If you don't enjoy getting out far enough into the water to try surfboarding, or you want to put your skateboarding skills to the test on the beach, skimboarding may just be for you. Skimboarding uses a similar, though smaller, board to a surfboard, which you ride along the beach over the small layer of water from when the tide comes in. Learning beginner skimboard tricks can help you move on to more advanced tricks and maybe even participate in trick competitions.
Ollie
One of the most basic skimboarding tricks, the ollie is used as the basis for a number of more advanced tricks. To do an ollie, build up speed and jump on your skimboard. As you're moving along over the sand and water, push down on the back of your board with your back foot. Immediately pull your front foot up off the board. This will pop the skimboard up in the air and allow you to pull another trick, such as a grab.
Shove It
Another popular skimboarding trick derived from the world of skateboarding, the shove it will help you impress your friends at your next beach party. To do the shove it, jump slightly off your board while you're skimming along at a decent speed. As you jump, push the front end of the board one way with your front foot, and the back end of your board the opposite way with your back foot. The result will be the board making a 180-degree spin while your feet are in the air. Place your feet back on the board once you complete the spin and keep riding.
360
Because of the nature of the way the skimboard interacts with the water and sand, the 360 is a type of move you can't do in skateboarding but you can on a skimboard. To pull a 360, ride along on your skimboard at a reasonable speed. As you're riding along, bend down and put your hand in the water and sand. If you place your hand right, you'll cause the skimboard to turn in a circle. Use your hand, your weight and momentum to complete a 360 turn with your body, then stand up and keep riding. It will take some practice to get a feel for where and with how much pressure you need to put your hand down to complete the trick.
Flyaway
When you're ready to have some fun and do a trick that will get your friends laughing, try the flyaway. Instead of riding parallel to the waves and shoreline, this time hop on your skimboard and ride toward an oncoming wave. Right when you're about to hit the wave, jump off your skimboard and dive over the wave. You'll have to time it just right or your skimboard will get taken out from under your feet.
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