The Skim Boarding Community

Gone are the days where rounded 'Wave Warrior' skim boards were used to ride thin sheets of water...

The Skim Boarding Community

Local boys Luke Godfrey and Tristan Beebe enjoying a skim session at Camps Bay Beach

As some of you may have seen a new ‘sub culture’ has appeared within the surfing and beach going community. No it’s not Capoeira (Brazilian Style fighting that happens on the beachfront), Footvolley (Volleyball played with ones feet), hand guns (those body surfing devices which strap to your hand making waves easier to ride), one legged beach bat players (As seen at Clifton 2nd beach), or even tight rope walking between palm trees (As is the case outside the famous Café Caprice in Camps Bay from time to time), but rather the new popular pass time of skim boarding!

Gone are the days where rounded ‘Wave Warrior’ skim boards were used to ride thin sheets of water which wash along the sandy banks of the beach. Now companies have produced boards which are similar shape to surfboards, yet smaller, lighter and minus the skegs. These guys actually ride these state of the art boards along the aqua plane like, thin sheets of backwash into the water, cutting back into the shore break waves, to the extent that some of the more  talented participants actually catch the wave and even sometimes find themselves getting barreled.

So I had to give it a try and I wasn’t that bad after all, but being a footballer myself currently in pre-season training, I gave this up after the first day of trial as I almost broke my ankle on two occasions! What startled me even more was a kid that could not be more than 5 years of age at Camps Bay Beach who was actually better than some of the older guys! I have yet to get a picture of him but I am going to try get interview with this maniac to delve a bit further into his hobby and what drives him to be such an absolute legend.

Just to show you how serious these guys are about what they do, I caught up with Tristan Beebe, a local resident, who told me a top of the range board like his cost up to R4000!!! So these guys are not messing around and when I say they are good at what they do, I am not asking you to trust me, but asking you to be the judge of that for yourself…

The Skim Boarding Community 2

Local boy Tristan Beebe ripping it up! photo by: Guthrie Fraser

Keep your eyes peeled toward the Glen Beach side of Camps Bay in front of the Primi Sea Castle on weekday evenings to catch this growing bunch of skimmers in action. In saying that let me add this, go join them as they are always keen to get any new kook (rookie) hooked on this upcoming sport!

An Interview with one of the more talented riders along with my 5 year old hero will be coming soon, as soon as I can catch them for a couple minutes when they are not too busy ripping it up!

Keep it up gents, by the looks of things it’s growing fast and sponsors could soon be hot on your heels!

Guthrie Fraser showing them how it's done...

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31 Responses to “The Skim Boarding Community” Subscribe

  1. Sean April 8, 2010 at 9:46 am #

    Hey

    Good to see an article about the local skim scene. Thanks for including it in your blog. I am glad that the sport is finally growing & attracting more attention.

    Bummed to see that there is mention or back link to SkimZA website or Facebook group. The least one can do if you decide to use one of our photos without asking permission.

    If any readers would like to join the community – check out SkimZA on facebook – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=370235914105

    Also website coming soon – http://www.skimza.com

    • Mr Cape Town April 19, 2010 at 1:23 pm #

      @ Shaun: Shot man im new in this game so ill do that in the future i wanna do an interview with Tristan and maybe you aswell so we can do a proper reference when we do so.

  2. Brian April 8, 2010 at 11:26 am #

    Contact me if you want the history of skimboarding in SA.

  3. Millard Bonton June 19, 2010 at 7:52 am #

    Great post. Just found it on Bing. Thank u for the useful info. Keep up the nice work 🙂

  4. Jo Ann Emerson July 7, 2010 at 4:21 pm #

    I don’t think I could keep up with running a site like this! Nice job, I just would love to see you keep going for a good long time.

  5. fems July 14, 2010 at 1:21 pm #

    I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
    And you et an account on Twitter?

    • Mr. Cape Town July 14, 2010 at 7:27 pm #

      Quote any post you like mate…Follow me on Twitter @Mr_CapeTown

  6. Sport Update July 16, 2010 at 1:00 pm #

    It’s excellent to see some nice webmasters keeping their webpage up, one of my other favorited webpage aboutupdate on sports just quit working the other day for no specific reason.

  7. Bacak July 18, 2010 at 12:47 pm #

    I entirely am loving this web page!!!! 100 % gonna must placed this on my bookmarks.

  8. Christopher Leffingwell August 5, 2010 at 2:24 am #

    I just learned to do the Toeside 540. Pretty fun. I just thought I should you a few pointers for you guys to learn it. Just make sure you have a good toeside 180 and 360 beforehand. Keep the rope tight, start about 10 – 15 feet away from the wake, and cut slowly into the wake. Pull the rope near your back and then turn your head and shoulders in the direction of your turn. You need to pass the rope hand to hand and then continuefor the 180. Hope you are successful and use these tips that I have took the time and effort to write. I will be back to answer questions, so just post a comment if you have any questions.

  9. NewSkimmer August 13, 2010 at 1:12 pm #

    It’s really great to see that there are more skimboard enthusiasts out there! Thanx for the great site!

    • Mr. Cape Town August 13, 2010 at 1:19 pm #

      No worries mate, hopefully my video account will be up soon so I can get some sick footage!

      • Freddy August 27, 2010 at 11:11 am #

        Hey dood, i juss recently came to visit with my girlfriend from SA…been here for 3weeks, and spotted some skimboard action. i’m actually a snowboarder myself(from Canada)…and would love to pick a skim up and bring it home….they’re pretty pricey tho?! any 2nd hand shops around capetown?

        • Mr. Cape Town August 30, 2010 at 1:47 pm #

          Phone my mate Guthrie Fraser and tell him Dylan Moore gave you his details. ph: 082 414 2540

  10. Scottie Belfy August 16, 2010 at 1:18 am #

    Super-Duper web-site! I am loving it!! Will arrive back again – taking you feeds also, Thanks.

  11. Cindy September 13, 2010 at 8:06 pm #

    Once and for all an outstanding writing in relation to the topic, maintain the great work and also I wish to examine far more from you in the long run.

  12. Flinn January 3, 2011 at 8:21 pm #

    Excellent Blog. Keep up the good work!

  13. Gina February 5, 2011 at 2:52 am #

    I like your logo. IVery bold and quite strong!

    Love the brand icon too, very recognisable.

    • Mr. Cape Town February 5, 2011 at 8:56 am #

      thanks a lot Gina, please feel free to comment on anything, negative or positive. I value this kind of feedback tremedously!

  14. Alwyn October 12, 2011 at 3:42 pm #

    is it possible to get a proper skimboard (2nd hand) for around 1K – 1.5k? I’ve been looking around and cant find any active groups online so I don’t know where to look or who to ask. I want to get into it and get rid of my wave warrior wooden “skimboard”

  15. Alwyn October 13, 2011 at 12:51 pm #

    thanks man I found the site yesterday and emailed him so just waiting for a response. Shot for the reply! Kiff blog

  16. Johannes Henkel October 22, 2011 at 12:12 pm #

    hey guyz…ive been looking everwhere in cape town for a skimboard.! i desperately need one for the summer coz its flippin fun to do!
    you guys have any idea or contacs in durban?
    plz tell me
    johenkel@web.de
    Facebook : Johannes JoJo Henkel

    shot Johannes

  17. Johannes November 26, 2011 at 3:15 pm #

    shot dude 😀 appreciate it

  18. Gareth Davids September 12, 2012 at 12:16 pm #

    Hey , Where could I buy a skimboard around Cape Town area ?

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