Although skimboarding can be performed in many locations, with varying conditions the same principal applies when picking your skim spot in all areas. You are looking for a firm, even, surface that is smooth with about 1/2" of water covering it. This area should not have any obstructions such as rocks, sticks, shells or anything else that could cause damage to you or your.
It’s ok to ride in deeper water, the distance of your rides will be shorter. If you are trying to perform aerial tricks slightly deeper water can benefit you because your skimboard can push deeper into the water giving you more pop. Tide flats are ideal for flatland skimboarding, providing streams, tide pools, and perfect on the shoreline. Other popular areas to skimboard are the edges of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds.
Skimboarding is so versatile you can ride on any slick surface, for example after a torrential rain storm wet grass makes a perfect runway for skimboarding. So when picking a skimboarding spot we encourage you to use your creativity.
Safety Precautions
It’s a good habit to stretch for a couple minutes before you start riding, most injuries related to skimboarding can easily be avoided by taking some time to stretch. Always be aware of your surroundings when skimboarding in an area with other people around. It is very important to communicate with other people you are riding with, this will avoid confusion of the possibility of collision.
An out control skimboard can seriously injure someone’s foot or ankle, so if you lose your board make sure everyone is alert and conscious of what is going on. If you are going to be exposed to the sun for long periods of time make sure you carry a bottle of water with you and stay hydrated.
Stance
Your stance is the direction that you stand with your feet on the skimboard. There are two ways to stand on a skimboard. The first is by putting your left foot forward which is known as a regular stance, and is most commonly used. The other option is standing with your right foot forward which is known as a goofy stance. When choosing your stance the most important thing it to feel comfortable. If you have experience with other board sports such as skateboarding or snowboarding you will already have a chosen stance, don’t assume it will be the same on a skimboard.
There are a couple ways to help determine what your stance is. One is by standing up straight with your knees locked, and having someone gently push you from the back. Whichever foot goes forward first to support your weight is your dominant leg and should be on the back of the board in your stance. Another good trick is just to imagine you are sliding across a wood floor with your socks on, however you land would be the same stance you would want to skimboard with.
Types of skimboards
Skimboarding is separated into two different categories; shore break and flatland. Shore break skimboarding consists of using the decline of a beach to ride wave breaks into oncoming waves. Surf and skate like maneuvers are performed on the wave face before you are brought back into shore.
Most wave riding skimboards available are constructed using high density foam cores and fiberglass. The shape resembles a smaller wider surfboard without fins, usually having a pin or rounded tail to help grip the wave face. These skimboards are extremely light and buoyant which helps riders stay on top of the water. Flatland skimboards are constructed of wood making them heavier but also more durable. A heavier skimboard disperses you body weight better yielding longer rides.
The most popular shape is an omni-directional twin tip design allowing for riders to perform complex flatland tricks without the skimboarding landing backwards. Each type of skimboard is designed specifically for one type of riding style. If you take a flatland skimboard and try to ride wave breaks it’s not going to work very well because it’s designed for riding thin bodies of water over a smooth surface. The same goes for using a wave riding skimboard with flatland conditions, the board will not perform well and can easily be damaged by rocks or shells because its more fragile than wood skimboard.
Jumping on the Skimboard
After you have determined your stance it’s important to practice your approach and jump onto the skimboard before you get it in the water. A good way to get a feel for your approach and jump is to set you skimboard on the sand and practice. Make sure the top of your board has grip on it by applying wax; only apply wax to the top of your board.
First stand parallel right behind your skimboard with your front foot about 1 foot from the back of the board. Now bend your knees and jump forward onto the skimboard, this is how you should jump onto the skimboard when approaching from the back. Now step back from your skimboard about five feet and slowly jog towards it, when you approach the end of the skimboard jump forward with your momentum onto the skimboard. When you land on the skimboard make sure you are centered in the middle of the board, with your feet shoulder width apart, and your knees are bent. A mistake that many beginners make is by running onto the skimboard, not jumping. If you feel that you are running or skipping onto the board we recommend practicing on the sand a couple more times until you pick it up.
Throwing the skimboard
The throw is another important aspect of skimboarding. If your stance is regular hold the back end of the skimboard with your right hand, this will be the driving force in your throw. Your left hand will be for support and should be holding the left edge near the top of the skimboard. It’s ok to adjust your left hand to feel more comfortable, but the right hand should always be centered on the back of the board. Hold the skimboard parallel to the water with the tip slightly raised, and gently use your right hand to throw it with forward momentum.
If you just drop the skimboard in the water, you will lose all your forward motion. It is important to throw the skimboard forward so it glides smoothly across the water. If you are a beginner we recommend throwing the skimboard from a stationary position. Once you become more comfortable with throwing and jumping on the skimboard, try running and releasing the board synonymously. This will provide much longer rides because you will have additional forward momentum driving your body and the skimboard.
Falling
Falling is universal; everyone falls whether you have been riding for 10 years or 10 minutes. Although sometimes unavoidable there is a right and wrong way to fall. Objects that are in motion tend to stay in motion. When you’re riding full speed and catch and edge it’s going to hurt less if you continue your forward motion and release it slowly, rather than coming to a stop immediately. A good wide stance and bent knees can help avoid most falls, if you are standing strait with your legs close together you are more likely to fall and also have less of an opportunity to make the fall less painful by rolling out of it.
If you know you are going to fall try to stay close to the ground and roll with the direction of your motion, just like you were doing a somersault. This will release the power of your momentum more even then falling like a tree and will be less painful. These are just suggestions, it’s important to only do what feels comfortable to you.
After Session Reminders
It’s important to take care of you board to prolong its life and keep it performing optimally. When you are finished skimboarding make sure to wash the sand, salt water, and other contaminants off using clean water. If you are traveling with more than one board make sure you stack them face to face to avoid getting wax on the bottom of the skimboard. Never leave your skimboard in the trunk of your car when it’s hot, store your skimboard in a cool, dry area out of the sun.