Skimboarding is a popular beach water sport that uses a small board, similar to a surfboard, to glide over the water. Unlike surfers, skimboarders ride on the water into the ocean, instead of waiting for waves to carry them to the beach. To successfully ride a skimboard you need the right technique to approach the ocean and get on the board. Once you learn the proper skimboarding method, you can pull off an array of tricks.
Basics
Step 1
Find a flat area of the beach where you have enough room to get a running start and where other beachgoers will not interfere. Attempting to skimboard in an area with a lot of beach bathers could result in injury to you or the bathers.
Step 2
Watch the waves as they are crashing into to get an idea of the timing needed to properly skimboard. Pay close attention to the approximate location of where the waves are breaking as this will help you with your timing. Observe how the waves are forming and the speed in which they are breaking.
Step 3
Choose a wave that has recently broken as the wave you want to skimboard, according to SkimOnline.
Step 4
Run toward the ocean at a slight angle and throw the skimboard in front of you once you reach the wet sand. Throw the skimboard down so the nose of the board is facing the ocean; the board will slide on the wet sand.
Step 5
Place your back foot on the back of the skimboard in full running motion and follow with your front foot. Jumping onto the board could result in a fall, according to SkimBoardPros.com. Run onto the board instead to achieve proper balance and to maintain speed. Keep your weight centered on the board when you first land on it to avoid falling.
Step 6
Transfer your weight to your back foot to allow the skimboard to glide over the water after you have gained your balance when first jumping onto the board. Keep the weight on your back foot to prevent the nose of the skimboard from going underwater and throwing you forward. Maintain the direction of the nose of the skimboard toward the ocean or your ride will end early.
Step 7
Ride the board into the wave, and you can perform different tricks when you have experience.
Tricks
Step 1
Press the back of the skimboard down hard with your back foot and slide your front foot forward as you hit a wave to jump with the skimboard into the air, which is known as an "ollie" according to Proskimboarding.com.
Step 2
Slide the front of the skimboard in one direction and the back of the board in the other direction and jump into the air to perform a trick known as the "shove it." The board will face backwards when you land on it if performed correctly.
Step 3
Ride the skimboard into a wave as you normally would. Reach into the water with one of your hands and lean your body in the same direction as you approach the wave to perform a "wrap." This trick turns you around on the wave so that you are facing the shore, allowing you to ride the wave in a manner similar to surfing.
Step 4
Perform a "360" on the water by skimboarding into a wave like you normally would and twisting your body hard as you hit the wave. Keep your feet in contact with the board the entire time to ensure it moves in the same circular motion as your body. Use your arms for leverage when beginning the twist with the upper part of your body and power through using your hips to twist the lower part of your body.
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