Things You'll Need:
- Swimsuits
- Skimboards
- Wet Suits
- Swimsuits
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Step 1
Borrow and test as many skimboards as possible. Not many shops rent skimboards, but it's easy to make one.
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Step 2
Test different size skimboards. Bigger boards work better for bigger people. Many companies provide a list of recommended size-to-weight ratios.
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Step 3
Realize that larger surfboard-shaped boards are better for wave riding and smaller, rounder boards are better for tricks.
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Step 4
Note that a skimboard is easily shared and passed around on the beach, so a middle size is often your best option.
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Step 5
Lay the skimboard flat on the ground in the shop. Ideally, the board will sit flat on the ground with the nose and the tail slightly tilted upward.
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Step 6
Compare different bottoms on boards. Some companies use treated wood while others use fiberglass or plastic. Fiberglass is a bit faster than wood, but can crack and chip. Wood is more vulnerable to scratches, but is less likely to crack or chip. In the end it comes down to how you take care of your board.
Comments
mickeytacher said
on 7/19/2007 Good wood!- For sand skimming I recommend Triangle Brand Skimboards! I'm an avid skimboarder and out of all of the past skimboards I have used I prefer This board because of the strength and becuase of the rocker in the front (it has about a 2 inch lift) Lots of speed and super fun! I bought this board for about $95 bucks. Although I could have bought another cheap board for $50-60 I'm glad I made the choice to go with Triangle.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 There are a lot of new skimboarding companies out there today, most notably Exile and Grape. These companies have more extreme shaping than Victoria or (especially) Zap.
Slotstiks are a personal favorite, but keep in mind that Slotstik has changed shapes so that any new boards coming out have a completely different feel than the old boards.
If you can, buy Carbon Fiber, the lightweight composite material resists chipping and dings much better than any glass board. They are stiffer, last longer and float better too. Also, they will impress your friends and people you meet skimming. Have fun!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you're in the market for a good quality skimboard, but don't have the money for an expensive pro board, you should consider Wave Zones. They are well made and super fast. I personally ride the Wave Zone Splash. It provides good flotation for wave riding, but still skims well. The Wave Zone Splash holds up to 150 pounds and cost $135.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you are trying to choose a foam board for wave riding, i suggest you buy either a victoria or slotstik, and if you have less money, a zap. If you have never wave ridden before, i suggest the vic foamie. it is bouyant and great to learn on. the ultra vac is a wasted step to me, and the poly-vac is what lots of pro's use. The ultra has the shape of the poly, but the durability of a foamie (which is better than that of a poly-vac). I dont know anything about slotstik's. I can never seem to locate them anyhow. But, i hope this helped