Tips on Skateboard Varials

Skateboarding is an individual extreme sport that requires many hours of practice. In order to learn more advanced tricks, you will need to learn the basics of skateboarding. The varial, also known as a "pop shuv it" or "shuv it," is a fairly basic trick that can be learned in as little as one day. A varial is when you jump off of your board upward, rotate the board 180 degrees, and land back on your board, without rotating your body.

  1. Proper Footing

    • You must place your back foot on the inner edge of the tail, while your front foot should remain about three fourths of the way up the board, closer to the outer edge. Slightly bend your knees and allow the toes of you back foot to slightly inch up and hang over the inner edge of the tail. Having your back foot in place is crucial to getting a good pop.

    Get a Good Pop

    • A good varial depends on a clean, crisp pop. To create the pop, slam your back foot down on the tail of the board as you do an inward sweeping motion with your toes. As the tail touches the ground, slide the outer edge of your front foot upward and inward, in a sweeping motion. Timing is extremely important; make sure to move your front foot a split second after stomping down on the tail. If you get it right, you will hear and feel the pop.

    Commit to your Jump

    • You will need to commit to your jump. As the board pops and rotates 180, jump with both feet and remain above the board for a second. Many novice skaters fear the consequences of not completing a trick and falling or getting hit in the shins with the board. Don't be scared; in skateboarding, you will fall many times and you may even get hurt on occasion. However, trial and error is the only way to learn. The more you practice, the less you will fall and you will also become more confident. Try to avoid "bailing out" and placing one foot off to the side of your board.

    Keep Your Body Centered

    • The key to landing skate tricks properly is to keep your body centered. As your board rotates and you remain in the air, keep your stance and do not rotate your body. Your front foot should remain directly above the front trucks and your back foot should stay directly above the back trucks.

    Don't Pop Too Hard

    • Controlling your pop and rotation will take some time. Popping too hard will send your board flying while rotating too hard will create a difficult landing. You will learn to control the pop and rotation the more that you practice. Likewise, do not under rotate or push too softly when popping, or your board will not rotate a full 180 degrees.

    Proper Surface to Practice On

    • While a true varial must be performed while moving, you may learn the trick standing still. A great way to learn the proper pop and rotation is to practice on carpet. An old piece of carpet, inside a garage or outside works fine. Also, placing two of your wheels in the crack of a sidewalk is a way to stabilize your board as your learn varials. However, you will have to eventually give up the training wheels and practice varials on a hard flat surface, such as cement or asphalt.