How to Pop Shove It: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
The pop shove-it spins the board 180 degrees under your feet. It's one of the best first flip-style tricks, and you can learn it before you can ollie well.
What Is a Pop Shove It?
A pop shove it (often written "shuvit") is a trick where you pop the tail and scoop the board so it spins 180 degrees under you, then land back on it. It doesn't flip over, which makes it one of the friendliest "flip" tricks to learn. The most common version is the backside pop shove it, where the tail spins behind you. If you can already ollie, you're well on your way, but you can start learning shove-its before your ollies are perfect.
Shove It Variations
| Trick | What Happens | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Shove it | Board spins 180° without a pop | Easiest |
| Backside pop shove it | Pop and spin, tail goes behind you | Beginner |
| Frontside pop shove it | Pop and spin, tail goes in front of you | Beginner to intermediate |
| 360 shove it (tre-shove) | Board spins a full 360° | Intermediate |
Step 1: Set Your Feet
- Back foot: on the tail, with your toes near the heel-side edge (not centered). This lets you scoop the tail backward.
- Front foot: just behind the front bolts, a little toward the heel side, or even with the toes hanging slightly over.
- Keep your weight centered over the board.
Step 2: Practice Standing Still
Start on grass or carpet so the board doesn't roll. This builds the motion without the speed.
Step 3: Pop and Scoop
Push the tail down and backward in one motion, like scooping it behind you. The tail should pop and spin the board, not shoot out behind you. Think "down and back" rather than "kick away."
Step 4: Jump Up, Not Forward
As your back foot scoops, jump straight up. Lift your front foot out of the way so the board can spin freely beneath you. Stay over the board; don't lean back.
Step 5: Watch and Catch
Watch the board spin. When it has turned 180 degrees, bring your feet down onto the bolts. Catching it with your back foot first can help at the start.
Step 6: Land and Roll Away
Land with bent knees, both feet over the trucks. Once you can do it standing still, try it rolling slowly.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Board shoots out behind you | Kicking back instead of scooping | Scoop the tail under your body |
| Board doesn't spin far enough | Weak scoop | Put more of your toes over the heel edge and scoop harder |
| Board spins too far | Too much scoop | Ease off and watch the board |
| Landing behind the board | Leaning back | Keep your shoulders over the board |
| Front foot blocks the spin | Not lifting it | Lift your front knee up |
Tips for Learning Faster
- Learn the shove it without a pop first, then add the pop.
- Keep your shoulders parallel to the board; turning them can turn your body with the board.
- Practice a few minutes at a time and stop when you get tired.
- Wear a helmet and decent skate shoes.
What to Learn Next
After the backside pop shove it, try the frontside version, then a kickflip or a 360 shove it. See the full list of skateboard tricks and the trick learning order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a pop shove it easier than a kickflip?
Yes, for most skaters. The board only spins flat; it doesn't flip, so the catch is simpler.
Do I need to ollie before learning a pop shove it?
No, but it helps. The pop and jump are similar, and many skaters learn both around the same time.
What's the difference between a shove it and a pop shove it?
A shove it spins the board without popping the tail, so it stays low. A pop shove it pops the tail so the board leaves the ground.
Why does my board fly away?
You're kicking the tail out behind you instead of scooping it around. Keep the scoop under your body.
Should I learn backside or frontside first?
Most skaters learn the backside pop shove it first because it feels more natural.