Skimboarding is a water sport that uses a small, fairly thin and lightweight board to perform manoeuvres and movements on the shore of the beach.

It consists of throwing the board onto the wet sand at the shoreline, running towards it, jumping on top and sliding across the surface. In small waves, some surf-style manoeuvres and tricks can also be performed.

It is a sport practised on the seashore or slightly further into the water, but it should never be practised in areas or waves suitable for surfing.

Types of Skimboards

Boards used for skimboarding are made from different materials, as we will see below

Fibreglass and Foam Skimboards

A board made from this combination of materials is light, easy to handle and highly resistant. These are essential characteristics for a good skimboard.

Fibreglass and foam skimboards are much more manageable and comfortable for practising the sport. However, their price is usually somewhat higher.

Wooden Skimboards

These skimboards are made from wood, always choosing a type that is as light as possible while still being resistant.

Wooden skimboards are recommended for beginners who are just starting out in skimboarding. They are also commonly used when the waves reaching the shore are not as good as they should be, as a wooden board can work better than a fibreglass and foam board in those conditions.

Although wooden boards are ideal for beginners, some experienced riders also prefer to use wooden skimboards all the time.

Skimboard Sizes

Now we will look at the sizes of the 5 best skimboards.

1.Skim One Sports and Outdoor’s Slicer Original

One of the best boards on the market that year, this model is made from fibreglass, epoxy resin and bamboo construction, with an EPS core.

It measures 124 centimetres in length and is recommended for advanced riders or skimmers.

2.Circle One 54” Skimboard de EPS Epoxy

Highly ranked among the best skimboards of 2020, this board is made with epoxy, making it lightweight, easy to handle and very resistant.

It has more volume than wooden boards, which makes it easier to perform tricks and manoeuvres on the waves.

Its measurements are 137 centimetres in length and 54 centimetres in width, offering excellent buoyancy. It is ideal for intermediate or advanced riders.

3.Osprey Skimboard

This practical board is made from plywood and is ideal for beginners or intermediate-level riders.

It measures 104 centimetres in length and has a pintail-style tail.

It is a suitable board for riding on the foam that forms on some beaches.

4.Jucker Hawaii

This board is made from pressed and waterproofed poplar wood. It measures 97 centimetres in length and 52 centimetres in width.

It is a perfect board for performing manoeuvres, turns and tricks.

5.Osprey Surf, Tabla de Skimboard

Visually attractive, this board is made from plywood. It is fairly rigid and highly resistant. It also has an affordable price and comes in attractive colours.

It measures 104 centimetres in length and has a pintail-style tail.

Differences Between a Skimboard and a Surfboard

As sports, skimboarding and surfing share some similarities. In fact, skimboarding can be seen as being somewhere between surfing and skateboarding, mainly because its manoeuvres, movements and tricks have certain similarities.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that surfing is practised on waves further out at sea, while skimboarding starts on the shoreline of the beach.

Because skimboarding is practised on the shore, the board used to ride these shore waves is smaller, lighter and thinner than a surfboard.

In addition, skimboards do not have fins, unlike surfboards.

At our surf school in Famara Beach, we have some of the best surfboards in the Canary Islands. Contact us.