Known For: | Inventing the "ollie" the foundational skateboarding trick |
Alan "Ollie" Gelfand (born January 1, 1963) is an influential American skateboarder, racing driver, and entrepreneur credited with inventing the ollie, the foundational skateboarding trick.
Alan Gelfand was born in New York City, and is Jewish.[1] Gelfand moved to Hollywood, Florida with his family in 1972.[2] He started skateboarding in 1974 after his father bought him his first skateboard.[3]
| Sport: | Skateboarding |
| Country: | United States |
| Event: | Vert skating |
| Team: | Powell Peralta |
| Turnedpro: | 1978 |
Named by Thrasher Magazine as "The Founding Father of A Generation", Alan Gelfand's invention of the ollie changed the face of skateboarding.[4] His initial performance of the trick in 1976 at Skateboard USA in Hollywood, Florida, was serendipitous, stemming from the imperfect construction of the skatepark itself. Gelfand explained that the park's poorly constructed features inadvertently led to his groundbreaking discovery. "It was all by accident. The park was built so poorly that many of the features were over vertical and uneven. There was a part of the pool run where, when you skated it, you went out, caught air, and because it was over vertical, the board would pitch back towards your legs. You'd bend your knees back in and the board would come back to you. It was all by accident, really," Gelfand recalled. He began applying this technique to various elements, further refining his approach.[5] By 1979, during a visit to Winchester Skate Park in San Jose, he was perfecting the ollie, leading to it becoming a fundamental move in skateboarding.[6]
This unintentional innovation, dubbed the "trick of the century" by Stacey Peralta, fundamentally changed skateboarding, transforming it from simple maneuvers to complex aerial dynamics.[7] [8] Alan was credited in the Oxford Dictionary of English, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the Webster's Dictionary as being the inventor of the trick after it had previously been listed as unknown.[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
The trick involves a skateboarder snapping the tail of the board down while jumping to lift the board into the air without the use of hands.
Gelfand’s technique was first showcased in a detailed how-to feature in the January 1979 issue of SkateBoarder Magazine. Titled "Special Tips on Progressive Aerials," the article described his method for executing the no-hand ollie air, providing a step-by-step guide that has influenced generations of skateboarders.
Alan Gelfand's skateboarding prowess extended beyond the invention of the ollie. He competed in various significant events in the 1970s and 1980s, showcasing his skills across multiple countries on tour as the first member of the legendary Bones Brigade team put together by Stacey Peralta.[15] [16] The Bones Brigade was an elite team of skateboarders sponsored by Powell-Peralta, which included other legendary skateboarders like Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen, and was instrumental in the evolution and popularization of skateboarding.[17] [18] Their collective innovation and media exposure played a significant role in skateboarding's transition from a niche hobby to a global phenomenon. [19] [20]
Gelfand's competitive spirit was evident as he participated in and won numerous skateboarding contests globally. His tour and competition schedule in the late 1970s included events across Europe and South America, where he showcased the ollie and other complex maneuvers, further popularizing skateboarding as a sport.
Alan was entered into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2013.[21]
Throughout his career, Alan Gelfand participated in numerous notable skateboarding competitions.
1970s
1980s
Special Exhibitions and Demonstrations
During his tours, Gelfand's style and technical skills left an indelible mark on the international skateboarding scene. He participated in significant events such as the Super Skate Show in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1979, which featured prominent skaters of the time and was a key venue for Gelfand to demonstrate the ollie to a wider audience. Rodney Mullan reported in skateboarding.com that event was the first time he and Alan performed the Pop Shove It trick.[22]
| Alan "Ollie" Gelfand | |
| Nationality: | American |
| Birth Date: | 1 January 1963 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Wins: | 4 |
| Prev Series: | Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series, IMSA Firestone Firehawk Series, Longest Day of Nelson 24 Hour Endurance Race |
| Titles: | Longest Day of Nelson 24 Hour Endurance Race |
| Title Years: | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
After retiring from professional skateboarding, Alan Gelfand transitioned into car racing, particularly focusing on Volkswagens. His racing career spanned from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, where he participated in various endurance races and showcased his driving skills.
Gelfand achieved notable success in the Longest Day of Nelson 24 Hour Endurance Race for Showroom Stock Cars, held at the Nelson Ledges Road Course. He secured first place in this race for four consecutive years from 1990 to 1993, demonstrating his prowess in endurance racing.[23]
Gelfand competed in the Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series in 2001, participating in multiple races across different circuits:
Daytona International Speedway: Third and eighth positions in two different races.[24] Phoenix International Raceway: Fifth and twenty-first positions.[25] Homestead-Miami Speedway: Seventh position.[26] Watkins Glen International: Tenth position.[27]
Gelfand also competed in various other endurance races:
1993 IMSA Firestone Firehawk race: Fourteenth position.[28] 1993 3 Hour Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship at Laguna Seca: Twenty-eighth position.[29] 2001 Daytona Motorola Cup: Ninth position.[30]
| Year | Race | Class Position | Team | Car Make/Model | Class | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Longest day of Nelson 24 Hour Endurance Race for Showroom Stock Cars | 1 | BSI Racing | 1981 VW Rabbit | 1 IT-B | Racing History Project | |
| 1991 | Longest day of Nelson 24 Hour Endurance Race for Showroom Stock Cars | 1 | BSI Racing | 1981 VW Rabbit | 1 IT-B | Racing History Project | |
| 1992 | Longest day of Nelson 24 Hour Endurance Race for Showroom Stock Cars | 1 | BSI Racing | 1981 VW Rabbit | 1 IT-B | Racing History Project | |
| 1993 | Longest day of Nelson 24 Hour Endurance Race for Showroom Stock Cars | 1 | BSI Racing | 1981 VW Rabbit | 1 IT-B | Racing History Project | |
| 2001 | Daytona International Speedway | 3 | Speedsource | Porsche Boxster | ST | The Third Turn | |
| 2001 | Phoenix International Raceway | 5 | Speedsource | Porsche Boxster | ST | The Third Turn | |
| 2001 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 7 | Speedsource | Porsche Boxster | ST | The Third Turn | |
| 1992 | Ace Auto Parts 250 Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championships Sebring International Raceway-Sebring, FL | 8 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
| 2001 | Daytona International Speedway | 8 | Speedsource | Porsche Boxster | ST | The Third Turn | |
| 2001 | Daytona Motorola Cup | 9 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Zoom Pics | |
| 2001 | Watkins Glen International | 10 | Speedsource | Porsche Boxster | ST | The Third Turn | |
| 1993 | IMSA Firestone Firehawk race | 14 | Team Schlesinger-Gelfand | Volkswagen Corrado | N/A | Ultimate Racing History | |
| 2001 | Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series at Phoenix International Raceway | 21 | Speedsource | Porsche Boxster | ST | Motorsport | |
| 1993 | 3 Hour Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship for Grand Sports, Sports, and Touring entry list | 28 | Rally's Hamburgers | Volkswagen Corrado | Touring | Prog Covers |
| German Car Depot | |
| Type: | Private |
| Industry: | Automotive repair |
| Founded: | 1997 |
| Founder: | Alan Gelfand |
| Hq Location: | Hollywood, Florida |
| Hq Location Country: | United States |
| Num Locations: | 1 |
| Area Served: | Hollywood, Florida |
| Services: | Specializing in German automobiles |
| Website: | German Car Depot |
Frequently working as a mechanic on the cars he raced, and those of his teammates, post-racing, Gelfand continued his involvement with automobiles by founding the German Car Depot in Hollywood, Florida. The business specializes in the repair and maintenance of German automobiles, reflecting his connection with automotive engineering and mechanics.[31]
Gelfand opened the German Car Depot, an auto repair shop specializing in German automobiles, located in Hollywood, Florida. The shop, established after a rebranding from VW Depot due to a trademark dispute, now operates with eight bays and serves hundreds of cars monthly, generating multi million dollar revenues.[32]
Alan "Ollie" Gelfand's name and contribution to skateboarding were immortalized when the term "ollie," was added to the Oxford English Dictionary. This inclusion not only acknowledges his invention but cements his legacy within the English language as both a noun and an intransitive verb. This recognition highlights the widespread impact of his innovation on skateboarding and popular culture, illustrating how a sport's technical term can become embedded in everyday language.[33] The Canadian Oxford Dictionary still lists the origin of the word as unknown, despite all other editions crediting Alan.[34]
Gelfand has also been involved in legal actions to protect his intellectual property related to the ollie. He filed lawsuits against major companies, including Disney and Sega, for using the term "ollie" without permission, claiming infringement on his trademark rights.[35]
Alan Gelfand's significant contributions to skateboarding have also been recognized in several documentary films, which explore the cultural and historical aspects of the sport. His participation in these films helps preserve the legacy of skateboarding's evolution and his pivotal role within it.[36]
Gelfand appeared as a skateboarder in Skateboard Madness, a documentary that captures the vibrant skateboarding scene of the late 1970s. The film provides insight into the dynamics of skateboarding culture during a period of significant growth and innovation.
In, directed by Stacy Peralta, Gelfand appears as himself. The documentary focuses on the history of the Bones Brigade, a legendary skateboarding team known for their influence on the sport in the 1980s. Gelfand's firsthand account contributes to the narrative of the team's pioneering impact on skateboarding.
Gelfand also featured in Dogtown and Z-Boys, another documentary by Stacy Peralta. Originally filmed in the 1970s, but released officially in 2001, these two films examine the skate and surf culture of 1970s Venice, California, highlighting the innovations brought by the Zephyr Skateboard Team. Gelfand's involvement in the documentary underscores the revolutionary changes in skateboarding during this era, including his invention of the ollie which can be seen on video for the first time.
