Words: Sydney Pizza
There's a lot of moving pieces when it comes to skimming, and in each part of the process, whether you are a beginner or top of the line professional, there is always something to improve upon, and something to think about. Making sure that you remember all the little things, like where to put your feet, while making sure the big pieces, like when to turn on the wave, can be challenging and sometimes too much at once, until you build muscle memory. Here are some of my biggest keys to skimming to help ease the process!
1. Keep Your Front Shoulder Open
This is so essential, no matter what skill level you have, keeping your front shoulder open makes the difference. As a beginner or intermediate rider having your lead shoulder open to the wave or before whatever maneuver you are trying to execute, it allows for you to not only have more control, but to visualize what you are doing a lot better. It is super difficult to execute a maneuver across your body no matter what sport, in skimming having your shoulder closed off is much of the same idea. There are a couple of exceptions, however, those come down the road at the advanced level of skimming. It means knowing when you open your shoulder more but also when to bring it back to neutral or even bring it in a little extra. For example when you turn on a wave you want your shoulders and chest open to the wave on the approach, but, after you make the turn, you can't leave your arm hanging out, you have to bring it back in with you, especially if you want to get barrelled.
2. Let Your Head Guide You While Your Shoulders & Hips Drive You
In general, with whatever movement wherever your head goes/looks, the rest of your body follows. In skimming this is a huge difference maker. This is a little detail that matters more than people realize. Where you look is where you go, whether you are working on a 360 as a beginner or are trying to get barrelled as a more experienced rider, looking is leading. Looking where you want to go and want to end up at the end of the ride or at any point during is the "follow through" piece. It is the strong finish.
3. Bend At Your Knees, Not Your Hips/Back
For some beginners, being sort-of sideways on a moving object is kind of daunting and uncomfortable, naturally making you want to get closer to the ground; closer to the ground the more stable. While true, the way to achieve stability in skimboarding, is not curving your back and bending at the hips, but rather bending at your knees and keeping your back straight and arms open. In reality, when you bend at your hips and have your nose over your knees, it makes you more apt to fall forward and lose your balance. Finding the patented "athletic stance" on your board helps a lot, keeping your base stable and working on getting comfortable with your head facing the ocean, shoulders and chest open, back straight, and knees bent will get you there!
4. Foot Placement Is Key
Again, for any skill level, not just making sure that they are straight and perpendicular with the board, but more importantly where on the board they are. For a beginner that means making sure that your foot is as close to the middle of the board as possible and not too close to one rail or the other. Getting the reps in to build the muscle memory with where your feet should go as a beginner is key. As an intermediate to advanced rider, that changes a little. Your foot placement is still imperative, but it gets a little less restrictive. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish changes where your feet go and what they do. Whether that is farther back, closer to the middle, whatever it may be, place your feet with purpose. Always place your feet with purpose. Depending on how much pop you want on a trick, if you are doing a maneuver on the way out to the wave, or even how you cut into the wave on your turn. Foot placement is key.
5. Have Fun!
The most important part of skimming is making sure that you are having fun! Always try to ground yourself and remember why you skim, why you started, and why you love it. Even on the most frustrating days, enjoy the process, you will never be in the same moment you are now. Learning to appreciate the process and growth and development is a huge part of skimming. Landing the trick is AMAZING, but being able to stop for a second and appreciate all the hard-work and dedication it took to get there is just as fulfilling, so enjoy it!
These tips may seem daunting or like things that will change how you skim, but it is for the better! They will help you greatly! No matter what skill level you are at, keep charging!