 Choosing a skimboard
Choosing a skimboard for the first time is no easy task. With the large range of boards now on offer there are lot to choose from. Picking the right board from the beginning will mean you get maximum enjoyment from day one! Hopefully this quick guide will give you an idea of what to look for and the reasons for the
different price ranges.
When choosing a skimboard you need to take into account the
the type of riding you will be doing, (either sand riding or wave riding) the
board style, your weight, age, and ability. The manufacturers put a weight guideline on each board. We would suggest sticking to the weight guidelines to begin with until you have some experience under your belt and know what you want from a board.
Depending on athletic ability a rider of a certain weight may need a very large board, or a very small one. This is why the weight ranges of skimboards overlap. For instance, a large guy who can run very fast and get on the board smoothly may ride a smaller board than a small guy who doesn't run very
fast or has a bad drop. Skimboarding experience also plays into it. As riders get better at reaching the waves, they often choose a smaller board to help with their turning. Or vice versa. It is all personal preference. If you are just starting out, then sticking to manufacturers weight
guidelines means you can't go far wrong!
Entry level flat sand skimboards
If you are just starting out in skimboarding, or just want something to play around on
when the surfs flat or when on holiday, then you don't want to spend a
fortune on a board. This will mean you will want to go for a flat sand skimboard. These type of boards excel at sand skimming but lack any real wave riding ability. The Zap
Bullet and Bat boards are designed for kids, with weight limits being around 7 stone, whilst the woody boards from
Circle One are available in different
sizes to suit all weight ranges. For the full list of great entry level boards,
visit cheap skimboards.
Beginner/intermediate skimboards (with some wave riding ability)
If you think
you may stick with the sport and want to ride waves, as well as
the flat sand, then a little extra money spent in the beginning
means you won't have to change your board as you progress. These boards are great crossover skimboards. They will do everything a flat sand skimboard will do, but because they are a little bit bigger and thicker, they will also be able to do some wave riding. These boards tend to have weight limits of around 10 or 11 stone so are best suited to lighter adults, or kids.
Larger intermediate skimboards for wave riding
These skimboards are full blown wave riding skimboards on a budget. They are the same size as the more advanced top end boards, but are made using
cheaper materials. This means they are slightly heavier than their advanced counterparts. These boards will still be able to sand skim, but they have the added ability to skim out
to, and ride waves. These boards will get out further than the smaller intermediate boards and will float a lot better over deeper water. These skimboards are available in a variety of different sizes to suit all weight ranges.
Top end skimboards: (The best boards available!)
The top end boards, are basically the boards that
the pro's ride. They are super strong while at the same time being considerably
lighter than the heavier cheaper boards. The reason for being more expensive is because they use the best
materials and construction methods available. Many of the boards use carbon fibre or epoxy resin. These advanced materials cost about twice as much as the
materials used in the cheaper boards, but the performance and durability they bring far outweigh the added cost. All top end skimboards are available in a variety of different sizes to suit all weight ranges.
Zap Comp
E-glass - £249.99
Texalium - £274.99
Carbon - £309.99
For artwork add £15 |
Zap Egg
E-glass - £274.99
Texalium - £299.99
Carbon - £324.99
For artwork add £15 |
Victoria Poly Vac
E-glass no art - £249.99
E-glass with art -
£274.99
Carbon: £POA |
Exile Traditional
Hybrid or Constant
E-glass: £254.99
S-glass: £374.99
Carbon: £309.99
For artwork add £15 |
I am still unsure - can you help me out?
So, there you have it. A brief introduction into the range of skimboards on offer. If you are still unsure on what skimboard you want or need, you can fill in our online skimboard quote form with your details and we will email you back within a couple of days with a list of
boards that will be suitable for you.
Related info:
Skimboard construction and materials
What is skimboarding?
Skimboard Quote
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