Catching a wave on a skimboard involves timing, speed, and technique to meet a breaking or reforming wave and ride it back to shore. Unlike surfing where you paddle into a wave, skimboarding requires you to run, drop your board, and glide out to an incoming wave.
The fundamental process requires precise timing with the waves and confident execution of the run and drop. Once you reach the wave, the goal is to transition smoothly from gliding on the wet sand and shallow water to riding the face of the wave as it breaks or reforms towards the beach.
Steps to Catch a Wave
- Scout the Conditions: Choose a beach with a suitable shorebreak or waves that break close to the shore. Pay attention to the wave timing and how they break.
- Select Your Starting Point: Position yourself on the beach where you can get a good run-up to meet the incoming wave just as it becomes rideable.
- Time Your Run: Watch an incoming wave and time your run so that you reach the wet sand and deploy your board just ahead of the wave breaking. Speed is crucial here to build momentum.
- Drop the Board: As you run onto the wet sand, smoothly drop your skimboard flat in front of you while maintaining your running speed.
- Mount the Board: Transition from running to riding the board. This is often done by carefully stepping or jumping onto the board as it glides across the thin sheet of water left by receding waves or the incoming swell.
- Glide Towards the Wave: Maintain balance and speed as you glide across the shallow water towards the peak or shoulder of the approaching wave.
- Meet and Connect with the Wave: As you reach the wave, angle your board to connect with the wave face. You want to ride along the face as it breaks towards the shore, using the wave's energy.
Riding the Wave Face
Once on the wave, skilled skimboarders can perform maneuvers. Riding the wave face requires balance and subtle shifts in weight. To perform turns or "wraps" back towards the breaking part of the wave, you will need to use your body weight and bend your knees. As mentioned in the reference, "if you bend this little knee in like that a little more style... This will help you with wrapping away bend your knee in your weights." This highlights the importance of bending your knee, specifically the front knee, and using your body weight ("weights") to initiate turns and maneuvers on the wave face, allowing you to ride the wave effectively or wrap around the breaking section.
Essential Techniques
- Speed is Key: The faster you run and glide, the further out you can get to meet the wave.
- Flat Drop: Ensure your board lands flat on the water to avoid digging a rail and slowing down or falling.
- Balance: Stay centered over your board and use your arms for balance.
- Weight Distribution: Shift your weight subtly to steer the board on the glide and the wave face.
Mastering these steps and techniques, including using knee bend for maneuvers on the wave, is essential for successfully catching and riding waves on a skimboard.
