How to Pop Shove-It on a Skateboard: Step-by-Step Guide
If you're learning how to skateboard, the pop shove-it is one of the best tricks to add to your lineup. It looks impressive, but once you understand how the board rotates underneath your feet, it becomes a relatively approachable trick for beginner and intermediate skaters.
A pop shove-it combines the basic motion of a shove-it with an actual pop off the ground. The skateboard spins 180 degrees while you stay above it and then land back on the deck.
In this guide, we'll break down how to pop shove-it on a skateboard, including foot placement, popping technique, board control, landing, common mistakes, and tips for learning the trick faster.
What Is a Pop Shove-It?
A pop shove-it is a skateboard trick where the board rotates 180 degrees horizontally beneath you while the nose and tail stay relatively level.
Unlike a regular shove-it, the board is popped into the air before it rotates. Your body doesn't need to spin with the skateboard—you simply jump upward while guiding the board through the rotation.
The trick is an important building block for learning more advanced skateboard tricks such as:
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Frontside and backside shove-its
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Varial flips
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360 shove-its
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Bigspins
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Tre flips
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Other flip tricks
Before You Learn the Pop Shove-It
Before trying to pop shove-it, it's helpful to be comfortable with a few basic skateboarding skills.
You should be able to:
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Ride comfortably in your normal stance
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Push and control your speed
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Stop safely
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Ollie, or at least understand the basic popping motion
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Keep your balance while jumping with the skateboard
You don't need to be an expert skater. If you can comfortably ride and control your board, you can start practicing the pop shove-it.
Pop Shove-It Foot Placement
Foot placement is one of the most important parts of learning how to pop shove-it.
For a regular stance skater, place your back foot near the tail with your toes slightly hanging over the edge. Your front foot should sit around the middle of the board, similar to your ollie position.
Your back foot does most of the work.
Think of your feet as having two separate jobs:
Back foot: Pop the tail and scoop the board around.
Front foot: Stay out of the way and help control the board.
Avoid putting too much pressure on your front foot. You want the skateboard to have room to rotate underneath you.
Step 1: Bend Your Knees
Start by riding at a comfortable, controlled speed.
Bend your knees and get low.
Your shoulders should remain relatively square with the skateboard. Don't wind your body up as if you're preparing to spin yourself.
The goal is to jump up, not jump forward.
Step 2: Pop the Tail
Quickly snap your back foot down against the tail.
This creates the pop that gets the skateboard off the ground.
Immediately after the tail hits the ground, begin scooping the tail backward and slightly around with your back foot.
The scoop is what makes the board rotate.
Don't think about kicking the board away from you. Instead, think about scooping the tail around your back foot.
Step 3: Jump Straight Up
As soon as you pop the tail, jump upward.
This is one of the biggest keys to learning the trick.
If you don't jump high enough, the board won't have enough room to rotate underneath you. If you jump too far forward or backward, you'll make it harder to catch the board.
Try to keep your shoulders centered over the skateboard.
A good pop shove-it should feel like:
Pop → Scoop → Jump → Watch the board rotate → Catch → Land
Step 4: Let the Board Rotate
Once you're in the air, allow the skateboard to complete its 180-degree rotation.
Your back foot is responsible for starting the rotation, but you don't need to keep aggressively pushing the board once it's moving.
Keep your eyes on the deck.
You should see the graphic or grip tape rotate underneath you until the board comes back around.
Try not to panic and reach for the board too early.
Step 5: Catch the Skateboard
As the board completes the 180-degree rotation, bring your feet back toward it.
Ideally, you want to catch the board with both feet at roughly the same time.
Once you can consistently see the board complete the rotation, start focusing on catching it before it reaches the ground.
Catching the board is what makes the trick feel much more controlled.
Step 6: Land With Your Knees Bent
When the board comes back around, land over the bolts with your knees bent.
Don't lock your legs when you land.
Absorb the impact with your knees and stay centered over the skateboard.
Once you land, ride away and reset.
Congratulations—you just learned the basic mechanics of a pop shove-it.
Common Pop Shove-It Mistakes
1. The Board Only Spins 90 Degrees
If the skateboard isn't completing the full 180-degree rotation, you're probably not getting enough scoop from your back foot.
Focus on scooping the tail farther around rather than simply popping straight down.
2. The Board Shoots Away
If the skateboard flies away from you, you may be kicking the board rather than scooping it.
Try keeping your body centered while using your back foot to guide the tail around.
3. You Don't Jump High Enough
A pop shove-it requires enough vertical space for the board to rotate.
Think about jumping higher while keeping your body centered over the deck.
4. Your Front Foot Gets in the Way
Beginners often try to control the board too much with their front foot.
Relax your front foot and allow the board to rotate underneath you.
5. You Spin With the Board
Your skateboard needs to rotate 180 degrees, but your body doesn't.
Keep your shoulders relatively straight and jump vertically.
6. You Land Stiff-Legged
Even if you land the trick, straight legs can make you lose your balance.
Bend your knees when you land and absorb the impact.
How to Practice Pop Shove-Its
One of the best ways to learn how to pop shove-it on a skateboard is to break the trick into smaller movements.
Start by practicing the scoop without worrying about landing.
Then work on getting the board to rotate 180 degrees consistently.
Once you can reliably make the board complete the rotation, start trying to catch it with your feet.
You can also practice stationary at first. Once you become comfortable landing stationary pop shove-its, gradually start doing them while rolling.
Eventually, you'll want to practice them at different speeds and on different surfaces.
Should You Learn Pop Shove-Its Stationary or Rolling?
For most beginners, starting stationary can make it easier to understand the movement.
However, don't stay stationary forever.
Learning to pop shove-it while rolling teaches you important skills that you'll need for other skateboard tricks. Start with a slow, comfortable speed and gradually increase your speed as your confidence improves.
How Long Does It Take to Learn a Pop Shove-It?
There's no set amount of time it takes to learn a pop shove-it.
Some skaters can land one during their first session. Others may need days or weeks of practice.
Your progress will depend on your previous skateboarding experience, balance, consistency, and how often you practice.
Don't worry about landing the trick immediately.
Focus on getting the same pop and scoop every time. Once your movement becomes consistent, landing the trick becomes much easier.
Tips for Landing Your First Pop Shove-It
Here are a few quick tips to remember when practicing:
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Stay centered over the board.
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Pop the tail hard enough to get the board airborne.
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Scoop the tail around with your back foot.
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Jump straight up instead of jumping forward.
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Keep your shoulders relatively straight.
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Watch the skateboard rotate.
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Catch the board with both feet.
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Land with your knees bent.
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Start slowly and build confidence.
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Practice consistently.
What's Next After the Pop Shove-It?
Once you've mastered the pop shove-it, you've opened the door to several other skateboard tricks.
Try progressing to:
Frontside shove-it: Learn to rotate the board in the opposite direction.
360 shove-it: Make the skateboard complete a full 360-degree rotation.
Varial kickflip: Combine a pop shove-it with a kickflip.
Bigspin: Combine a 360-degree board rotation with a 180-degree body rotation.
Tre flip: Eventually combine a 360 shove-it motion with a kickflip.
The pop shove-it is a deceptively useful trick because the scoop and board control you develop will carry over into many of these tricks.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to pop shove-it on a skateboard is all about understanding the relationship between your back foot, your jump, and the board's rotation.
Remember the basic formula:
Pop the tail. Scoop it around. Jump up. Watch the board. Catch it. Land with bent knees.
Don't worry if your first attempts are messy. Skateboarding is built around repetition, and every attempt teaches you something about board control.
Keep practicing, stay relaxed, and eventually that 180-degree rotation will start feeling natural.
And once you can consistently land your pop shove-it, you'll have a solid foundation for learning some of the more advanced tricks in skateboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a pop shove-it harder than a shove-it?
A pop shove-it is generally considered a progression from a regular shove-it because you have to pop the board into the air while maintaining control of the rotation.
Can a beginner learn a pop shove-it?
Absolutely. If you're comfortable riding a skateboard and have some basic board control, a pop shove-it is a great trick to start learning.
Do you need to know how to ollie before learning a pop shove-it?
Not necessarily, but understanding how to pop the tail and jump with the skateboard can make learning a pop shove-it significantly easier.
Why does my pop shove-it spin sideways?
Your back-foot scoop may be moving too much sideways or your shoulders may be rotating with the board. Try staying centered and focusing on a clean, controlled scoop.
How high should I pop a pop shove-it?
You don't need an enormous pop. You need enough height for the skateboard to rotate freely underneath you. As your technique improves, you can work on making the trick higher and more stylish.
What skateboard stance is best for a pop shove-it?
You can learn a pop shove-it in either regular or goofy stance. The mechanics are essentially the same, with your back foot controlling the pop and scoop.