How Do You Do Skimboard Tricks (Like Ollies, Pop Shuvits, Jumps, and Spins)?

There are multiple skimboarding tricks that you can execute, depending on your skill level. This article discusses how to do: the Ollie, Pop Shuvits, the Jump, and the Spins. Note that before you perform these maneuvers on a wave, start with shallow water first.

How Do You Ollie a Skimboard?

The Ollie is one of the basic maneuvers you learn when skimboarding. The key to perfecting this trick is your posture and speed. You will also have to consider where you will be practicing as you want to do this in flat, shallow water. Check whether the weather is good that day or if there will be a huge crowd. Here are the steps to do an Ollie on your skimboard:

1. Do the one-drop-slide technique. The faster you run, the faster the board will be, and the higher your board can go.
2. Place your back foot on the farthest end of the tail of your board, with your front foot shoulder-width apart.
3. Keep your gravity low by bending your knees. It will help you jump higher.
4. Once you are in deep water, jump high with your front leg coming off the board first and your back leg generating most of the force.
5. Pull both your legs up towards your chest.
6. Straighten the skimboard by placing your front foot on the nose, preparing to land on water. It will also make sure that the board lands flat.
7. Prepare for landing by making sure both your feet are positioned on the board, shoulder-width apart.
8. Bend your knees and let your legs absorb the impact when landing on water.
9. Do these steps quickly. You will only have seconds to react while the skimboard is up in the air.

Practice this in water that is at least 4 inches (10 cm) deep or more. Remember, your posture and speed are vital, as well as your timing. You can start with a mini obstacle to Ollie over to get you better at Ollie. Then, once you are more confident, you can increase the height of the block and improve your jump.

How Do You Do a Pop Shuvit on a Skimboard?

The Pop Shuvit is an intermediate to an advanced technique that you see in skateboarding but you can also learn on your skimboard. To do this, you’ll have to learn the frontside and backside Shuvit and the Ollie first, which you can practice on dry sand or your carpet. After that, you practice the Pop Shuvit on the water. Here are the steps to do a Front and Back Pop Shuvit:

Frontside Pop Shuvit:

1. Start with water that is at least ankle-deep or deeper.
2. Do the one-drop-slide technique. Run fast for better momentum and a higher jump.
3. Do the Ollie. As you reach deep water, prepare to jump with the force generated by your back leg, your front leg coming off the board first.
4. With your back leg, flick the board counter-clockwise for regular footed and clockwise if you are a goofy foot while the board is in the air. Turn your shoulders towards the horizon. Do a little kick with your front foot to help with the rotation of the board.
5. Similar to how you land from doing the Ollie, straighten your board by placing your front foot on the nose with your back foot shoulder-width apart.
6. Keep your knees bent as you land on the water, allowing your legs to brace for the impact.

Backside Pop Shuvit:

1. Start with water that is at least ankle-deep or deeper.
2. Do the one-drop-slide technique. Run fast for better momentum and a higher jump.
3. Do the Ollie. As you reach deep water, prepare to jump with the force generated by your back leg, your front leg coming off the board first.
4. With your back leg, flick the board clockwise for regular footed and counter-clockwise if you are a goofy foot while the board is in the air. Turn your shoulders towards the horizon. Do a little kick with your front foot to help with the rotation of the board.
5. Similar to how you land from doing the Ollie, straighten your board by placing your front foot on the nose with your back foot shoulder-width apart.
6. Keep your knees bent as you land on the water, allowing your legs to brace for the impact.

The Frontside Pop Shuvit is more arduous than a Backside Pop Shuvit. It is recommended that you press harder on the board with your back leg to complete a full rotation. A helpful tip is to run in the direction where you’ll be rotating, so an option is to run diagonally towards the water. Practice this repeatedly. As you do so, you will be able to do tricks such as the Shuvit 360 and the Shuvit 540, both advanced techniques.

How Do You Get Air on a Skimboard?

Being able to pop your board up is one of the essential techniques you’ll need to learn to do more challenging tricks. The great thing is you can practice this on dry sand or in the comfort of your home. Here are helpful tips to get your board in the air:

1. Bend your knees before jumping: Think of it as when you are jumping in general. Try jumping with your knees straight and then your knees bent. You’ll notice that you can jump significantly higher with your knees bent than keeping your knees straight.
2. Place your back foot on the end of the tail of your skimboard: It will allow your back leg to push down on the tail and pop the nose higher.
3. Keep your gravity centered on the board: Doing this will prevent you from sliding away from the board and landing incorrectly.
4. Run fast: The faster you run, the faster your speed is, and the higher the board can go up.
5. Prepare for landing: Placing your front foot on the nose will help keep the board straight and help you land safely on the water.
6. Correct timing: You need to time when to pop up your board, otherwise, it may not go high enough, or you may land incorrectly.

When practicing, make sure to do so on flat ground and with no people near you to avoid accidentally hitting someone’s shin with the board. When doing this on dry sand, build a small mound and place the board on top to practice flipping your board. You can also do this practice on your carpet.

How Do You Jump Waves on a Skimboard?

To jump on waves on a skimboard, you’ll have to identify the perfect wave to skim on and practice good timing. In addition, you want to make sure that you glide on a wave that’s about to break and that the wave crashes closer to the shore so it’s not too far from where you are. To jump a wave with your skimboard, follow the steps below:

1. Choose a wave you want to skim on.
2. With timing, run fast and perform the drop and slide technique, letting it move you forward to the water.
3. Do the Ollie by generating force on your back foot, with your front foot coming off the board first.
4. Do a Pop Shuvit, either front or backside, while in the air. Then, rotate in the direction you want to go.
5. To land flatly on water, place your front foot on the nose of the board with your back foot shoulder-width apart.
6. Let your legs receive the impact on the water.
7. You can go straight to shore by letting the waves move you while ensuring your weight is on your back foot. Doing this will prevent the board from hitting the sand.
8. If you wish to turn your board, use your toes and heels to distribute weight and turn your board in the direction you want to go.

Use a foam epoxy skimboard, as it is better for catching waves than a wooden board. Again, timing is essential in skimboarding. If you see a swell, run towards it and skim it as it is about to break. Waiting too long and losing your timing can cause you to hit whitewater or break waves instead.

How Do You Spin on a Skimboard?

Spinning on your board is one of the basic techniques you’ll need to master before you learn more advanced moves. For beginners, you will spin your board by allowing your backhand to drag on the water as it turns you in the opposite direction of that hand. More experienced skimboarders do this without the backhand.

You will notice that your momentum is significant when spinning on your board. The faster your speed is, the easier it is for you to do multiple 180- and 360-degree spins. In addition, keeping your weight at the center of the board will hinder you from sliding away from the board.

How Do You Do a 180 on a Skimboard?

The 180-degree spin involves rotating your board halfway around the water. You will also use your back foot, shoulders, or backhand to drag the water. To help you practice a 180-degree spin on your skimboard, follow the steps below:

1. Go to water that is ankle-deep or 4 inches (10 cm) deep.
2. Do the run-drop-slide technique fast to gain momentum.
3. Stay directly over your board to keep the gravity at the center.
4. Ensure that your feet are shoulder-width apart.
5. Squat low, and with your backhand, touch the water to create drag. This backhand will help spin you in the opposite direction. Do this to make a 180-degree turn.
6. If you wish to do this without a hand, you want to jump on the board without losing momentum and use your shoulders to do a 180-degree turn.
7. After the spin, stand slowly back up, bringing your arms closer to your body and your body centered on the board.

When you are learning this without dragging your hand on the water, remember that the way you move your hips is also crucial when you turn. Your hips and shoulders should move in the same direction to help you turn the board effortlessly while maintaining your weight on the center of your board.

How Do You Do a 360 on a Skimboard?

The 360-degree spin is a full rotation performed as you put your backhand in the water and create drag. It’s an advanced technique performed with or without dragging your hand on the water. You can do this trick either on flat water or in large waves. Here are steps to do a 360-degree spin on your skimboard:

1. Go to water that is ankle-deep or 4 inches (10 cm) deep.
2. Do the run-drop-slide technique fast to gain momentum.
3. Stay directly over your board to keep the gravity at the center.
4. Ensure that your feet are shoulder-width apart.
5. Squat low, and with your backhand, touch the water to create drag. This backhand will help spin you in the opposite direction. Do this to make a 360-degree turn.
6. If you wish to do this without a hand, you want to jump on the board without losing momentum and use your shoulders to do a 360-degree turn.
7. After the spin, stand back up, bringing your arms closer to your body and your body centered on the board.

Remember that the faster your momentum is, the easier it will be for you to do a 360-degree spin. Start practicing in flat water before you perform this trick on the beach with more challenging waves.

Skimboarding is an exciting watersport that has different techniques you can practice. Start on beginner tricks first, like doing the Wrap or the Spin. You can then gradually perform maneuvers that allow you to jump while spinning on the wave or shallow water. Remember, the key is your posture and timing!