Is high tide or low tide better for skimboarding?

by Joost Nusselder | Last Updated:  10.03.2022
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Skimboarding is a fun way to spend your day at the beach, but which tide is best for it?

There are two schools of thought on this one. Some say that high tide is better because the waves are bigger and you can ride them all the way to shore without getting out of breath. Others swear by low tide because the water is calmer and there are more sandbanks to ride on.

So, which tide is better for skimboarding? The answer may surprise you! Keep reading to find out.

Is high tide or low tide better for skimboarding

The answer to that question is…it depends. It really depends on what you’re looking for in a skimboarding experience.

For most, the best tide for skimboarding will be high tide because most will be skimboarding waves. If you want bigger waves to ride, high tide is definitely the way to go. But if you’re looking for flatland skimboarding with fewer waves, low tide is the way to go.

What is skimboarding and why is it better at high tide or low tide?

Skimboarding is a sport that involves riding a thin board on the surface of the water. It can be done at high tide or low tide, but it is generally better at high tide because the waves are bigger.

At low tide, there is less wave action and the water is calmer, making it a better time to learn how to do skimboarding or to practice your skills. You will also find more sandbanks at low tide, which makes it a good time to do tricks.

What tide is best for skimboarding?

In skimboarding the perfect tide depends upon how you plan on using the board.

Low tides, or even a slack tide when the ocean water moves very little, are best to ride your boards on sand while high tides are best to ride on waves because the waves break closer to shore.

Tides are constantly changing, so it is best to go out and try different rising tides to find what suits you the best. With a little bit of practice, anyone can skimboard on either tide!

Which tide is better for beginners?

Low tide is better for beginners because there are fewer waves and the water is calmer. This makes it a good time to learn how to do skimboarding or to practice your skills.

You will also find more sandbanks at low tide, which makes it a good time to do tricks.

How to skimboard at high tide

Now that you know which tide is best for skimboarding, it’s time to learn how to do it!

High tide:

To skimboard at high tide, find a wave and start riding it. Ride waves all the way to shore, getting up on your feet and standing on the board as you go. When you reach the shore, jump off the board and run back to the waves.

How to skimboard at low tide

Low tide:

To skimboard at low tide, find wet sand to ride, tidal pools, or skim on the shore on the shallow water and even grab some gentle waves.

You don’t ride the waves but instead, you get up some speed from your speed runs and throwing your board on the shallow water or wet sand.

This is great to start practicing, plus you can do all sorts of tricks, just like you would with skateboarding instead of skimming.

Can you skimboard without waves?

Skimboarding is a board sport that does not have wind conditions. Instead, skateboarding tricks will be performed with shove its or other tricks while skimming on flat surface or a small amount of still ocean water.

The pros and cons of high tide skimboarding

The pros of high tide skimboarding are that there are bigger waves to ride and it is more challenging. The cons are that you can’t always find good waves to ride and it can be more dangerous.

The pros and cons of low tide skimboarding

The pros of low tide skimboarding are that the water is calmer and there are more sandbanks to ride on. The cons are that there are fewer waves to ride and it can be less challenging.

How do you know when it’s the best time to go skimboarding?

The best time to go skimboarding is when the waves are big and the tide is high. You can check the tide schedule online or in your local newspaper to find out when high tide is, or there are several sites and even watches that keep track of this for you.

When you’re first starting out, it might be a good idea to go out to your favorite skim spot during low tide so that you can practice without getting too frustrated. As you get better, you can start trying skimboarding at high tide!

Is there a specific time of day that’s better for skimboarding?

Skimboarding can be done at any time of the day, but it is generally better at high tide because the waves are bigger.

The Moon’s gravitational pull affects the high tides. The high tides happen at Noon and Midnight, when the Moon is directly over a spot on Earth. When you see the Moon rise, it will be about 6 hours from being overhead. High tides will happen about 6 hours after moonrise.

What are the best conditions for skimboarding?

The best tide conditions for skimboarding are when the waves are big and the tide is high. When there are no uncovered rocks in the water (and no jellyfish!), and you have a nice flat beach where you can get up some speed when skimming towards a nice wave.

Conclusion

When you’re first starting out, it might be a good idea to go out during low tide so that you can practice without getting too frustrated.

As you get better, you can start trying skimboarding at high tide!

Also read: these are the 9 best skimboards to buy right now

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Kauai Surf Report is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new sports with everything surfing at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2019 to help loyal readers with surfing and water sporting tips.