Skimboarding, a sport similar to surfing, involves riding a board out away from the shore into oncoming waves in an attempt to catch them and turn back toward the shore while performing tricks and other stunts, according to SkimOnline.com. Many skimboarding tricks, a combination of skateboarding and surfing tricks, require balance and coordination.
Ollie
The most basic of all skimboarding tricks, the ollie involves getting the skimboard fully off the ground or wave and serves as the foundation of many other tricks. To do a skimboarding ollie, run toward the water with your skimboard in hand. After picking up speed, drop your skimboard to the ground and hop on. As you approach a wave, bend down with your knees and push down on the back of the board with your back foot. At the same time, pop your front foot up and off the board. This will send the board flying up in the air several feet. Find the front of the board with your front foot and push it toward the water and ride away.
Wrap
A wrap is an intermediate skimboarding trick that involves riding toward a wave, then "wrapping" the board around and continuing in the opposite direction from where you started. To do a wrap, build up speed and drop your board in time to catch a decent-sized wave. As you approach the wave, bend your knees and turn your body into the wave. The momentum of the wave will naturally turn your body back toward the shore as you keep your balance in order to not fall off the board. A backside wrap--turning your body into the wave so your torso is facing the shore as you ride the wave--is usually easier than a frontside wrap, according to SkimOnline.com. Practice the backside wrap until you have it down before trying a frontside wrap.
Coffin
The coffin is a show-off trick done while skimming along the surface of the water near the shore. To do a coffin, run parallel to the shore and drop your board. Jump on the board with your feet toward the front. Bend down and grab your board with both hands. Extend your feet out in front of you and lie on your back on the board and ride along as if you are laying down in a coffin. The key to this trick is keeping your feet and head high enough that they don't catch the water and slow you down.
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