The Skateboard Trick ANYONE can Learn in Half an Hour
By: Dorian M.
Tags: Skateboarding, Sports, Skateboard, Progress, Skate

The Shove-it is the perfect first skateboard trick to learn as a new skater. Its simple motion makes this trick easy to understand and execute — even if you barely can roll or do anything on a skateboard.

For a little backstory, Shove-It is the first trick I learned, even before being comfortable enough rolling around or ollieing. It is, in my opinion, the easiest skateboard trick. I’ve taught it to some friends who never stepped on a skateboard and they figured it out in less than 30 min — on grass and standing still, but it is still impressive how fast you can learn this trick once you figure out the concept.

I’ve compiled everything you need to know in order to learn this trick in record time.

Learn How to Shove-It on a Skateboard in Record Time

Disclaimer: As the saying says: “Everyone’s different”. Skateboarding is no exception and can be more challenging for some than others. In this sense, I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to learn it in 30 minutes top. Nevertheless, with proper understanding, dedication, and practice, you’ll stomp those like it’s nothing.

Understanding the Shove-It:

As the most basic trick in skateboarding, maybe besides the Ollie, the Shove-it consists of a forward 180 rotation off the horizontal axis of your board. It is executed by scooping the tail of the board with the back foot.

The two things required to land a shove-it are :

being able to jump — not even that high actually

— not even that high actually being able to scoop your board

Now, all you need to know is…

What is the Scoop in Skateboarding?

Scooping is when you use your popping foot to rotate the board on its horizontal axis. This will cause the board to quickly spin horizontally as your back wheels will slide on the ground.

Depending on the trick, the foot placement will vary but the motion will, for the most part, stay the same.

In order to scoop your board, you don’t want to use your entire foot, instead, you want to focus on your toes and the tip end of the bowl of your foot, position kind of a hook.

When I say toes, I don’t actually mean all of them, most of the time you want to only stand on your big and index toe.

Remember: the less surface is covered, the more force is produced. Meaning, using only a small part of your foot will make the board spin easier and faster.

With your foot in this position, you then want to hit your tail in a curved diagonal motion as seen in the picture above.

If you have a problem figuring out your back foot motion, try and mimic what you would do if you had something stuck on the sole of your shoe and want to rub it out.

Feet Positioning & Legs Motion:

In order to perform a Shove-It, you need to know the proper foot placement required to actually rotate your board while staying above to land it cleanly.

Back Foot: Your back foot needs to be placed on the top right pocket of your tail — if you’re goofy, if you’re regular then it will be the top left pocket — as you see in the picture below. This will allow the board to spin faster using the scooping method mentioned above.

Front Foot: Your front foot positioning won’t have much of an impact on the trick. As it won’t do anything besides going up to control the motion of your board. Therefore, there isn’t a single way to position it. I put mine right before the bolts, this allows me to have a comfortable position while rolling. I’ll add that this way I only need to move it a bit upward to catch the board over the bolts.

Work with your front foot placement, pick what works the best, and feels the most comfortable to you.

The key thing you need to remember is that your front foot guides the board during its rotation and catch it once the Shove-It is completed. Aim for the front bolts for a smooth and balanced landing.

Feet and Legs Motion:

First of all, you want to bend your knees to allow yourself to have some spring and gain easier air time. Your back foot needs to scoop the board while jumping at the same time. Your front foot stays above the board while it completes its rotation before catching the board over the front foot. Then your back foot come back over the back bolts as you bend your knees to absorb the landing.

In practice and especially in the beginning, you will want to jump forward as you will quickly notice the board wants to go forward while spinning in this direction.

With time and practice, you will have the control to make it spin right below yourself.

Balance and Timing

Balance: First, you want to sit comfortably above your board; with your upper body coated, you want to align your front shoulder with your front leg. Your hips must sit back with most of the weight towards your back foot. As seen below.

Timing: The hardest part of figuring out any trick on a skateboard really. Timing is a pretty hard thing to explain. All I can say is how I envision it.

As I set up with the majority of my weight on my back foot (app. 70%), I jump forward shifting my weight towards my front foot (app. 60%).

You will need to figure this one out the old way, by failing and repeating until you feel and engrave it in your muscle memory.

Shove-It Sequence:

1. Set up for the Shove-It with your back foot in the scooping position and your front foot right before the bolts. Keep your upper body straight and over the board.

2. Scoop your board as you jump a bit forward, anticipating the motion of the board.

3. At this point, the board must be rotating. Start bringing your back foot above the board as your front foot is hovering over it.

4. As the Shove-It motion is almost complete. Catch the front bolts of your board with your front foot first. Then your back foot must meet the back bolts as you land.

5. Bend your knees to absorb the impact as you land the Shove-It with your feet on the bolts.

Easy Practice Steps

Start by choosing a perfect ground to practice. I would actually recommend grass, dirt, or smooth ground like a carpet if you’ve never ridden a skateboard before, or you don’t feel comfortable enough rolling around. You will in this case probably learn them standing still first, this way your board won’t move and you will have a much easier time balancing on the board.

1st: Focus on Forming the Trick

When you start, try to make the board spin the 180 motion. Throw the board forward, don’t be afraid as long as you stand with your weight back nothing is going to happen. Do this until you feel the scoop motion explained at the beginning and actually can form the trick.

2nd: Now that you’re able to throw it, catch it with your front foot

Now that you’ve figured out the scoop and can make the board shoves decent enough. Time to actually work on your front foot. Make the board spin 180 and try to keep your front foot above. Ideally landing on the front bolts. This way you will gain control of the trick, as you have to keep the board close to you.

3rd: Time to put both feet on

The final step to land your first shove-it! All is left to do is to bring your back foot on. This is the moment you will have to have trust in yourself that you can actually do this and commit 100%. I’ll guarantee you the first time is the scariest. Even if you don’t come close to it the first few tries, persevere and you will get it.

Once you’ve done them standing still, all there is to do is to master them by landing them rolling. For this one, you will have a harder time as you will need to figure out your balance while rolling. Start slow and build the speed, this way practice safely and gain confidence.

If you’re still having a problem or need some more information, do not hesitate to comment on your questions right below. And if you’re looking for more tricks to learn, head over here.