A Quick Guide to Skimboarding

Cover image: Danny Avila on Unsplash

What is a Skimboard

Skimboards are thin, lightweight, and designed to glide over shallow water. Their lack of buoyancy means they are not made for longer wave rides, and for the most part, they are shaped like flat, fat shortboards.

What is Skimboarding

Skimboarding, also known as skimming, is riding a skimboard over shallow water. Broken down, a skimboarder runs from the beach, with the board in hand, throws it down onto the shallow water breaking on the shore, hops on the board, and rides it towards the breaking surf. Experienced skimboarders catch the incoming waves and ride them back to the beach. It is the perfect activity for when the waves are flat and you are looking for some active fun in the sun.

History of Skimboarding

The Hawaiians were the first to take thin wooden slabs and use them to surf, skid, or slide down anything. The origins of skimboarding can be dated back to ancient times, however, skimboarding, as we know it today, started in Laguna Beach in the 1920s. Lifeguards, George Griffeth and Jimmy, used redwood to build round disks to glide, or skim, across the shallow waters and attempt to ride the shore break. The first skimboards used two planks of redwood held together by strips of oak. These original boards were called Hydroplanes. They were about five feet long, super-flat, and at first, were towed behind boats similar to a wakeboard. With the invention of plywood, skimboarding, at the time called skidboarding, rose to popularity throughout the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

In 1976, Tex Haines and partner Peter Prietto started Victoria Skimboards. They took a stab at improving the standard version of a skidboard by experimenting with fiberglass and plywood. Their innovation, which they named the skimboard as they thought it sounded more positive than the previous name, became a success. Skimboards took over, and in 1980 Haines and Prietto were the first to make a foam-cored skimboard covered in fiberglass and resin. These foam boards were wider, lighter, and allowed riders to hit larger waves earlier. Tube riding shore breaks became possible, and a new wave of popularity for the sport began.

In 1987, Sports Illustrated featured a picture of Tom Trager riding a skimboard. The sport, however, hit a decline in the later ’80s and early ’90s as surfing, kiteboarding, and windsurfing took over the watersport scene. Despite this dip, Skimboarding remains prominent, and due to its little maintenance and quick learning curve, the activity continues to grow in popularity.

Today skimboarding is governed by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the United Skim Tour (UST) has run the most popular tour circuit since 2006. The Vic, starting in 1977, is the longest-running skimboard competition.

The most popular skimboard brands are Victoria Skimboards, Exile Skimboards, and Zap Skimboards. Each year they come out with even more technologically advanced boards that further the skill levels and push boundaries of what is possible with a skimboard.

Famous Skimboarders

Blair Conklin

Born in Laguna Beach, the home and mecca of skimboarding, Blair Conklin started gliding across the shallows at age four. Growing up, he spent his time playing in the shore break and joined the competition scene at age 15, where, in a few years, worked his way up to being one of the best in the sport. Today he competes around the world and makes vlogs for his channel, Skid Kids.

Austin Keen

World Champion, Austin Keen, is known for his highly technical skimboard maneuvers and charging some of the biggest beach breaks ever. He is also a well-established wakeboarder and overall water-sport enthusiast.

Bill Bryan

Bill Bryan is a pro surfer, snowboarder, flow boarder, and 14-time world champion skimboarder. He pioneered the current skill standards for skimboarding and is looked up to by aspiring professional skimmers everywhere.

Brad Domke

Brad Domke is no stranger to pushing limits. He charges the biggest breaks around the globe and holds the world record for the largest wave ever ridden on a skimboard.

Buying a Skimboard

When buying a skimboard of your own, it is important to do some research and find one that's right for you. These different parts of a skimboard affect its performance and rideability. Here is an in depth skimboard buying guide.

Shape and Size

The shape of a board determines how the board will perform. Beginner boards are less curved, making them more stable. High-performance boards typically have sharper, more curved noses and tails. The rocker also influences how the board will behave when ridden.

The size of the board determines how much weight it can carry and impacts its overall stability. The larger the board, the more stable it is.

Material

Materials used to make Skimboards generally range from laminated wood, foam, and carbon fibre epoxy. The ideal board is strong and lightweight. Depending on your skill level and goals, look for the material with the best durability and performance for you.

Wood boards are the most popular style for casual skimboarding, while foam boards are great for beginners as they are more forgiving. Fibreglass boards are the preferred choice for experienced riders as they are faster and more difficult to control.

Buoyancy

Traditional skimboards are not made with buoyancy in mind, however, some designed for bigger waves will have more float to help with longer rides.