Sydney Pizza has been making a name for herself in the skim world for the past few years. She’s out at the beach almost every day, posting on her social media, on top of podiums throughout the season, and giving back to the community any way she can. She’s been down in Mexico recently sharpening her skills so we thought it would be a good idea to catch up with her and see what she had going on for this year. Check it out below!
ZAP: What’s up, Syd? How’s 2024 treating you so far?
Sydney: Hey! 2024 is treating me very well so far! It seems to be building up for an epic year, with lots of good things in store!
ZAP: For those who don’t know you, give us a little background on yourself. Where are you from, when did you get into skimming, what else are you into…you know, that sort of thing!
Sydney: For sure! I grew up in Bethesda MD, and spent all my summers and then some in Dewey Beach. I think the first day I stepped foot onto the beach at Dewey, I was 12 days old, and from then on it was pure magic. I started skimming a couple weeks after I turned 6, which will be 15 years ago in June! I grew up watching JDub, the McCoy bros, Alex and her older brother and a bunch of other Zap legends like Joey Vavala, and fell in love at first sight. I am also a huge sports girl! I'm a diehard Washington sports fan (which is more depressing than exciting most years), and I follow the WSL pretty closely. I have a huge passion for helping grow the sport of skimboarding, which you can see mostly with our skim camps over at Alley Oop, and helping people in general so I also spend a good amount of time doing charitable work when I can!
ZAP: How would you describe your 2023 skim season and what are you looking forward to most in 2024?
Sydney: In one word I would describe my 2023 skim season as growth, just all around growth. I had some pretty good smaller wins, and took a lot of baby steps in the right direction that helped me learn as a skimboarder. As well as with skim camp, I think most days I learn more from those kids than they do from me! In the 2024 season, I am most looking forward to pushing limits, and giving it my all to bring those UST and SkimUSA titles home to Zap and Alley Oop!
ZAP: It looks like you’ve been down in Mexico a lot over the off season. Where have you been staying and how’s it been down there?
Sydney: Haha I have! I've been very fortunate to so far have spent more of my 2024 down there than up here in the cold! I stay with my boyfriend and fellow team rider Elian Juarez at our own spot, and it has been nothing but bliss. I am working hard to build the female skim community down there and also working on a couple of projects as well! I have also been training hard and charging some of those bigger sets, and just getting comfortable in the uncomfortable moments in the ocean. We've been chasing siders, liners, and overhead sets which has just been a dream. The skim community down there reminds me a lot of ours up here in Dewey, which makes it feel kind of home-like.
ZAP: What are some things we can expect to see from you in 2024?
Sydney: In 2024, from a skimboarding standpoint, you can expect to see a new self-assured level of confidence, some different techniques and approaches to waves, as well as new combos. In a broader perspective, you can expect to see a lot more skim camps, and some more projects both up here in the states as well as down in Mexico, so be on the lookout for sure! I will be doing the whole UST tour again, and will be excited to show my level of growth and development as well as put on a good show, and give a good fight for each win!
ZAP: Where’s your favorite skim spot?
Sydney: My favorite skim spot at home has to be right out front in Dewey, probably on St. Louis Street. But down in Mexico, my favorite spot has to be at Laguna Del Tule, a sick spot on the southern side of Melaque!
ZAP: Do you have some riders that you draw inspiration from?
Sydney: I do! No matter what skill level I have been at with my skimming, I have always loved watching legends like Morgan Just, JDub, Paulo Prietto, Keiao, and my girl Sophia. All of their styles, techniques, and approaches to waves are in my opinion some of the best in the sport, so being able to study their clips and take a piece from this and some of that, I think has helped me become a better skimboarder.
ZAP: Who’s in your usual skim crew?
Sydney: My usual skim crew up here in Dewey consists of Elian, Cooper F, Sammy D, Luca F, the McCoys, Alex, sometimes JDub, and a bunch of local groms! Nowadays anywhere we go it seems that at least a couple of them pop up out of nowhere!
ZAP: We’re looking forward to seeing how the season plays out for you! Do you have any words of wisdom or advice you can leave us with?
Sydney: Me too! It is going to be a good one for sure, and I can promise that I will give it my all and always put my best foot forward. Some words of wisdom and advice that I have been leaning heavily on recently is that everything will happen when it is meant to and to enjoy the process, where I am at in it and appreciate it for what it is without trying to rush it.
For more, make sure to drop Sydney a follow on Instagram HERE!
