Skimboarding

Our team of experts have years of experience in watersports and are on hand to answer any questions you may have to ensure you find the right equipment for your needs. We also stock a variety of well-known brands so you can find exactly what you're looking for.

In addition to our wide range of ski boards and equipment, we also offer a comprehensive range of services, such as repairs and advice on maintaining your equipment. We have everything you need for your next adventure on the water.

Just drop by and discover our great selection of boards and equipment. We look forward to helping you choose the perfect skimboard and accessories!

The history of skimboarding

Skimboarding, a sport that involves gliding across the water on a flat board, was invented around 1920 in Laguna Beach, California. Lifeguards George Griffeth and his friend Jimmy built round redwood disks that they towed behind a boat. These first skimboards were about five feet long and were connected by three oak strips. The design was more like a wakeboard than the skimboards of today.

The locals in Laguna Beach began to expand the traditional round boards into oval shapes to make it easier to ride the waves breaking right on the shore. This marked the beginning of the skimboarding renaissance. George Griffeth, later regarded as the pioneer of skimboarding, joined the sport at the age of around 11.
Originally the activity was called "skidboarding", but when the company Victoria Skimboards was founded in 1976, the name changed to "skimboarding".
Over time, two main disciplines of skimboarding developed: wave skimboarding and flatland skimboarding. Wave skimboarding takes place in the waves, while flatland skimboarding is practiced on shallow water such as rivers, lakes and ponds.

The sport quickly spread across Northwest Canada and Europe in the following decades and gained popularity. Small skimboarding communities emerged, practicing on various bodies of water, including urban locations.
The first annual World Skimboarding Championships were held at Aliso Beach in 1976. From this point onwards, skimboarding was no longer seen as just a leisure activity, but as a serious water sport.

In the 1980s, the company Victoria Skimboards introduced fiberglass and resin coatings on foam skimboards, which led to a technological advancement of the sport. Skimboards were increasingly offered in surf stores alongside surfboards.

Although the sport experienced a decline in the 1990s, it regained popularity in the following years. New magazines and competitions were launched, and skimboarding gained new fans and participants.

Today, skimboarding is heavily influenced by surfing and skateboarding, but also has its own unique identity. It is a sport that is not dependent on wave or wind conditions and can be practiced in shallow water areas with suitable obstacles. Skimboarding requires skill, body control and athleticism.
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is responsible for the administration of skimboarding, although the sport has yet to receive an official world championship under the organization's umbrella.

Some of the best-known brands in skimboarding are Victoria Skimboards, Exile Skimboards and Zap Skimboards, which produce high-quality boards with advanced technologies.