Fresh off an incredible season, Alex Yokley has officially been crowned the 2025 UST Women’s Pro World Champion—a huge milestone in her skimboarding career. From dominating contests around the globe to pushing herself into bigger, more powerful waves, Alex has been on a mission to level up her riding and inspire the next generation of women in the sport. We caught up with her to talk about the victory, her favorite moments from the tour, and what’s next as she continues to chase waves, challenges, and new adventures. Check it out below!
ZAP: Alex! It's been a minute since we last chatted, what's new?
Alex: I won the UST Women’s Pro World Title!
ZAP: We saw! That’s so awesome. Congratulations! How was the VIC?
Alex: The VIC was super fun. It felt good to compete on the west coast again.The waves at Aliso have so much more power, and for me, it’s one of the most challenging spots to skim. It requires fast, sharp turns, so it was exciting to take on that challenge with some real power behind me. It was also just really great vibes and always good to hang with the west coast skim community.
ZAP: Did you know before the VIC that you had a chance to clinch the UST title if you won?
Alex: No, I wasn’t paying too much attention to the points. I was just skimming and having fun and seeing what would happen.
ZAP: What's been the thing you have worked on most this season?
Alex: Something I am always working on is getting out to bigger waves. I want to ride big waves and so I have been working hard on speed and deep water drops. I also started switching up the board I have been riding based on what the waves are like, and it has made a big difference in my skimming. I rode a 53’” zap prowler in Brazil. That board has a lot more float, which helped me get through the dead water into some of the bigger waves. At the Vic I rode a 51” Cazador, which is a lot easier to turn quickly and more responsive.
ZAP: How does it feel winning your first UST title?
Alex: I’m still processing it all, but it feels good! I have been skimming and competing for a long time so reaching this point is really rewarding.
ZAP: What's been on your mind since you won?
Alex: I’ve been reflecting on how far women’s skimboarding has come, and also how much more progress we still have to make. When I started, there were only a few other girls competing with me, and now at the Delaware skim contest, there were more junior women competing than junior men. That’s such a powerful and inspiring shift. It shows that when women are supported, they show up and put in the work. There’s still more to be done, and I’m excited to see where the sport goes next. Right now is a special time for women’s sports, and everyone should be paying attention!
ZAP: What was your favorite part of the tour?
Alex: My favorite part of the tour was getting to skimboard some of the best waves in the world with my best friends. I can’t think of anything more fun. I have made so many great memories and feel so lucky to be part of this community. The tour is actually just one big adventure with your homies.
ZAP: Is there a specific moment from this season that you will hold onto forever?
Alex: Getting a front side barrel in Sununga! It’s a challenging spot to catch a set wave, with the crowd and the difficulty of the wave itself. So finally getting a good one felt truly magical. I’ll never forget that feeling.
ZAP: Were there any big learning moments that you had on the tour this year?
Alex: Can’t say there were any big moments. Its all been a continuous learning experience. So this season I have just been taking it all in, pushing myself to progress as much as possible, and enjoying the ride. I’ve also been learning to listen to my body more. As professional skimboarders, we push ourselves to the limit, so I’ve been tuning into how I feel and making sure to slow down and rest when I need to.
ZAP: Which stop was your favorite, and why?
Alex: I loved the Brazil stop because it was such an adventure and an amazing experience to feel the support for skimboarding there. But Delaware will always be my favorite. Winning in my hometown with my whole family there was truly special. It’s also such a well-run event with a unique energy that makes it stand out. Big props to Jason Wilson for creating such a great contest.
ZAP: Has it sunk in yet that YOU are the 2025 UST Women's World Champion?
Alex: Not yet. It all kind of happened so fast, it hasn’t really sunk in yet.
ZAP: Is there anyone in particular that you want to thank?
Alex: I’d like to thank Zap Skimboards for all the support this year. They made this tour and this win possible for me and I am so grateful for it. I would also like to thank Alley Oop Skimboarding, who has been by my side supporting me since I was a little grom. I’m also so grateful to my family for always believing in me and encouraging me. I want to thank my partner for coming to my contests and cheering me on. And I want to give a huge thanks to the other women in skimboarding. We’ve built something truly incredible with the way we push and support one another. The friendships I’ve made along the way are so special, and they’re the reason why I keep coming back to compete.
ZAP: Where do you go from here? What's next?
Alex: I will keep skimboarding because its what I love, but its surf season now! So I am stoked to surf a bunch these upcoming months. I am also learning how to soil surf, which has been a super fun challenge. I’m on my way to becoming a true water woman!
