Difference Between Flatland And Beach Skimboarding
Skimboarding started in the late 1920s when lifeguards at the Laguna Beach made use of thin pieces of wood to help them ‘skim’ down the beach to quickly get to swimmers in distress.
Today, this famous sport has come a long way and provides riders with various creative terrain choices to skimboard on. In this article, we will be discussing the fundamental difference between flatland and beach skimboarding.
What Is Skimboarding?
Before we can understand the difference between beach skimboarding and flatland skimboarding, we need first to know what skimboarding is.
Skimboarding is an enthralling activity that involves skimming along water, sand, or flatland on a skimboard. It requires a lot of practice and resilience to master the skills necessary for being a good rider.
Flatland Skimboarding
As the name suggests, flatland skimboarding can be done anywhere with a long shallow puddle. Flatland skimboarding encompasses all the qualities of skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding and is garnering a massive army of devoted followers.
Your options to skim in are endless; a flooded street, river, beach, and even a puddle can provide you with the best skimming opportunity.
Flatland skimboarding is a top favorite amongst those who love snowboarding and skateboarding, as it requires similar skills. Several snow and skateboarders settle on learning flatland skimming first owing to the extra cushioning of sand and water in case you fall.
Skimboards For Flatland Skimboarding
Generally speaking, flatland skimboards differ in size, shape, and rocker compared to the typical skimboards used for wave skimboarding. Flatland skimboards are mostly bi-directional, which means they can be ridden in both directions, and they are typically made of wood.
Beach Skimboarding
Beach skimboarding, as the name implies, is done on the beach. It is much trickier than other skimboarding forms and requires time and patience to master its tips and tricks. For successful skimboarding on the beach, you will be aiming to skimboard on the area where the waves break and leave with a shallow level of water on the sand.
For beach skimboarding, timing is everything. You need to carefully plan your skims according to the waves. Every beach skimboarder will ride the waves according to his/her own preference. They can either skim parallel along the beach or make their way directly to the waves to skim their way back to the shore while riding them.
Skimboards For Beach Skimboarding
The preferred skimboards for beach skimboarding are lighter and made with carbon fiber or epoxy foam. They have better flotation qualities of taking on waves and mostly have a rocker that aids in carving and turning. They are bigger and thicker and provide a larger surface area to make your skimming experience smooth.
Beach Skimboarding VS. Flatland Skimboarding
There you have it; these are some of the most fundamental differences between
flatland skimboarding and beach skimboarding.
Beach skimboarding is more technical and unpredictable, whereas flatland skimboarding serves as a stepping-stone for you to further master beach skimboarding. No matter which one you prefer and which possibilities you have in your area, both provide skimboarders with a much-needed adrenaline rush.