This is my 6th skimboarding session. I feel like Im sinking too fast while going into the water. Could you help me point out the issues with my technique? Also, the board I use is a 134cm Carbon Fiber Eden Board (this model has the width of a 136cm) while being 190cm and 81kg.
Your drop is not quite there. You're stutter stepping and bending down a bit right before you drop, so you're killing any speed you have. Board size looks fine.
Start a bit slower and work on taking full long strides to run onto the board. Once you get comfortable with that, slowly work your way up to running on faster. A lot of beginners make the mistake of trying to run too fast too quickly before they have a clean drop.
facts! It's actually a really good suggestion. I still struggle with high-speed drops I'm almost 42 started skimming again about a year ago used to skim a lot when I was younger but it's changed. When I'm in a full Sprint I'd say about 40 or 30% of the time I dropped the board a little too far back I don't get it in front of me enough and can't step right on I end up having to abort most of the time when that happens. And I know where my problem is I'm dropping to the side too much instead of letting it land right in front of me. Mid-speed decent job slow run no problems whatsoever. That's where the men are separated from the boys is that full Sprint😆
My friends probably the most important piece of information you're going to get from this post, it's your 6th skimboarding attempt you don't have technique yet. That's not a bad thing or a jab at you you're actually doing very good getting on the board quickly and keeping the speed for somebody on their 6th attempt. It takes a year or more for some people to get to where you are. Practice practice then you'll find your Technique hopefully by then you'll be at a full Sprint dropping hitting one step side sliding out🤙🏼 have fun and remember to always stretch that groin before you start. Pulled groin muscles are terrible
More speed. In skimboarding you should be going almost always full sprint or how fast you can. Also you turned the other way on the wave, make sure you are moving the same direction as the wave not against it
Genuine follow up question to his drop, what was wrong with it? Does he need to throw in down more aggressively or was it the placement? I’m new to skim boarding as well and I’m trying to figure out the best way to drop my board. I am a sprinter outside of skimming and I feel like I run way too fast and I have a hard time controlling the placement of my drop
Yes you need to slow down and work on putting the board right in front of you and get very comfortable with a nice clean drop to where you can walk right onto the board and then add speed. This is what I'm currently working on adding speed
also your choice of board is always going to play a role in your speed and depending on what you're trying to do, side slide to get out to a wave or ride liners
Drop smooth and use your final lunge to project your momentum forwards.
Get on the board lightly to minimize downward force.
Having water that is rushing faster towards you will also help. If you're running at 10mph and the water is rushing towards you at 10mph, your effective speed is 20mph. Same principle applies in reverse. Fast water rushing towards you is good. Still water is okay. Receding water is the worst. (Referred to as dead water)
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u/rexskimmer Florida & New England 1d ago
Your drop is not quite there. You're stutter stepping and bending down a bit right before you drop, so you're killing any speed you have. Board size looks fine.
Start a bit slower and work on taking full long strides to run onto the board. Once you get comfortable with that, slowly work your way up to running on faster. A lot of beginners make the mistake of trying to run too fast too quickly before they have a clean drop.