Recreation
Shuv-it
Spinning only the board 180 (or 360) degrees beneath the feet while the rider's body stays facing the same direction.
Shuv-it is a term from limnology — the scientific study of inland waters. The detailed explanation below covers the definition, why the concept matters to lake water-quality interpretation, and how it intersects with the LakeGrade rubric. Reading Shuv-it alongside the LakeGrade rubric helps make the rubric's structure intuitive — each grading parameter maps directly onto an established limnological concept.
The per-lake pages on LakeQuality always show the specific Shuv-it value for that lake, so you can move from the general concept to the specific lake without leaving the site.
What It Means for Your Lake
In a shuv-it (also spelled shove-it) the rider scoops and spins just the board 180 degrees under their feet, landing riding the board backwards, while their torso continues to face the same way. A 360 shuv-it spins the board a full rotation. The trick comes straight from skateboarding and is a freestyle staple, especially in skim style where the flat, finless board pivots freely. Shuv-its can be done frontside or backside and combined with body rotations to build more complex tricks like the big spin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is shuv-it?
Spinning only the board 180 (or 360) degrees beneath the feet while the rider's body stays facing the same direction.
Why does shuv-it matter for lake health?
In a shuv-it (also spelled shove-it) the rider scoops and spins just the board 180 degrees under their feet, landing riding the board backwards, while their torso continues to face the same way. A 360 shuv-it spins the board a full rotation. The trick comes straight from skateboarding and is a frees...
Related Terms
Jumping and spinning your body 180 degrees while the board stays pointing in the same direction.
A combination trick pairing a 360-degree shuv-it of the board with a 180-degree body varial in the same direction.
A full 360-degree rotation of board and rider, most commonly performed flat on the water's surface in skim style.
A wakesurfing discipline using flatter, thinner, low-rocker boards with little or no fin, built for spins, shuv-its, slides, and skateboard-like freestyle.
Jumping the board off the water to get air without using the wake's lip as a ramp.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.