How to Shuvit & Pop Shuvit on a Skateboard
For many, the Shuvit is the first trick that they learn. This fundamental trick is one of the building blocks to many other trick variations, so it's important to get this one down. The only prerequisite for shuvits would be to know how to ride a skateboard comfortably. In this guide, we'll equip you with the tips and tricks to head out and learn them quickly.
The difference between shuvits and pop shuvits is the pop of the tail. Since shuvits don't utilize the pop, it doesn't come off the ground. But Pop shuvits can get a lot of height depending on how hard you can pop and how high you can jump.
Let's go over the shuvit first and then look at pop shuvits second.
How To Shuvit
1. Foot Placement
Keep your weight on the balls of your feet and evenly distributed. The ball of your back foot should be on the edge of the tail with your toes hanging off the side of the deck. Hanging your toes off makes it easier to get some leverage on the side of the deck for the scoop. Your front foot can go wherever is comfortable. I'd suggest having it closer to the opposite side of the deck as your back foot to counterbalance the board so you can roll straight.
2. Jump
Like any other trick, the shivit is initiated with a jump, and the entire trick occurs within that jump. Since shuvits don't come off the ground much, you won't have to jump very high. You will have to hop forward slightly to accomodate for the lateral motion of the board when it's rotating.
3. Scoop
Scoop is a term used to describe the motion of the back foot and ankle as it curls around the side of the tail and pushes it downward and behind you to initiate the shuvit. Keep your shoulders steady and parallel with the board on the take off and landing. You also will need to scoop the board hard enough to break the traction of the back wheels. When the wheels slide out, the board stays under your torso more than if the back wheels grip and pivot. All the front foot does is life up and get out of the way and wait to land back on the board.
4. Spot the Landing
Immediately after the scoop, bring your back foot up and under your torso to get ready to land back on the board. As soon as you see the board completing the rotation, place your feet back on the deck and try to land on the hardware bolts. Many skaters will land with their front foot first, but it's completely fine to land with both feet together.
Now that we've gone over the shuvit, let's look at the pop shuvit. The main difference is that there is less of an emphasis on the scoop, and much more on the pop. You will also need to add more vertical jump to give the board space to bounce upwards.
How To Pop Shuvit
1. Foot Placement
The foot placement is going to be similar to the shuvit, but since the scoop is less important, you don't need your toes to be hanging off. Have the ball of your back foot more centered on the tail to get a more solid and even pop. Your front foot can go wherever is comfortable.
2. Jump
Since the board is going to pop up off the ground, you'll need to put more effort into jumping and tucking your feet up to give the board space to rotate.
3. Pop & Crouch
Just before your feet leave the board from your jump, use your ankle to give the tail a solid and even pop with a slight backwards angle to initiate the rotation. You don't need to worry about scooping as hard because it's going to rotate under your torso because it's airborne. All your front foot does is lift up to get out of the way and wait to catch the board when it comes around.
4. Catch & Land
Right after you pop the tail, bring your back foot up and under your torso. Since the board is in the air now, you'll need to catch the board in order to prevent it from over-rotating. Catching the board is a gentle and deliberate action, it's not just stomping your feet to pin it down. When the board finishes rotating, touch your feet to the grip to halt the rotation, and let gravity do the rest. The gentle catch will enable you to pop shuvit down gaps or into grinds and manuals. Many skaters catch the board with their front foot, but catching it with both feet is just fine. And try to get in the habit of landing on the hardware bolts.
The most difficult part of the trick might be committing to landing back on the board. If you're nervous to try it on concrete, you can practice on some carpet or some dry grass so you don't slip out and have a bit of cushion in case you fall. A strategy that may help is to visualize yourself doing the trick. Visualization can give you a boost of confidence and get you into that mind set you need to commit to landing back on the board.
Be sure to practice shuvits and pop shuvits a lot because they are stepping stones to more advanced rotational tricks. Don't stress about learning it really fast. Remember that skateboarding is about having fun, and there's no set timeline for progression. So if it gets frustrating take a break, goof off for a while and come back when you're ready.
Have fun learning shuvits! If you have any questions, feel free to hit us up and we'll do our best to help you out!
