shoveits

A shoveit, also spelled shuvit or shovit, is a basic skateboarding trick in which the rider remains on the board as the deck rotates around its vertical axis underneath them. The standard shoveit involves the board spinning 180 degrees and landing back under the rider, while the rider maintains balance without spinning their hips. Variations extend the rotation, with the 360 shoveit causing a full turn of the deck, and several forms that include pops or flips as adjustments to the spin.

Technique and execution play a central role. In a 180 shoveit, the rider positions the back foot on the tail and the front foot near the bolts, uses a quick upward and sideways motion to pop the tail slightly and guide the board into rotation, and then hops to stay over the board as it spins. The rider’s body remains largely above the board, with subtle shoulders and hips following the deck. For a 360 shoveit, the same mechanics are used but with a full rotation of the board. A pop shoveit adds a deliberate tail pop to increase the board’s spin and help the rider catch the board in the air.

Origins of shoveits trace to early skateboarding developments in the 1970s and 1980s as riders experimented with rotating the board without turning their bodies. Today, shoveits are considered foundational tricks and commonly serve as building blocks for more advanced maneuvers such as kickflips and tre flips. Safety considerations include practicing on flat, smooth surfaces and wearing appropriate protective gear.