If you don't know what board you want, or don't what size you ride, just check out all the info below. And if after reading all of this you're still confused, feel free to email greg@skimcity.com or call Greg @ 888-480-1881. But when you do, remember we need details: your height, weight, age, how many years you've been skimming, type of skimming you do (sand surfing or wave riding), and the type of shore break you skim. That way we can pick you out a board that will actually be the right size/style for you.

Now, what you’ll read below is a true work in progress, a quick thumbnail sketch of the brands and boards we carry. It’s meant to give you the basics, and not be the end-all, do-all bible of skimboards. In other words – you got more questions? Feel free to call us on the toll-free or shoot us an email. Cool?

SKIMBOARD BASICS

We do not carry machine-made boards. And, except for the Vic Woodies, the Nemos and Zeds, and the Roush woodies, all of the boards we carry are made with a foam core and are then covered with several layers of cloth which is bound to the foam core by goopy stuff called resin.

Most of the manufacturers use some sort of closed cell foam for their core. That means that, unlike surfboards, if you punch a hole in your skimboard, you don’t need to kill yourself to get out of the water and fix it for fear that your board’s foam will quickly turn into oatmeal (the Victoria Ultra Vac and only the Ultra Vac is the exception to this rule). Now this doesn’t mean that you don’t have to fix the board at all. Sooner or later, water will get into the hole and ruin the integrity (that’s a cool SAT word, huh?) of the bond between the foam core and the cloth shell, which will then weaken the overall strength of the board and SNAP!!

Now, the manufacturers generally use 4 different types of cloth. The basic cloth is called E-glass. It has the loosest weave and is therefore most susceptible to rocks and seashells. But, and way more important, the loose weave means the board is the most flexible, and thus (to a point) less prone to snapping. However, loose also means not quite as fast, especially if the rider is high up on the weight range.

Texilium and S-glass are in the middle of the pack. Featuring a tighter/stronger weave, these boards are stiffer and stronger. That means they’re more resistant to shells, etc, but, more important, faster.

Carbon is considered by many to be the best. And while it is the tightest/strongest weaved cloth used (some manufacturers use Kevlar, but that’s another story), that doesn’t necessarily make it the best. Carbon is very stiff, and while that’s good for speed, it ain’t so hot if you like more flex in your board.

 

POP

Ok, so what’s POP (geeze are you old or what?)? POP is generally the amount that your board’s going to bounce (and no, not when you drop it) back when you push down on it. Mostly it’s a skateboard term, but it applies to skimboards, too. POP is important, not only when you’re doing ollies (making the board jump up in the air while you’re still on top of it), but also when you’re wrapping (turning around and riding down) the wave. So POP is oftentimes necessary to complete your ride. How much and what type POP you want is up to the individual rider. Some guys like the fast POP of carbon, others like the slower slingshot effect of the other cloths. Which will you prefer? That’s your call, sparky.

Oh, one more thing: Remember, stiff is faster, but it also snaps more easily than loose.

Now in addition to using different cloths, manufacturers also use different resins to glue the cloth to the foam. Your basic board uses polyester. It’s the stiffest and hardest of the resins used. All Zaps, Slotstiks, and most of the Vics are made using polyester. Next is vinylester. Vic is the only one who really uses this resin, which is softer than polyester and thus more resistant to rocks, seashells, and sand abrasion. Finally, there’s epoxy. Epoxy sucks to work with and takes forever to dry. However, it’s the resin carbon seems to like best (meaning you use less and thus end up with a lighter board). It is also the softest of the resins, and is therefore the most resistant to rocks, seashells, and sand abrasion. Is epoxy the best? Exile, Syndrome, and Grape won’t make boards from anything else. Vic uses all three resins, while Zap and Slotstik aren’t fans of the stuff at all.

So as you can see, there are advantages to each of the resins, and each of the cloths. And each combination produces different results. And we didn’t even mention the fact that a lot of the boards are made from three layers of cloth, and often it’s not 3 layers of the same cloth. Whew!

Which is best? The one that puts the biggest smile on your face, of course. Don’t worry about who’s riding which board or which company sponsors which rider. Worry instead about your riding style, and which board best suits that style. Don’t have a style yet? Well, you will. And you’ll get it by borrowing your buds’ boards and riding them. Pay attention to how it floats, turns, rides. What do you like about it. What don’t you like. Before you know it, you’ll know what you want out of your board. And until then, buy the board you can afford and ride, ride, ride it.

Now, adding to the confusion of which resin/cloth combination is best for you, there’s also the fact that each of the board manufacturers make boards that are unique to the manufacturer. IOW, each manufacturer has its own design philosophy, and its own characteristics. Let’s check ‘em out, shall we?

Oh, and before we start remember, different isn’t necessarily better, it’s just different. Please don’t confuse the two.

Allrighty?

  

ZAP SKIMBOARDS

Zap is the largest skimboard manufacturer in the world. All of their boards are made in Venice, FL. They make the best starter boards out there, as well as some of the best high-end boards you could ever hope to ride.

Zap basically makes two types of boards: beginner-to-intermediate, and intermediate-to-expert, with one type (the Pro) straddling the line in between. With the obvious exception of the sand-surfing Bat and Lazer, wave riders will find their Zap board will feel very “floaty,” like it’s floating way high on top of the water. This makes you feel like you’re going screaming fast out to the wave, however when you run out of speed, you sink like a rock. This doesn’t mean you get the least bit farther (or less far) than you would on any other board, it’s just the feeling you get while riding it.

Currently all Zaps are made with polyester, and all the ones we carry have a foam core.

Here are the models:

Beginner to Intermediate level

(Note all of the boards listed in this section are compression-molded and hand-painted, thus while the shape of each board is exactly the same, no two paint jobs will ever be.)

The Bat - Possibly the best sand-surfer out there. Durable (if you stay away from the rocks and shells), with a textured deck, and up-turned rails (edges), this is your board if you're into sliding around the sand and under 130lbs. Oh, and little guys have no trouble handling this stick. 38 x 20 ¼ x. ¼

Lazer - The Lazer is the board you're looking for if you're looking for a board that will, in theory, allow you to do some sand surfing and maybe a bit of wave riding, too. Truly not a high-performance board, but then it's not supposed to be. Instead, it's kind of a hybrid between the Wedge and the Bat. Zap puts a weight limit of 115 lbs on it - exceed the limit too far and you'll either sink the board or break it - no fun either way, eh? The Lazer features down-turned rails, a smooth top, and comes in a boatload of designs and colors. It measures 40 x 19 3/4 x 3/8

Bomb - This board is fashioned after Zap's famous Egg. If you're just starting out and looking for a sick line-rider, or a great transition board when you’re going from sand-surfing to wave-riding, this could be your dream come true. We put the weight limit at about 110 or so (less would be better). 44 x 18 3/4 x 1/2

Wedge - Medium - Suitable for riders up to 120 lbs, the medium Wedge is a great beginner-to-intermediate board which can both sand surf and wave ride with no problem. This is the board most skimmers start on. 45 x 19 3/4 x 1/2

Fish - Suitable for riders up to about 140lbs, the Fish features a swallowtail design which in theory should hold you in the wave face better than the tradition pintail design. Thus, this one should be awesome when it comes to line-riding – especially on the Gulf coast or anywhere the waves come in on a slant.

Wedge - Large - Ok, so you're a bigger guy (or gal) looking for a great board that will allow you to sand surf and wave ride, without dropping a small fortune. Well, if you’re less than 140 lbs, this is the stick for you. Oh, on the Zap site, they put 160 lbs weight limit on this one. Well, unless you’re skimming Cali, we think you’ll do better sticking to our suggestion of 140lbs. 49 x 19 3/4 x 5/8

Intermediate level

Pro - Small - A step up from the Wedge line, the Pro has long been the best buy in skimboarding, and now the Pro family has added a little brother. The small Pro is big enough to give you the float, but its narrow tail makes it super maneuverable. If you're between 125 and about 145 lbs, check out this sucker. Nice rocker, good weight, and really durable.

Pro - Medium - If you're between 135 and about 165 lbs, and looking for bang for your buck, check out this sucker. The medium Pro is big enough to give you plenty of float, but its narrow tail makes it super maneuverable. 51 x 20 x 3/4". Good rocker, nice weight, and really durable. What are you waiting for?

Pro - Large - If you're between 140 and about 185 lbs and looking to get the most bang for your buck, the large Pro could be for you. The Pro is big enough to give you the float you want, but its narrow tail makes it super maneuverable. Pretty durable, good rocker, and a nice weight. Buy now! 54 x 20 1/4 x ¾

The Best

Comp - The Comp is Zap’s top-of-the-line board and it’s the one you’ll see beneath the feet of all their pro riders. This lightweight, highly maneuverable sled is available in five sizes: XSmall, Small, Medium, Large, and XLarge. 

XSmall is great for riders under 100 lbs.
Small = 51" x 20" x 3/4" and is suitable for riders up to 140 lbs
Medium = 53" x 20" x 3/8" and is suitable for riders up to 165 lbs
Large = 54 1/2x 20 1/2 x 3/4" and is suitable for riders up to about 185 lbs.
XLarge = 56 x 21 x 3/4 and is suitable for riders up to about 225 lbs. Comes with and without art in 3 different cloths: E-glass, Texillium/Carbon; and Carbon.

Pro Rider Models - 3 of Zap's top teamers have their own design. All 3 are made out of carbon; all feature the same rocker as the regular Comps. The major differences among the Pro Rider models and the regular Comps are as follows:
The Jason Wilson board has a much pointier nose than all the other models.
The Austin Bleiweiss model has a more rounded nose and slightly more narrow tail.
The Steve Boomhower board (which we've heard from team riders is unreal) has a slightly more pointed nose than the regular Comp and is a bit wider under the front foot. So...

The Egg - The Egg is lightweight, super maneuverable, super fast in the wave face, and built to get waaaaay out there. It's available in four sizes (small, medium, large, and xlarge).

Upon riding these suckers we think that the weigh limits need to be lowered a bit here, so...

Small is suitable for riders up to 120 lbs.

Medium is suitable for riders up to 140 lbs.

Large is suitable for riders up to about 165 lbs.

XLarge is suitable for riders uo to about 185 lbs.
(Zap suggests 140, 165, 185, and 220 respectively). Just a suggestion.

 

VICTORIA SKIMBOARDS

Vic’s been around since 1976. What more could you need to know?

Ultra Vac - Vic's best-selling entry level board. Here you've go a stick shaped just like the ones the pros use, but made out of a better-for-the-budget-quality foam than the more pricey models. Generally a bit heavier than its pricier brother, its extra weight makes it easier for beginners to get it down in windy conditions.

Plain Wrap - Ok, so take a polyvac, use viylester (instead of polyester) to hold it all together (if you've been paying attention, you know vinylester is stronger than polyester), skip the gloss coat (the shiny, final coat that makes it stiff and - you guessed it - shiny) and you've got a plane wrap (shouldn't that be spelled PLAIN wrap? Uh, yes it should, but we didn't name it - talk to Vic), Vic's new budget board. Really light with a fair amount of flex, this is the  board for those of you who care more about performance than appearance.

Poly Vac - Tex Haines (Vic's ower and the indesputable granddaddy of skimming) says the poly vac is the best board made, and who's to argue? This stick has plenty of pop to it, and its price won't break your bank, either.

  Vic S-glass - S-glass is stronger and stiffer than E-glass, but not quite as strong and stiff as carbon. But it's waaaay cheaper. So if you're looking for strength and stiff, but simply can't spring for carbon...

Vinylester – description coming

Vic Carbon - Take a poly vac, and replace one of the layers of  e-glass with carbon cloth. Carbon cloth, as you should know, is more resistant to shells and rocks, but it is also much stiffer than e-glass, with double carbons (a layer of carbon on each side) being even stiffer. So if you love tons of pop in your board, double carbon might not be for you. Of course if you love a stiff stick...

Vic Carbon Epoxy - description coming

 

SLOTSTIK

Established back in 1987, Slotstiks aren't just skimboards, they're serious works of art. No kidding. Buy one of these beauties and you'll see what I mean. It's almost a shame to ruin their picture-perfect surface with wax and pads. But you will. And that's where the real fun begins. Does any board hold the waveface better?  Eschewing (like that word?) epoxy in favor of polyester, Slotties come in basically 3 different styles and  3 different cloths.

Slot Vac - description coming

Pro vac - description coming

S-glass - description coming

Carbon - description coming

300 series - Is the new 300 Series from Slotstik the Best Buy in Skimboarding? From all reports it very well could be. Made using a double layer of cloth over a closed cell foam and incorporating the perfection that's made Slotstik famous, the satin finished 300 is great for wrapping and line rides. It's lightweight and has tons of flex (thus, if you're close to the upper limits of each board's weight range, you might consider a move up to the next size. Turning won't be a problem.).
So order one and let us know your thoughts - if you're anything like the Slottie riders that have been testing these rockets, you're going to be stoked out of your gourd.

  

EXILE SKIMBORDS

One of the newer kids on the block, Exile set the skim world on its ear when they started producing epoxy boards for prices everyone could afford. Today, you'll see these sick sticks beneath the feet of some of the hottest rippers around. Offering uniquely designed, epoxy boards in 2 different rocker styles and 3 different clothes, Exile is the choice for intermediate-to- expert riders everywhere.

 Board descriptions coming

GRAPE

A couple of years ago, former Vic shaper, Paul Wade, took his act on the road and started making his own sticks. They're called Grape and they are the schnizzle (yes, mom and dad, that's a good thing). Made from ¾" blanks, these sleds are incredibly lightweight (like just a panda hair over 4 lbs), feature epoxy construction, and are available in e-glass, s-glass, and carbon (and before you go asking, that's e-glass, s-glass, or carbon on the top and the bottom). All the Grapes also feature full, reinforced rails which are hand-carved and tapered to make turning a dream. All in all, these boards are so insane I can't figure out why you haven't clicked the BUY button yet

SYNDROME

There's a new kid on the block, and it's out to kick some butt. It's called Syndrome, and like its name it's truly sick. 5/8" thick and light (under 5lbs), with plenty of pop, all Syndromes feature a carbon epoxy construction. From all reports (we have a demo board in the shop if you wanna try one), they're super floaty (even more than a Zap), hold the line like a Slottie, and turn quicker than a Vic. And its carbon epoxy construction will give any board a run for its money. Oh, did I mention the rail construction? Well, not to give away any super secrets, but Syndromes utilize a solid rail construction which should not only put an end to bottom skin delams and rail cracks, but also all but eliminate the possibility of punctures and dings from shells and rocks. In short, these sleds are the schnizzle. Now, you do need to know that the rails on these boards are sharp: the bottom of the board/rail is flat with absolutely no roundness at all, (to most of you it won't be a big deal, but I know a few of you would rather have some roundness to both the top and the bottom of the rail). Also the front rocker is similar to Exile's hybrid rocker, while the back of the board is rocker-free. So...

 

WEIGHT GUIDE 

 

Please note that this is just a GUIDE, it's not meant to be the bible. There are plenty of big guys riding small boards and tons of small guys riding big boards. Also make sure you take where you skim into account. Generally, if you're on the East Coast, these sizes will serve you. If you're on the West Coast, you might want to drop down a size or so. When in doubt just give the toll-free a jingle: 1-877-LETS SKIM.

If you weigh	you should ride a
under 80 lbs	XXS
80 to 100 lbs	XS
100 to 120 lbs	Small
120 to 140 lbs	Medium
140 to 160 lbs	Medium Large
160 to 180 lbs	Large
180 to 220 lbs	X-Large
220 lbs and up	XX-Large

Questions? Contact Skim City @ 1-888-480-1881 or email greg@skimcity.com