Words: Sydney Pizza // Photos: Ed Amador
Zap Skimboards lovers, we missed you guys! We are coming at you with the start of the 2026 skim season, down in none other Melaque Mexico with the Skim USA crew and some of our finest!
The 2026 Melaque Skim Magia has concluded with day one and boy was it a great one! This year the contest has gone through some changes, with the biggest being that team rider Elian Juarez has taken over contest organizing from team sensei Gerry Valencia. With over 50 local sponsors, 72 entries, and a pro purse of $4,500, Elian killed it, and we are super stoked for him!
The day was about as picture perfect as your fondest skim contest memory is, beautiful 80-degree weather, partially cloudy day, with 4’-6’ glassy, barreling waves, goofy bowls and reggy wraps for miles. Starting off the day with the professional men, the line up included Yahir Valencia, Mason Broussard, Elian Juarez, Oliver Brambila, Pablo “Machete” Real, Emilio Zepol, Luis “Changa” Sanchez, and in his professional debut Zach Rubin. Clearing the beach quickly and advancing through to man-on-man quarter finals were, Yahir to face-off against fellow team rider, Oliver, Elian to face-off against local Leo Gonzalez, Mason to face-off against Dane Cameron, and Machete to face-off against fellow zapper, Emilio Zepol. Every single heat felt like a final, leaving all spectators, announcers, and even the judges with their jaws dropped. With the highest single-heat score of the day Yahir cleaned up and moved into the semi-finals with a whopping 25.91. Tomorrow he and Elian will rematch last year’s semi-final for a spot inthe final! Also advancing is local ripper Emilio Zepol who will battle it out with Dane Cameron for the remaining final spot.
Right after that, we moved straight into the Semi-Pro division, to see team riders Nico Traykovski, and Evan Rubin do their best. Nico laying into his surf style with big backside hacks, and frontside laybacks gave the people a show! Evan, with a bummed- out hamstring, was still able to string together some combos and big hacks, to bring it on! Both guys advanced through the opening rounds of both their age divisions, Mens and Masters respectively, and Semi-Pro. We will get to see more of them ripping tomorrow in the semi-finals of both divisions, nice job boys!
To round out the day, we saw all divisions, including Mini Boys, Menehunes, Grandmasters, Jr Men, Boys, Women, Jr Women, Girls, and Mini Girls including Machete’s daughter Sofi rip! It was a great day one and we are stoked for the team and can’t wait to see what day two holds in the forecast.