subject: The Art Of Riding A Skimboard [print this page] Surfing and skateboarding are popular terms in board sports, which make one wonder about skimboarding. This is like a combination of both using the tricks of skateboarding and the water of surfing. But the differences end there for many as the art of riding a skimboard requires a running start and dropping the board to ride.
These boards can be rode in a number of ways. There is flatland riding, wave riding, and sand skimming. It all starts with mastering the technique of sand skimming so you can try some flatland surfing. The better one becomes, the more techniques they can use in eventually riding waves with it.
Beginners would start by learning to sand skim. Basically, this is when you learn how to drop the board while running so that you can jump onto it and glide across a thin layer of water on the sand. This is the easiest way to begin learning. With the basic technique of balance and weight shifting, one goes on to master using it in the water.
The most popular form, although not the most advanced, is flatland skimming. It has incorporated many of the same techniques as skateboarding such as riding rails, ramp jumping, and technical tricks. This can be a very difficult type of skimming because of the many different tricks being done.
The most advanced is wave riding and this can produce many impressive tricks with a common move called the Wrap. When a skimmer reaches a wave they shift their weight so they can wrap around the wave and this will push him back to the beach. To advance that a bit, instead of heading back to shore you turn slightly to get into the barrel of the wave to Wrap the Barrel, another popular trick.
Skimboarding may not be a common term for many, but its popularity is growing on every beach. Combining the surfing of the waves with the tricks of skateboarding make this a challenging yet exciting sport for many. When learning to skimboard, you need to be prepared to kick your board across the water with frustration and fall on your backside a lot till you have finally mastered the art of skimboarding like a pro.
