Skimboarding is fun, but it can be hard to make your board go faster and further.
But if you want to get the most out of your skimboarding experience, it’s essential to learn these skills. They’ll take you from a complete noob to an intermediate skimmer.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to make your skimboard go faster and further!
It’s all about the running start to get your skimboard to go faster. Then, pushing off, the correct stance, and pumping at the right time can make you go even further. Using a wave to your advantage and perhaps waxing when flatland skimming can make the last difference.
In this post we'll cover:
What makes a skimboard go faster and further?
Let’s first look at what you can do to go faster and further, and then look at what you can do with your board to make it slide even further.
How to get a good running start
When you’re getting ready to skim, it’s crucial to have a good running start. You want to get as much speed as possible before you hit the water.
To do this, start by running towards the water. As you get close, put your front foot on the board and push off with your back foot.
This push-off gives you a lot of speed and will help you go further.
Use your weight to control the board.
Once you’re on the board, it’s essential to use your weight to control it. If you lean too far forward, the nose of the board will dig into the water and slow you down.
If you lean too far back, the board’s tail will dig into the water and slow you down.
To go faster, you want to lean slightly forward so that the nose of the board is just above the water. This will help you slice through the water and go faster.
Use your arms for balance
Your arms are also necessary for balance and control. If you’re leaning too far forward or back, you can use your arms to help you adjust.
You can also use your arms to help you turn. If you want to turn left, extend your left arm out to the side. This will help you turn in that direction.
If you want to turn right, extend your right arm out to the side.
Keep your arms close to your body for more speed
Another thing you can do to go faster and further is to keep your arms close to your body. This will help you keep your balance and not slow down as much when you turn.
It also helps tuck your chin down, so you’ll have less wind resistance.
Wind resistance slows you down because it pushes against you as you try to move forward.
By keeping your arms and chin close to your body, you’ll reduce the amount of wind resistance and go faster.
Use your legs to power your skimboard
Your legs are also crucial for skimboarding. They help you keep your balance and control the board.
They also provide power to help you go faster.
To use your legs to power your skimboard, push down with your feet as you’re gliding across the water. This will help you move faster and further by ensuring the nose won’t dive underwater.
Many say pumping the skimboard reduces speed but can increase distance because the board can stay above water for longer.
It’s a trade-off of sorts to pump your skimboard, but the pro’s all use it at the correct times to increase their run.
Use the wave to your advantage
If you’re lucky enough to be skimboarding in the ocean, you can use the waves to your advantage.
Ride towards the wave as it comes towards you, and then turn your board when it’s about to hit you.
This will help you get a good running start and ensures you have enough speed to go further back to shore or alongside the shore if you turn slightly again.
You can also use the wave to air out or do an Ollie.
An Ollie is a move where you jump into the air and land back on your board.
This is an excellent move if you want to show off your skimboarding tricks.
How to increase your speed on a skimboard
It’s mainly in the run before you get on your skimboard, so make sure you get lots of speed while running.
Then when getting on, most people hold back a little to jump on. That’s a significant speed mistake.
Instead, keep running at your pace and as you put on your foot, push off with your other foot hard before placing both feet firmly on the board.
Pumping your skimboard can make it go further, but it will decrease speed, so if you’re going for a fast run, avoid pushing down with your feet to maintain speed.
How to get more distance out of your skimboard
You can do a few things to your board to make it go further.
How can I make my skimboard slide better?
The first is to make sure the bottom of your board is smooth. This will help it slide across the water better without getting caught on anything.
You can also use wax on the bottom of your board. Wax makes the bottom of the board slick and helps it slide better.
There are different types of skimboard wax, so make sure you get the right kind for your board.
- Surfboard wax is for the top of your board to make it more sticky. That won’t help you go faster at all! The warm water wax or other temperature-specific wax keeps you from falling off.
- Speed wax or liquid car wax can make your board more slippery, and with less drag, it’s perfect for a longer glide on dry sand or grass.
Also, note that no one waxes the bottom when ocean skimming, but you could do it for flatland or even grass skimboarding.
You can also use sandpaper to rough up the bottom of your board. This will help it grip the water better and go further.
Just make sure you don’t sand too much, or you’ll ruin your board.
Conclusion
With these tips, you’ll be able to get the most out of your skimboarding experience and go faster and further than ever before!
