Skimboarding has become the latest craze for those who love the surf. A big reason for its popularity is the fact that anyone can skimboard, both young and old. Skimboarding doesn’t require the big waves that are needed for surfing. Even if you aren’t comfortable swimming in the deeper waters of the ocean, you can still enjoy the sport of skimboarding.
Even before the actual term “skimboard” was created, diehard beach lovers created their own version of a skimboard out of a piece of plywood. They would throw it down in the edge of the surf, hop on, and take off. Well, those days are over. You can purchase a skimboard in a variety of prices. There are skimboards available in discount and beach stores for under twenty dollars. If you want a more expensive skimboard, then check out water sports stores. Skimboards rely on a layer of fiberglass to make your ride across the surf and sand as smooth as possible. If you live in an area that is far away from the ocean and you are having trouble finding a skimboard, you might want to wait until you reach your destination. You will find a huge selection of skimboards in any city or town that is near the beach.
Skimboarding isn’t just riding along the edge of the surf. Experienced skimboarders work constantly to improve their ability to maneuver their boards and perfect their extreme tricks. There are skimboarding competitions all over the country, and professional skimboarders work hard to improve their skills.
With all the talk about skimboarding, where are the best places to go? Major skimboarding competitions are held in places like Laguna Beach, California; Baja, California; Santa Cruz, California; Dewey Beach, Delaware; and Barngate Light, New Jersey. Obviously these are great beaches to skimboard, but there are plenty of other beaches to check out.
The Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is an excellent place to vacation and try your skimboarding skills. If you like long rides, then be sure and skimboard during high tide on this area of the beach. Hilton Head, South Carolina is known for its flat beach, which makes it an excellent place to work on your spins during low tide.
You can head out west to Padre Island, Texas. The area of Big Shell, which is located in the Padre Island National Seashore, is a great place to skimboard if you are into bigger waves that allow you to do a little wave carving.
Of course beaches up and down the coast of Florida offer plenty of opportunities to skimboard. Different types of beaches create different terrain for skimboarding. If you like wave riding, look for steeper beaches. If you like longer rides, look for flat beaches. Drive along the coastline and examine the beach for yourself. If there are skimboarders out there, see how they are riding. Look at the surface of the beach. If it is rocky and full of shells, it will more than likely be too rough to skimboard. You also don’t want to skimboard in a very populated beach. Too many people in the area means there could be a higher likelihood of someone getting hurt.
Remember, just because you aren’t riding high waves and you are landing in or near the water don’t mean you can’t get injured. Skimboarding is a sport, and almost all sports have a risk of injury. Falls can jar the body, and bones can be broken if you land the wrong way. However, skimboarding can be an inexpensive and exhilarating way to have fun and enjoy the sand and surf.
