Victoria Skimboards World Championship of Skimboarding

Skimboarding

Article by: © Michael J. Rosen 2012

"Finesse and Balance More...Than...Testosterone and Adrenaline"

- the Skim Online guidelines

Moving in the wrong direction generally ends badly: Being ridiculed for starting the salad bar at the dressing end; for remembering, three-steps up, that you need to take the down escalator; realizing that you're working the Bob Evan's placemat maze from the wrong end as you see your six-year-old niece has already helped Biscuit find Gravy?

Want to right those wrongs? Take up skimboarding, in which moving the wrong way is the only way.

Unlike surfers, skimmers start on the beach. As a wave approaches, they run towards the water, slam the board down, and hydroplane across the thick water from the crashing wave or the thin layer of water from a receding wave. Once in the water, a skimmer might ride "down the line," horizontally across the beach, or head straight into the water, launching into an aerial trick over the wave.

The 1920s in Laguna Beach, California, saw the makings of skimboarding, as lifeguards were seen riding pieces of plywood into the water while sharks and undertows swallowed tourists in the blink of an eye (or, several blinks if you got sand in yours). Since the Roaring 20s ("roaring" for the cries of skimmers with splinters in their feet), the skimboard has evolved into a fiberglass vehicle, about half the length of surfboard, prompting some to say the sport is "like sliding a tray down the rails of the cafeteria line."

While California remains its center, the United Skim Tour-slightly less fattening than the United Two-percent or United Whole Tour-hosts competitions on America's east coast, Europe, and South America. But the Tour's biggest stop is Aliso Beach Park in Laguna for the Victoria Skimboards World Championship of Skimboarding which, in its 33rd year in 2009, attracts the world's 60 best professionals, 80 best amateurs, and the most subjective judges. How does a competitor impress these judges? Of course, riding down the line for as long as possible and pulling aerials and 360s don't hurt, but according to the officials, "The truth is that there is no criteria."

Tired of just surfing the Web? Try skimming www.skimonline.com.

No Dribbling the Squid

Victoria Skimboards World Championship of Skimboarding Dates, Location and Further Information

The Victoria Skimboards World Championship of Skimboarding are held each June at Laguna Beach, California. Pay their website a visit for up to the minute dates and deets.

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