Skimboarding or skimming is a board sport much like surfing but on a smaller scale. Here, a skim board is used to glide across the water surface to meet the incoming breaking waves and return to the shore. Here I am going to tell you how to skim board.
Skimboarding originated in the late 1920s in South California when Laguna Beach lifeguards wanted to surf the waves of the shore but they were too shallow for surfboards. It’s a great sports option for those who want to surf but are scared of big waves or can’t afford a surfboard, or there are no beaches nearby to surf on.
Easiest Steps to Learn Skimboarding
There are two types of skimboarding, flatland and wave-riding skimboarding. For learning how to skimboard, it’s better to start with flatland skimboarding. We are going to show you all the processes step by step so that you can learn to skimboard as easily as possible.
Step One : Find a good practice location and a skimboard
For learning the basics, it’s best to start practicing on dry sand. But if dry sand isn’t available, then it can be done on wet grass. Instead of going for an expensive carbon fiber board, buying a flat wooden skimboard would be enough for practice.
Step Two : Learn how to hold the board
First of all, you need to know your dominating leg. If you are right-footed, then hold the board with your left hand in the front and right hand in the back, otherwise just mirror this position. Try to maintain a balanced and relaxing position where you will feel at ease holding the board.
Step Three : Run-up and board placement
You will have to run up at the speed you will want to fall on the board. That being said, running up too slow can cause you to gain small momentum, making the skimboard go only a small amount of distance. Again, moving too fast can make you lose your balance. Find an optimal pace and place the board on the ground using the motion of your arm swing while running up. Don’t drop the board flat or float it, keep the board low. It will help the board gain some momentum as well.
Step Four : Leg position and stance
Before moving into the skimming, we 1st need to know about leg placement and the stance. The dominating leg should be at the back of the board and the other leg should be at the front. While getting on the board, the dominating leg should be placed on the board 1st, followed by the 2nd leg. The 2nd leg can be used to push the ground to gain some momentum, although this is optional. After getting on the board, you will want to keep the stance slightly bent to maintain your balance.
Step Five : Skimming
While getting on the board, you want to make sure you are running onto the board, not jumping on it. Jumping on the board can decrease the board’s momentum greatly and make you lose your balance. Also, make sure to get on the board from behind, not sideways, as the board is going straight, if you get on it from the side, the board will lose momentum and you may end up slipping. For the best course of action, get on the board from behind running onto it, you’ll be able to get a nice smooth glide across the surface.
And there you go! Those are all the steps you need to know to learn how to skimboard.
Tips to Learn How to Skimboard Easily:
Learning something requires a great deal of practice. But some tips and tricks can help you to learn the thing efficiently and faster with more ease.
- If you are starting on dry sand, use some speed wax on the board as it helps the board to be slippery.
- If you get comfortable with dry sand, move onto wet sand with a thin layer of water.
- Make sure to choose waves breaking near the shore for wave-riding, time your run up according to it.
- For performing tricks and maneuvers, bend down more into a semi-crouch-like position to get a better balance.
Related Questions: (FAQ)
- What if I don’t have a beach nearby to skim?
Ans: You can skim on shallow rivers or wet grass. They both provide excellent ground for skimming. Make sure not to go too deep into the river as rivers don’t have high waves like the sea or ocean.
- How to choose the right wave and timing?
Ans: If you want to perform flatland skimming, then wait for the moment when the wave is going to break. Right at that moment start your run up and start skimming once the wave breaks. For wave-riding skimming, you want to pick the wave that is not too strong and not too weak and will break near the shore. Start your run up when the wave starts to rise, that way you will be able to ride the wave at its peak.
- I see some people kicking sand on the board. Why is that?
Ans: It is to add some extra weight to the board. Sometimes on windy days, it can get hard to control the board while dropping it. That’s why some people kick sand on the board to add some extra weight, which helps them to control the board during the wind.
Final Words
Skimboarding is a great sport for people who don’t have the scope of surfing but want to experience something like this. This is a great form of sport, giving your body a great workout, and not to mention, really fun as well. But make sure to know how to swim before starting to skim, as well as wear some safety gear to protect your head, ankles, and knee when you are starting to learn as it can cause serious injury if not done properly. It’s a great way to enjoy your time at the beach, so get your skim board right now and start learning how to skim!