Though the earliest records of skim boarding date back to the 1920s, the boards were simple and hard to control.
It wasnt until the 1970s that the design for the skim boards we use today began to take shape. They have now taken on a shape similar to the modern surfboard only they are smaller and thinner than surfboards.
The first boards were made from plywood sheets, but now are being made from fiberglass.
The best board for beginners are square ones, though they come in circles, ovals and teardrops also. The best size to start with in most cases stands about mid-chest.
The shapes of the boards determine the ease of control for the rider. Surfboards and bodyboards, although similar, are extremely more buoyant then the skim surfboard.
The principal of skimboarding is to hydroplane across the thin water of a receding wave. Though tricks can be done in bigger waves, the need for buoyancy is not as great as with a surfboard.
The best skimboards have a slightly raised nose and traction pads already installed. Of course traction pads can be added separately and even surf wax can be used to help keep feet gripped to the boards.
Skimming across the water is also a balancing act, so a good sense of balance is also key to perfecting the art of skimboarding.
Although skimboards have been around for almost a hundred years, it is a relatively new as a competitive sport. When riding out on the water on a skimboard, tricks and flips are attempted when coming into contact with an incoming wave.
The real trick is in the landing.