How to Shop for a Skimboard

You are hydroplaning across the surf at sunset. Your body is making the adjustments needed to keep you in harmony with your craft. There is salt on your skin, adrenaline in your blood and a smile on your face. To make all this happen, you must shop for a skimboard.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Choose a wide-shaped, short skimboard when first learning how to do this activity. The shape will keep the board relatively slow and the length will shorten its traveling distance.
2. Shop for a flat sandboard if you are planning to skim right at the coastal edge. These boards are typically inexpensive and useful for the novice and younger children. The Zap company website offers many of these boards (see Resources below).
3. Select an intermediate board when you are ready to try some waves. These boards allow for sand skimming and small-wave riding. Choose the size of this board based on your weight and how far out you want to be able to go.
4. Look for a long, narrow board when you have mastered sand skimming and small-wave riding. These boards will allow you to travel far out to catch bigger waves. You will have less control than with a shorter, wider board, but you will be able to do faster turns and tricks.
5. Shop for a skimboard equipped with a continuous rocker for riding over choppy surf. This type of rocker (or nose lift) is best for turning and is well suited for strong waves breaking near the shore.
6. Opt for a two-stage rocker for quicker speed in reaching the waves and faster rides. You will find this type better for smaller waves and for getting to waves breaking far from the coastline.
7. Shop for a board with a rubber pad for traction. This "stomp pad" will give you control in the water, working better than surf wax. Stomp pads can be purchased separately and added to a board as well.
8. Invest in a top-end board after you have become an experienced rider. These are expensive but durable and worth the money for the serious enthusiast looking for the best in performance. You can find some of the most popular brands on the Exile, Victoria and Maui websites (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the body-weight guidelines when shopping for a board. Generally, the larger the person, the larger the board will need to be.

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