Learn about Skimboarding
Skimboarding is believed to have originated by lifeguards in Laguna Beach, CA. In the 1920’s they began using plywood boards to skim along the sand and visitors to the beach developed their own boards after returning home. The first boards were usually circular and were without any special design features that helped in controlling their use. In the 1970’s designers started using fiberglass and changing the design to resemble surfboards. The first known skimboarding business was started by Tex Haines and was named Victoria after a beach in Laguna. The annual World Championships are still held in Laguna Beach. There are a number of techniques to begin a ride but unlike surfing, they all begin on the beach. A “wave skimmer” begins on the beach and rides a wave out into the water and then back again. Other people may chose to ride as a “Flat Lander” and just skim along the beach in the shallow water.
To begin a skimboarder will stand within a short distance to the water and wait for a wave. As the chosen wave approaches shore the boarder will run toward the water and drop the board onto the water preceding the wave. The rider then runs onto the board at the same speed as it was dropped. The skimboarding technique of getting onto the board does take some practice and there are multiple ways it can be accomplished. Most people get on with what will be their back foot first but that isn’t universal. What is not suggested is to throw the board ahead and then try to catch up to it and jump on. It’s important to maintain proper balance so the board doesn’t settle into the sand or slide out from underneath you. Keep your back foot pretty far back on the board and place your front foot somewhere between the middle and nose of the board. Once you are on the board you will need to continue to make small adjustments with where you are balanced as the waves move beneath you. Glide out into the ocean toward the wave you selected then bank off of it and ride it back to shore. Skimboards look a great deal like surfboards but are smaller and thinner because they do not require as much buoyancy. Modern boards are made of a high density foam core which is covered with fiberglass or carbon fiber and then cured with resin. They usually come to a point at the front and have a pintail at the rear. Boards come in a variety of sizes and the best sized board for most people is about as high as the middle of their chest. There are 3 main styles of boards according to the amount of curve or nose lift on the board. This nose lift is also called the rocker. A board that has a constant rocker form nose to tail is used for a higher level of control on waves. A hybrid rocker has a curve that extends about ¾ of the way down the board. This board combines speed and control abilities and is also an excellent board for flatland use. The third type is the traditional rocker and is almost completely flat. There is a slight curve at the nose and this type of board is built for speed. If you’re unsure about your ability to learn to skimboard or to teach your child, there are a variety of places to take lessons. Up here where I live in Seattle lessons can be taken at Dashpoint on the Puget Sound at a Skim Camp.
www.dbskimcamp.com
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