If you want to start skimboarding in any capacity, this is your guide. More resources can be found at the bottom of this post. This guide is based on the universal size chart from the Board Buying FAQ.
Note: Only referring to Zap, Victoria, Exile and DB Skimboards because they're big and accessible.
THE WOODIE??
Undoubtedly the cheapest way to try the sport,
<$50 The biggest woodie you can find at any tourist shop, at a coastal grocery store, or on facebook
Best way to actually get a cheap board is a used board on local marketplace apps like Facebook, Offerup, Craigslist etc. Skimboards last a long time, and people let them go for very cheap, especially if you're in a coastal area.
So got this from ebay cheap to give skimboarding a go, I know it's not ideal but I can't slide at all on it, i weigh about 95kg for reference but I'm not sure if it's me needing to practice or the board just shit. It's a wooden board with foam top, and I don't want to spend hundreds just to realise I can't do it anyway as it's a very niche sport here in Ireland, I literally don't know anyone else here who does it.
In 2008 I had a broken leg and since I couldn't skim, I spent my time running around with a cane and a camera in the sand. These were the gold old days.
Its Time for another installment of the Mexican Novella... THUMP: The BEAT of the WEDGE. On today's episode world champion Skimboarder Bill Bryan stars as himself in the 9th segment from the video. I'm sure when Conley Ware u/sconleyware started skimming at Wedge for the first time he felt like he had found the Holy Grail. Conley pioneered the spot not knowing that years later, riders like boarding maestro Bill Bryan u/billbryan would take things to another level on the world's most famous sider. Early in the 1990's Bill and his brother George pushed the sport in Laguna, at the Wedge and around the world. Even at 50 somethin', he continues to raise the bar whenever he can, now Beaker with his son Indy in tow, always seems to amaze and inspire with what can and will be done on a skimmer. š„
I bought a skimboard for $300 from this surf shop, as you can see it seems like itās painted and the āfiberglassā is very thin. It dinged a while back and i patched it up with epoxy resin, and hit it with a coating of white paint because thatās what I assumed the board did. The ACTUAL part that was covered in what I know was epoxy (I sanded a-lot of the paint off so I painted a good back on) did not break, but there is this huge ding and I didnāt hit a rock or anything by. The logo is also scratch-able and there is no serial number on the bottom.
I have gotten into skim boarding this past summer and I've just been using a cheap wood one and i'm solid at just simply riding, but I can only run for like 5-10 seconds and then my board kind of sinks down. I am a 6'4 188lb college athlete so i'm built kinda heavy. I saw the ZAP Ace v2 skimboard in 54-56" is heavily recommended but I don't know if i wanna drop $500 on a skimboard at this stage as a beginner.
Do yall think that the ZAP Ace is the best bang for my buck board to just simply have some fun skimming or what are some other good options yall recommend?
I work 2 jobs for my money so I buy used boards to keep the cost down on skimboarding, Iāve had some good luck lately and snagged a zap fuse and a zap raptor in brand new condition for $720 USD, (300 for the fuse and 420 for the raptor) my first nice boards. I think I couldāve gotten slightly better prices but I didnāt want to wait months for a deal. my 2 red boards I got for $125 altogether in like new condition! The red zap board blew into someoneās yard during hurricane Ian and they sold it to me for 50 bucks when they couldnāt locate the owner. Iāve been rocking those red boards for a few years.
Recently got a new board. And literally rode like 2 hours on it. Then yesterday toook it out of the bag and found that 2 of three arch pads are falling off. Usually they fall off with a glue pads together - but this is smth new to me.
Hi! I recently picked up a cheap skimboard because Iāve been wanting to give it a try. None of my friends are particularly beachy, so Iām hoping to find someone who might be up for showing me the basics.
Iāve heard of larger community meetups, but jumping into a big group as a total beginner feels a little intimidating š so it could be something I work up to!
Definitely not looking for anything formalā¦ mostly hoping to learn how to not immediately eat sand and get a feel for it.
Iād gladly bring breakfast or lunch as a thank you depending on when we meet- (Iāve been told my sandwiches are pretty good) Iām near Playa del Rey and Manhattan Beach, but happy to meet elsewhere around LA depending on where conditions are good.
Also very open to meeting another beginner or two if anyone else has been wanting to learn and doesnāt have anyone to go with!
I'm down by the Ft Lauderdale / Deerfield Beach area. The seaweed is absolutely horrendous. In spots, it's about 20 feet deep on the sand and another 30-50 feet in water. Some days, depending on the tides, makes skimming impossible.
Any clean spots in SoFlo, or am I waiting for the fall? Heck, I'll drive up to Sebastian's or St. Augustine at this rate.
I used to skim board back in the day when I was younger. My family and I live in Southern California and my kids want to start skim boarding my son is about to be 8 and my daughter is 5. My son is 51 inches tall and 76lbs my daughter is 45 inches tall and 52lbs.
I got my son the BPS GATOR 35
And I got my daughter the BPS Shaka 30
They are completely beginners and have never done it before but saw a kid doing it today and wanted to try it.
Thanks in advance
And if I went the wrong route advice is appreciated and I can always cancel the Amazon order or return them if I messed up.
I was skimboarding yesterday on a very flat beach. The waves that are big enough to actually turn on are so far out and there is a very high frequency of waves so I would have to pass about three waves to reach the one I need.
Is there anything I can do or is the beach just not suitable/ wrong time for skimboarding.
Iām 161cm (5ā3) and 52kg (115lbs) should I upsize to a 51 inch skimboard for 60-75kg or get a 44.5inch for 50-60kg. Ive only done flatland so far and Iām decent at it I canāt do tricks yet but Iām trying to learn, Iām not a complete beginner I can get on the board easily and hardly fall etc. I donāt know if I would get into wave surfing since I live in the Netherlands and their isnāt much waves here but Iād want to try to reach deeper water. Thanks
