Skimboarding is great fun and can be picked up very quickly. However, practice makes perfect, and the more practice you have, the better you will get at skimming.
Here are a few steps to get you started
Buy A Skimboard
The first step is to Buy A Skimboard. Boards range from the budget brands that are great for skimming on the sand to intermediate and premium-priced boards fibreglass and even carbon fibre boards that can wave ride and skim.
Wax Your Skimboard
You must Wax Your Skimboard before using this to add grip to your skimboard and ensure you don’t slip off when you hop on.
Wear Suitable Clothing
You’re going to be running and jumping on the shoreline, you’re going to be very active, and you’re going to get wet. Most Skimboarders favour board Shorts, and for colder conditions, you can wear a wet suit.
Find A Suitable Beach
Not all beaches and waterways are suitable for Skimboarding. We have, however, compiled a list of suitable UK beaches with lovely flat smooth areas that are ideal for Skimming
Find A Suitable Clear Spot
Choose a flat spot on the beach for skimming. The flatter, the better. If possible, pick an area with few stones. Even more important is to ensure you’re not going to bump into any other beach users, which is potentially dangerous to yourself and others. Pick somewhere away from the crowds.
Wear A Helmet If You’re A Beginner
If you’re a rank beginner at Skimboarding, a helmet is recommended. Even though you’re skimming on soft sand, head injuries are still a possibility, especially if there’s an odd rock or large stone on the beach.
Stay Hydrated
It’s important to stay hydrated when your Skimboard. Keep a bottle of water to hand.
Warm-Up
A warm body is a lot harder to injure than a cold body. While the walk down to the beach will provide some warm-up, you may want to jog up and down a few times to warm yourself up. Some Skimboarders add stretching in also.
Time To Skimboard
- Hold the board with two hands on the rails (sides of the board). If you’re right-handed, you’ll hold the board to the right of your torso, and vice versa if you’re left-handed. There are no hard and fast rules here. Do whatever feels most comfortable.
- It’s best to skim in the water around 1-2 cm, stand parallel to the waterline, wait for the tide to be sucked out, and when there’s a thin film of water start running, the faster your run, the further you will skim. You may want to regulate your speed at the beginning.
- Drop the board in front of you, don’t slow down before you drop the board.
- Run (don’t jump) onto the board. One foot should be at the back the other should be past the centre of the board.
- Knees should be bent slightly. Shoulders should be over the forward foot on the board.
- Enjoy the ride until the board slows down or stops
- Repeat as many times as you want or until you feel tired
Remember
Cease Skimming or take a break if your knees, ankles or any other part of your body start hurting. Never risk injury.
Everyone’s different, and everyone eventually develops their own technique that works best for them. While learning, there will be failures, good attempts, bad attempts, and successful skims.
Keep practising, and it will all come together. Eventually, you’ll be skimming on every attempt.