Master The Shove-it: A Skateboard Trick Guide

Hey guys! Ever watched a skater effortlessly glide, the board seemingly popping and spinning beneath their feet, and thought, "Wow, I wanna do that!"? Well, the shove-it is one of those fundamental tricks that looks super cool and opens the door to a whole world of more advanced skateboarding maneuvers. This guide is here to break down the shove-it step-by-step, making it achievable for skaters of all levels. So, grab your board, find a smooth spot, and let's get rolling!

What is a Shove-it?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's define what exactly a shove-it is. At its core, a shove-it is a skateboarding trick where the board rotates 180 degrees horizontally, without the skater’s feet leaving the board. Think of it as the board spinning behind you while you stay in place and land back on it. There are variations, like the pop shove-it (which involves a pop, adding a bit of vertical lift) and the big spin (which combines a shove-it with a 360-degree body rotation), but we'll focus on the classic shove-it for now. Mastering the basic shove-it provides a solid foundation for these more complex tricks.

Why is the shove-it such a great trick to learn? Firstly, it's a stylish trick that looks awesome when done correctly. It adds flair to your skating and can be incorporated into lines and combos. Secondly, it's a fantastic stepping stone to more challenging tricks. The foot positioning and board control you develop while learning the shove-it will directly translate to tricks like pop shove-its, 360 shove-its, and even kickflips. Finally, it's a fun trick! There's a real sense of satisfaction when you land your first clean shove-it. You will be so stoked, trust me!

Getting Ready: Stance and Foot Placement

Okay, let's get down to the fundamentals – your stance and foot placement. This is crucial for setting up a successful shove-it. There are two main stances in skateboarding: regular and goofy. If you ride with your left foot forward, you're regular. If you ride with your right foot forward, you're goofy. Not sure? Try having someone gently push you from behind. The foot you naturally put forward to catch yourself is likely your lead foot. Once you know your stance, you're ready to position your feet.

For the shove-it, you'll want a slightly different foot placement than your usual riding stance. Your front foot (the one closer to the nose of the board) should be positioned a little behind the front bolts, angled slightly towards the nose. The ball of your foot should be on the board, allowing your heel to hang off the edge. This position gives you the leverage you need to scoop the board. Your back foot is where the magic happens. Place it on the tail of the board, either in the center or slightly towards the heel edge. Again, the ball of your foot should be on the board, with your heel hanging off. This positioning will allow you to pop the tail and initiate the rotation.

Why is this specific foot placement so important? The front foot acts as a pivot point, guiding the board's rotation. The back foot is the engine, providing the force and direction for the shove. Think of it like a dance – your feet need to work together in harmony to make the board spin correctly. Experiment with slight adjustments to your foot placement to find what feels most comfortable and gives you the best control. Remember, practice makes perfect! Make sure you are comfortable with your skateboard before you try to shove-it.

The Shove-it Motion: Scoop, Pop, and Catch

Now that your stance is dialed in, let’s break down the actual motion of the shove-it. There are three key elements to focus on: the scoop, the pop, and the catch. Each part is crucial for landing the trick consistently.

The Scoop

The scoop is the heart of the shove-it. It's the motion that initiates the board's rotation. To scoop the board, use your back foot to push the tail downwards and backward, in a scooping motion. Imagine you're trying to brush something off the tail of the board. This motion should be fluid and controlled, not a hard stomp. The key is to use your ankle and lower leg to generate the scoop, rather than your whole leg. A common mistake is to stomp straight down on the tail, which will cause the board to shoot out in front of you instead of spinning. Think smooth and circular when you scoop.

The Pop

While the shove-it doesn't require a huge pop like an ollie, a little pop is still essential. As you scoop with your back foot, use your front foot to lift slightly off the board. This allows the board to rotate freely beneath you. The timing of the pop is crucial. It should happen simultaneously with the scoop. If you pop too early or too late, the board won't rotate correctly. Think of it as a synchronized movement – scoop and pop together. If you are having troubles with the pop part of the shove-it, go back and practice your ollies. This can assist your board control.

The Catch

The catch is the final piece of the puzzle. As the board completes its 180-degree rotation, you need to bring your feet back over the bolts and land smoothly. This requires good balance and timing. Watch the board as it spins and anticipate where it will land. As the board comes around, bring your feet back down onto the board, aiming for the bolts. Bending your knees as you land will help absorb the impact and keep you balanced. A common mistake is to land with stiff legs, which can cause you to lose balance or even roll an ankle. Think soft and controlled on the landing.

Practice Drills and Common Mistakes

Okay, you know the theory, but now it's time to put it into practice! Like any skateboarding trick, the shove-it takes time and repetition to master. Don't get discouraged if you don't land it right away. Here are some practice drills and common mistakes to watch out for.

Practice Drills

1. Stationary Scoops: Start by practicing the scooping motion while standing still on the grass or carpet. This will help you get a feel for the movement without the added challenge of rolling. Focus on using your ankle and lower leg to generate the scoop. Do this until it feels natural and fluid.
2. Rolling Scoops: Once you're comfortable with the stationary scoop, try it while rolling slowly on a smooth surface. Focus on keeping your balance and scooping the board without stepping off. This will help you develop your board feel and coordination.
3. One-Foot Shove-its: Try doing shove-its with only your back foot on the board. This will help you focus on the scoop and rotation. Once the board spins, step back on with your front foot. This drill is great for building confidence and board control.
4. Landing with One Foot: Try landing the shove-it with just your front foot on the board. This helps you get a feel for the board's rotation and the timing of the catch. Once you land with your front foot, try to step back on with your back foot.

Common Mistakes

1. Stomping the Tail: As mentioned earlier, stomping straight down on the tail instead of scooping is a common mistake. This will cause the board to shoot out in front of you instead of spinning. Focus on using your ankle and lower leg to generate a smooth, circular scooping motion.
2. Not Popping Enough: If you're not popping enough, the board won't have enough air to rotate fully. Make sure you're lifting your front foot slightly as you scoop with your back foot. The pop doesn't need to be huge, but it needs to be there.
3. Leaning Back: Leaning back during the shove-it will throw off your balance and make it difficult to land. Try to keep your weight centered over the board throughout the trick. Bending your knees will help you maintain your balance.
4. Not Committing: This is a big one! Many skaters get stuck in the “almost” phase because they're afraid of falling. You need to commit to the trick fully to land it consistently. Tell yourself you're going to land it and go for it! With commitment, a shove-it is totally possible.
5. Not Looking Where You Are Going: You need to keep an eye on where you are going to ensure you land it correctly. If you don't, the skateboard could land far from your feet. Make sure to keep focused.

Taking it to the Next Level: Pop Shove-its and Beyond

Congrats, you've mastered the shove-it! Now what? The shove-it is a fantastic foundation for learning more advanced tricks. One logical next step is the pop shove-it. The pop shove-it is essentially a shove-it with an ollie. You'll use the same scooping motion with your back foot, but you'll also pop the board like you're doing an ollie. This gives the board more airtime, making the rotation easier to control. The pop shove-it is a super fun trick that opens the door to even more variations.

Once you're comfortable with pop shove-its, you can try 360 shove-its, where the board rotates a full 360 degrees. This trick requires more power and coordination, but it's totally achievable once you have the fundamentals down. You can also explore variations like varial kickflips (a combination of a kickflip and a pop shove-it) and big spins (a combination of a 360 shove-it and a 180 body varial).

The possibilities are endless! Skateboarding is all about progression and having fun. Keep practicing, keep experimenting, and most importantly, keep pushing yourself. The shove-it is just the beginning of your skateboarding journey. With dedication and persistence, you'll be landing all sorts of amazing tricks in no time. Remember guys, keep shredding and have fun learning the shove-it! Happy skating!