Words: Sydney Pizza // Photos: @devindmedia
The Outer Banks, legendary, fun, and a contest that is on everyone’s bucket list. That’s right, Team Zap is back in action after about a month and a half off, we are here down in Nags Head, North Carolina for the OBX Skim Jam 2026 edition. There is no better way to start off a skim contest weekend than with a beautiful day one and some fun waves, and that is exactly what we got! It was in the upper 80’s all day with a fun wave, peaking around two feet for the bigger sets and around a foot for the rest. In attendance this weekend we have a stacked line-up including a new face that we are super stoked to welcome to the Zap Family, Brady Crall, we are super amped for all that is to come for him!
The day started roughly around 9:30am, with the semi-pro division. Brady, Evan Rubin, Trent Moranda, Brody Chandler-Thompson, Gio Tomasi, and Will Grady all went to bat and had a solid first round. Working with the conditions we saw a lot of combo situations to boost scores, and with this being one of the more promising waves of the whole Skim USA tour this year, we got to see everyone’s style really flourish. Coming out on top, Will, Brady, Evan, Gio, and Brody all moved on to the second round, where heats were already looking like semi-finals. Into the quarterfinals, Will Grady is really shining through this weekend, having a ball on the bigger set waves, really showing his style and finesse under his belt taking the win and moving into semi-finals. Along with Evan and Brady, all these boys are names to keep an eye out for. Both Evan and Brady in their respective heats found some shade in the green room out of today’s relentless sun, with some extra style they both killed it!
Right after that, the Women’s division took their time to shine and turn heads where rookie team rider Willow Huellemeier had a great day taking the win in her semi-final heat! She is super-fast, and used that to her advantage to bring her backside wraps all the way up the beach and throw some quick three-shuvs. Quickly into the Masters division Evan was back in the water with some effortless three-shuvs on the way to the wave, back up the beach and on the lip. He’s got an arsenal of tricks and we saw them all today! Evan took the win in his heat, and is into the semi-final!
Quickly into the Men’s division, Brady, Trent, and Will, yet again put on a clinic for today’s spectators, in their heats. The style, control and ability is just the tip of the iceberg. In some heated battles, Will and Brady took the wins in their heats with massive airs, combos, and more green room time, and are into semi-finals tomorrow. The Boys division was up next where Gio and Brody for the second time today got their moment to shine and skim years above their ages, ripping five-shuvs out-the-back, three-shuvs back up the beach, massive air re-entries, and wraps to cover ups, they both are in semi-finals tomorrow! Wrapping up the day, the best tent manager on the beach, Alex Bevard, held it down in the Grandmasters division, with steeze and style that is effortless. Backside big spins in critical spots, and frontlines lines, with an epic widley flip attempt, Alex had a day and is into the final on Sunday!
Check out results HERE on LIVEHEATS!
And check out the LIVESTREAM from the event HERE!