Blog Archives

Here is an archive of all the posts on the Sandskater website since 2006!

Have fun looking through them!

  • A return to skimboarding

    Its been a few years since I was last on a skimboard, but this all changed recently after a rainy day meant a few of us met up for a pint at the local pub. A lot of good ideas have been hatched over a pint or two in the past, and this time was…

  • Choosing a skimboard

    Choosing a skimboard for the first time is no easy task. With the large range of boards now on offer there are lot to choose from. Picking the right board from the beginning will mean you get maximum enjoyment from day one! Hopefully this quick guide will give you an idea of what to look…

  • Photo Report: 2013 UK International Skimboarding Contest

    What a fantastic weekend we all had down in Cornwall at the UK International Skimboard Contest. There was worry over the conditions, but it all came together in the end, and we were blessed with 2ft glassy sets, and connectable siders. Everybody had a blast as usual, and after the obligatory drinks on Saturday evening,…

  • Video: How to get on your skimboard

    Here’s a great video from Zap Skimboards on how to get on your skimboard using the one step drop. Zap employee and skimboarder, Steve Boomhower, takes you through the techniques needed to get on your skimboard smoothly and efficiently, so you carry maximum speed towards the wave. Enjoy!

  • Tolcarne Skimboarding Photos – Sept 2013

    Last weekend, a load of us got up super early (4.15am!) and drove to Cornwall to score some waves at Tolcarne beach in Newquay. To catch the spring high tide we needed to be on the beach at 7am – and that was duly done. Seems everybody was super impressed with my early start, as…

  • Superb Zap Skimboards Tony Bianchi Video

    I was alerted to this sweet video by the great people at Zap Skimboards. It features Zap team rider Tony Bianchi showcasing some of his skimboarding talent in Southern California. Its one chilled little video, and I for one, and loving the music! Enjoy!

  • Video: Spear fishing at Meadfoot beach, Torquay

    Here is another great underwater edit from Torbay skimboarder Toby Jones. showing us what he gets up to when there are no waves about – and lets face it, there hasn’t been many great waves this summer! Sit back, relax and let Toby take you on a chilled out underwater adventure off Meadfoot beach in…

  • Forgotten Sandskater photos that you must see!

    I stumbled across some old Sandskater photos on the internet last week. They were being hosted on Flickr, and were uploaded by our good friend Henry Irvine (Henbot!) These were photos that Henry had taken of the Sandskater crew on our skim and surf trips around the south west. There weren’t many, but the ones…

  • Video: Lonesome Lunchtime Liners

    Today’s video is from our good friend Jax who lives in Portugal. Here is a video he put together earlier this week of some great liner action in his home town of Figueira da Foz.

  • Top skimboarding Instagram accounts you should be following!

    Instagram is a great source of skimboarding photos, and recently I set up Sandskater on Instagram to join in the fun. I have been busy following other skimboarding related Instagram accounts, and thought I would post some of the best accounts for you to follow. Exile Skimboards Zap Skimboards Victoria Skimboards Bill Bryan Mega! Skimboarding…

  • 2007 UK Skim Fest Photos

    More photos from the archives again, this time with the 2007 UK Skim Fest held at Challaborough Bay in south Devon on 22/23 September 2007. In 2007 Zap flew Mega from Portugal to the UK for the Skim Fest, and as usual everybody was stoked to see him. The waves were pretty decent, and all…

  • 2013 Preston Skimboarding Contest Video

    The 2013 Preston skimboarding contest was held back at the beginning of August, and it saw another great turnout for the yearly event. The contest is aimed squarely at the youngsters to encourage them into competitive skimboarding, and is held at Preston beach in Paignton, Devon. So here is a great little video edit from…

  • 2008 Oleron Skimboarding Photos

    More photos added today, this time from the island of Oleron, off the west coast of France. Oleron is a skimboarding Mecca, due to it’s famous liners and the ever so friendly resident skimboarder, Eric – or to his friends, Ricou! Editing these photos for upload to the website reminded me I haven’t been to…

  • Video: Snorkelling at Ansteys Cove, Torquay

    We have posted up before what some of the Torbay skimboarders get up to when there isn’t much skim to be had, remember the rock climbing photos? Well now, some more of the Torbay skimmers have posted up a video of some fantastic snorkelling at Ansteys Cove in Torquay. Ansteys Cove is one of the…

  • 2006 UK Skim Fest Photos

    Here’s a blast from the past today, as we bring you a load of photos fro the 2006 UK Skim Fest. The 2006 event was the 5th Annual Sandskater/Zap UK Skim Fest and was held on the 23/24 September at Challaborough Beach in South Devon. The event was sponsored by: Sandskater, Zap Skimboards and Exile…

  • Surfing and skimboarding photos from Tolcarne Beach, Newquay

    Earlier in the week a few of us took a trip down to Tolcarne beach in Newquay for a skim and surf. Waves were approx. 2ft on the sets, and it was spring high tides. The result was a good little skim session, but it only lasted about 30 minutes, as the tide came up…

  • Photos: Rock Climbing in Torquay, Devon

    The high pressure that is giving us the current spell of hot and dry weather is not great for giving us any waves, so we have been looking for alternative activities. So for something to do, a load of us went rock climbing at London Bridge in Torquay. London Bridge is a natural limestone arch…

  • Preston beach skim session – May 2013

    An impromptu little get together at Preston beach happened over the bank holiday weekend as an unexpected wave appeared. The locals were ready to take advantage of the near perfect slope. Here’s a few photos from that day:

  • Results: 2012 International Skimboarding Contest – Newquay

    By Dan Horan of Skim UK The contest was a great success and was won by Axel Cristol from France. Ollie Bowen secured a second consecutive highest UK rider spot and finished 3rd. There were cash prizes for the top 3 riders. Our youngest rider this year was Matthew Ward, aged 9. For the second…

  • Awesome Brad Domke Skurfing Video

    If you haven’t heard of skurfing, then this video featuring Exile skimboards rider Brad Domke, will show what its all about. Basically its a surfing a wave on your skimboard – you don’t start from the beach, you either paddle into the wave on your skimboard (like you would do on your regular surfboard) or…

  • 2011 Tolcarne ESL Video

    A great little video here from Skim GB of last years ESL contest at Tolcarne in Newquay. Loving the chilled music!

  • 2008 Hossegor Skimboarding Photos

    2008 was the year when half of Paignton seemed to descend on the annual skimboarding contest in Hossegor, France. It was one very memorable trip, with plenty of happy times! Enjoy the photos!

  • 2012 Oleron Skimfest Teaser Video

    Here’s the teaser video by Eric for this years Oleron Skimfest. This years dates are the 24th/25th March. If you haven’t been to Oleron, then you are missing out on some serious liner action. Enjoy the video!

  • 2007 Challaborough Skimboard Contest Photos

    Another load of photos from the archives today, with pic’s from the 2007 Challaborough skimboard contest photos. This event was the start of a 5 series tour around the south west UK, and the turnout was good for this event. The contest was won by Mark Mason. Thanks to Lee at TJH Media for the…

  • 2005 UK Skim Fest Photos

    More from the photos archives with the inclusion of the photos taken at the 2005 UK Skim Fest held at Challaborough Bay in south Devon. It was held on the 17/18 September 2005, and was sponsored by Sandskater, Zap Skimboards and Exile Skimboards

  • 2007 Preston Beach Skimboard Contest Photos

    Here’s the photos from the very first Preston skimboarding contest in Paignton, Devon. A contest we designed for the local kids, and it has happened every year since this first event in 2007. Enjoy the trip back in time, when everybody looked so much younger! Photo credits: Bob Brewis, John Martin, Peter Nicolle

  • 2008 Big Paignton Surfing Photos

    Heading back in time to April 2008 when a big easterley swell hit Paignton. Here are some of the photos we took of the surf and local surfers who made the most of it! Most headed for “cowards corner”, but Gary Wells made it out at the pier to score some big Paignton waves –…

  • Sandskater’s beach naming policy

    We often get a few emails asking where the certain beaches are that people have seen here on the website, and people have asked why we don’t post up the names of some of the spots. Some beaches are still secret spots, and have a strong local presence. In the past, on occasion, I have…

  • Video: Alex Libby goes to France

    Question: What happens when half of the Paignton crew go to Hossegor? Answer: The result is mayhem, and here is the video entitled “Alex Libby goes to France” to prove it. Try and watch it all if you got a spare half an hour! Enjoy!

  • Video: Les Moustachus 2 /Part 4

    More skimboarding with a French flavour from across the channel courtesy of our good friend Eric.

  • Video: Rated skimboarding dog!

    Just got sent this in an email, so thought it would be worth a post here: a rated skimboarding dog!

  • 2011 UK European Skimboarding League Results

    Here are the full results for the UK round of the ESL which was held a couple of weeks ago. Sorry for the delay in posting, but Dan at SkimUK jetted off to the USA straight after the contest, and left the results at his house! Anyway, the win was taken by Goncalo Santos from…

  • 2011 Preston Skimboard Contest Results

    What a great weekend at the Preston skimboarding contest in Paignton. The event now in its 4th year, is a great community event, and this year the sun shone for most of the competition. In the hotly contested over 16 category, Sandskater rider Adam Wootton took the win by half a point from Oli Bowen….

  • 2011 Sunset Skim Jam – Results

    Well WHAT a day! Cracking warm sunshine, a couple of foot’s worth of wedgies all evening and a well contested competition! Sandskater riders scored a brilliant 1 + 2, with Adam Wootton taking with win, and Adam Searle taking the 2nd place. Liam Meyer came back from a 3 year absence from skimboarding to take…

  • Skimonline Spring Mix Video

    Just released by Skimonline is the skimboarding Spring Mix video. Here comes the summer!

  • Iveys Skim Jam: Results and Photos

    The first skim jam of the year was held over the weekend, and it was a good turnout with around 12 skimboarders turning up at Iveys, in Cornwall for some winter skim fun. Dan from Skim UK held an impromptu contest, and made sure everybody went away with a goody bag. Thanks to newly formed…

  • 2011 Oleron Skim Fest Video Teaser

    The 2011 Oleron Skim Fest is getting nearer, so French Eric has released a teaser video for next years event. Oleron is an island off the west coast of France and if you haven’t been there before then you are missing out! Oleron is famous for long liners, and a huge variety of skim conditions…

  • Sandskater Portugal Memories Video

    Better late than never, here is a video of memories from our Euro roadtrip in the summer. It features a lot of the good friends we made along the way. Its been great to be reminded of the awesome summer we had, we hope you enjoy the video as much as we have putting it…

  • 2010 Exile Oktoberfest Video

    Just released at the weekend is the UST video of the Exile Oktoberfest contest that Bill Bryan won a few weeks back. Kick the week off to a flying start by watching this little gem…

  • 2004 UK Skim Fest Photos

    Its time from a blast from the past today, with a gallery of the photos taken at the 2004 UK Skim Fest held at Challaborough Bay in south Devon. Enjoy the photos, and if you was there, see if you can spot yourself.

  • Paignton “You Chuze” Surf Challenge Photos

    A couple of weekends ago, when Paignton had some surf, the local crew organised a “You Chuze” surf contest. Its a fun concept, where you have to choose from 4 old boards from the 70’s and 80’s and use that in your heat. No modern boards allowed. Prizes were kindly donated by Volcom, so everybody…

  • 2010 Santa Cruz Skimbash Video

    The UST have just released the official video of the Santa Cruz Skimbash. And it is now, 3 minutes of delightful skimboarding from across the pond…

  • UK Sidewash Skimboarding Video

    Just the other day we posted some photos from our session on Cornwall last weekend. Now here is the video overview of the session for your viewing pleasure. The video was filmed by Adele Oldroyd and edited by Chris Handscombe. Note: As this beach is a semi-secret spot in the surf & bodyboard world, I…

  • 2010 UK ESL Skimboard Contest Video

    Here’s a video of the UK ESL contest held earlier this month at Tolcarne in Newquay. The video was filmed and edited by Luke Chinnock and his dad.

  • Weekend skim fun in Cornwall!

    As you might have seen from our Facebook page, we scored some good skim and surf in Cornwall over the weekend. We went hunting for sidewash, and was rewarded with some of the best sider action we have seen so far in the UK. Everybody was on form and scored some sick rides. We recorded…

  • Quinton Good Skimboarding Mini-Movie!

    We like video’s that show off exactly what can be done in smaller waves, because it gives a boost to the UK skimmers who skim smaller waves regularly. To be able to see what can be done when the waves aren’t that big is inspiring. So this video caught our eye on YouTube earlier this…

  • Zap Skimboards in Cabo Video

    As you can’ fail to have noticed, we got a load of Zap boards on the way to us right now, so to celebrate that Friday feeling, here is a Zap team in Cabo earlier this year. Sit back and enjoy, the weekend starts right here…

  • UK ESL Contest Photos

    Here’s some of the photos we took at the UK ESL contest held at Tolcarne beach in Newquay last weekend. The conditions for taking photos were not ideal due to the early start, and then the finals being held in near darkness. We chose some of the best, and here they are for your viewing…

  • 2010 Florida Skimboarding Pro/Am Video

    Here’s the official UST video from the recent Florida Skimboarding Pro/Am contest. If you have to skim small waves regularly, then pay attention to this video, because you are about to learn something!

  • UK ESL Contest: Final Results

    The UK round of the ESL went off without a hitch at the weekend. The final was held at dusk, with just enough light left to finish the contest off in one day! After much worrying about the conditions, the waves co-operated and so did the weather. Competitors were blessed with blue skies and 2-3ft…

  • 2010 Preston Beach Skim Contest Results

    While we was away the usual Preston Skim Contest in Paignton was held for the 4th year in a row. Sandskater and the Boathouse had started the event back in 2007 for the local kids, but as we was away in Europe this year, we left the organising to Circle One and Preston Eye. Even…

  • 2010 Portuguese ESL Skimboard Contest Photos

    So here it is, the long awaited photo gallery from the Santa Cruz International Skimboard Contest we attended in Portugal recently. The event was round 1 of the European Skimboard League (ESL), with the 2nd round fast approaching in Hossegor, France at the end of August. All photos by Matt Martin & Adam Wootton.

  • 2010 OBX Skim Jam Video

    Let’s end the week with a video. So as the Outer Banks Skim Jam video was released recently by the UST, here it is for your viewing pleasure.

  • 2005 Cocoa Beach Skim Contest Photos

    Another delve into the archives today, with some photos from the Cocoa Beach Skim Contest in Florida. All the photos were taken by our good friend Robbie Savage back in 2005.

  • 2010 Sandskater Euro Road Trip Video – Part 2: Surfing Portugal

    Following hot on the heels of part 1 of the Euro Road Trip video, here is part two. The video is collection of surf clips from just one session at Leirosa in Portugal earlier this week. For those of you wanting skim footage, then it will be following real soon. Unfortunately skim conditions have been…

  • Sandskater Euro Trip: Portugal Photos

    Here’s the first Portugal photo gallery of the trip so far. There’s plenty of photos, including surfing photos. Thanks to Jax at Foz Holidays who provided some of the in water photos. He runs surf camps in Portugal. Enjoy the photos – there’s more to come soon!

  • 2010 Sandskater Euro Road Trip Video – Part 1: France

    Here is the first video instalment of the trip so far. All the footage is shot in France, and unfortunately due to the weather conditions, we haven’t got that much surfing footage. However we have managed to string together an overview of the France leg of the journey. We are now gathering surfing and skimming…

  • Sandskater Skimboarding Photos: Autumn 2004

    Delving back into the archives again today and heading back to Autumn 2004. Most of these photos are from Boscombe in Bournemouth, when it used to work regularly for skim. Enjoy the photos.

  • 2010 Hossegor ESL Teaser Video

    The teaser video is out for the 2010 ESL contest to be held at Seignosse, Hossegor at the end of August. It looks like the UK is going to be well represented again this year, so the dates for your diary are 27/28/29 August – come and join the party. Here’s the video to give…

  • Sandskater Road Trip: Hossegor!

    Here’s the 2nd update from the road! We left Oleron within 24 hours of arriving, mainly due to lack of surf. So we are writing this now from the Cream Cafe in Seignosse, Hossegor. The surf has been pumping down here, but the weather has been overcast, but at least its warm. Matt has been…

  • 2010 LBI Skim Jam Video

    Following hot on the heals of the World Championships of skimboarding video that was posted last week, the UST (United Skim Tour) have just released the Long Beach Island Skim Jam Video. The conditions look very similar to what we have in the UK a lot of the time, so if you want to see…

  • 2010 World Championships of Skimboarding Video

    The United Skim Tour (UST) have just released the video for the World Championships of Skimboarding that took place a few weeks back at Aliso Beach in California. Check it out now – you won’t be disappointed.

  • 2003 Sandskater/Zap UK Skim Fest Photos

    Back in time to the 2003 UK Skim Fest. Back in ’03, Zap Skimboards sent Drew Danielo, Austin Bleiweiss and Bill Baxter to attend the UK Skim Fest. It turned out to be one of the best years, as this photo gallery shows. Take a look.

  • Iveys Skimboarding Photos – June 2010

    On Sunday 27th June, a handful of UK skimmers met up at Mother Iveys Bay in Cornwall to take advantage of the hottest day of the year so far and skim some sweet waves. Iveys didn’t disappoint and produced some 2-3ft clean waves in 25 degree heat. Enjoy the photos! All photos ©Copyright 2010 Chris…

  • Sandskater Photos – Summer 2003

    Back in time again, this time to the summer of 2003. This set features photos from, Challaborough, south Devon and Boscombe in Bournemouth. Enjoy.

  • Mega Skim Video

    A video to end the week, and this time its a video of one of Europe’s top skimboarders – Mega! Enjoy the vid.

  • El Nino Skimboarding Video Teaser

    Lets start the week the same way we ended the last – with a video. The 10th Street Bros have got a new skimboarding DVD out this summer entitled “El Nino”. Here’s the teaser for it.

  • 2010 Southside Shootout Video

    The 2010 Southside Shootout video has just been released by the United Skim Tour (UST) The event is round two of the UST tour, and had a European entrant in the form of last years ESL winner – Mega. Mega placed a solid 6th place, and here is the video to prove it!

  • 2007 Devon Slide Jam Photos

    Back in 2007, Jay – one of the local skaters, organised a slide jam in south Devon. A tonne of awesome skaters turned up to support the event, and the result was these photos. Hope you enjoy them.

  • Awesome Delaware Skimboarding Video

    This video was brought to our attention by Jonny Walker on the message boards. The skimboarding video features Jason Wilson, Bill Baxter and others having some fun on the Delaware liners in the USA. It looks so much fun – check it for yourself.

  • Photos: Cliff jumping at Spitchwick

    Bored because of the lack of waves over the weekend, some of the crew took advantage of the nice evening sunshine and headed to Spitchwick on Dartmoor for a cliff jumping session. Here’s the photos from that evening.

  • 10th Street Skimboarding Video

    To end the week, we’ll end with a video. This time its a 10th Street summer video edited by Dustin Goldbarg. So here for your enjoyment is 4 minutes of skimboarding pleasure.

  • Paignton Surf Photos – October 2007

    Today its a blast from the past, with a selection of Paignton surfing photos. A few days of swell in Torbay in October 07, resulted in the usual scramble for waves, and here are the photos from those days.

  • 2002 Sandskater/Zap UK Skim Fest Photos

    Lets kick start the week with a photo gallery. This time its the photos from the first ever UK Skim Fest back in 2002. Zap team riders Bill Baxter and Drew Danielo made the trip over from the USA to join in the fun at Challaborough Bay in south Devon. The result is these photos,…

  • 2010 Cabo Clasico Video

    The 2010 Cabo Clasico video has just been released by the United Skim Tour (UST) The event is round one of the UST tour, and is one of the most anticipated skimboarding events in the world. They had solid waves and good weather this year, so check out the worlds best skimboarders on some of…

  • Paignton Backwash Photos

    We had a bit of surf in Paignton this week, so after the tide got too high, a load of the local guys jumped in for a bit of fun in the backwash against the sea wall. The result is this photo gallery! Remember, these guys are experienced idiots, and unless you know what you…

  • 2005 Oleron Skim Fest Photos

    Last week we provided you with the write up of the 2005 Oleron Skim Fest. For today’s post, we are giving you the full photo gallery from the event. Check it out.

  • Grady Archbold Mini Movie

    Some Friday relaxation today, with a mini movie from Exile Skimboards featuring their pro rider Grady Archbold. Grab a cold one from the fridge and sit back and enjoy 3 minutes of skimboarding excellence.

  • Sandskater Oleron Outing 2005

    Article originally published in 2005 Back in November last year Sandskater Matt showed me a video on Oleronskim that blew my mind. The island it was filmed on was only a days drive away (I’d visited it a number of times on holiday) and seemed to be the most diverse and plentiful skimboarding spot ever….

  • My dinged skimboard & how I repaired it

    Back in November of 2001, I received my new custom Poly Vac from Victoria. It was great, custom artwork, with the Sandskater name and web address placed on the deck of the board, it was my pride and joy. I had only used it a couple of times at our local beach and down at…

  • Paignton Skimboarding Photos

    There’s been some great little skimboarding waves down at Preston beach in Paignton over the past couple of days. The Paignton locals have been on, so here is a little photo gallery from the past few days. Enjoy!

  • Mega’s Brazil Skimboarding Video

    As winner of the 2009 European Skimboarding League (ESL), Mega won the prize of a flight to a contest in South America – he chose Brazil. And what a good choice that was, as this video of the trip shows.

  • Bournemouth Skim Jam Photos

    A last minute decision saw the Devon crew trek up to Bournemouth on Bank Holiday Monday to skim with the Worthing crew who we hadn’t seen for a few years. The Bournemouth regulars came out to join us in our little Skim Jam too. The sun shone, and the waves were small but fun. But…

  • Longboard Skate Photos – Summer 2006

    Another historical photo gallery today, with the Sandskater crew longboard skating and sliding around Torbay. This will be a trip down memory lane for some of the “old” grom crew, who are now all grown up and in their late teens/early twenties! Enjoy!

  • Paignton Surf Photos – April 2007

    Another blast from the past today, with a selection of surf photos taken at Paignton back in April 2007. We had a good week of surf back then, so we took a load of pics of some of Sandskater riders and Paignton locals.

  • Exile Skimboards

    Exile Skimboards are widely regarding as having one of the best construction techniques in the skimboarding industry. Exile Skimboards is the result of years of work by company founders Aaron Peluso and Andy Chiavetta. Andy Chiavetta has his own company building composite race aircraft from the ground up. He has been building skimboards for himself…

  • Taiwan Skimboarding Mini Movie

    In 2009, Paulo Prietto and Steve Taylor from Exile Skimboards travelled half way across the world to Taiwan to teach the excited locals skimboarding. Here’s the video report.

  • How do I get on the Sandskater Team?

    This is one of the questions I hear the most from all the up and coming groms. And the simple fact is that there are no hard and fast rules to getting on the team – it comes down to a combination of skimboarding ability, commitment and attitude. So with this article I am going…

  • Circle One Skimboards

    Circle One have been one of the best, if not the best, UK skimboard manufacturers so far. The Circle One range of skimboards are great for first time skimboarders, or for skimmers on a budget. The woodys and soft top skimboards are superb for kids and beginners. The Circle One epoxy EPS foam core boards…

  • The story behind Sandskater

    Sandskater came about in 1989, when two school friends, Matt and Paul, were tasked with a CDT (Craft Design & Technology) project whilst at school. As we were into bodyboarding and surfing, we thought that it would be a cool idea to try and build a skimboard for the school project, that could be used…

  • What is skimboarding?

    Skimboarding brings together the skills and tricks required to be a top skater, snowboarder and surfer to create a sport which is fast developing a cult following. Though the hybrid sport looks most like surfing, the range of moves which can be made are much higher. What’s more, you don’t need huge surf to skim….

  • Photos: Sandskater Heritage 2000-2002

    Following on from last weeks photos of the early days on Sandskater, we come a little more up to date with a selection of photos from 2000-2002. Take a look and enjoy!

  • BBC2’s Working Lunch tries skimboarding!

    Article originally published in 2004. As a Working Lunch viewer for a couple of years, I thought I would drop them an email to see if they would feature Sandskater on the program. For those of you which have never seen the program before, one of the features is “Rob on the Road”, where they…

  • Photos: Sandskater Heritage – 1989-1994

    Sandskater was born out of a passion for the sport of skimboarding in 1989. Paul and myself grew up on the English Rivera in Devon, and started by making woody skimboards from our parents garage whilst still at school in 1989. So here is a great little photo album from back in the day –…

  • Euro Skim League Video: Tolcarne, UK

    Here’s a video from from the Euro Skim League contest at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay earlier this month. Gives you a nice overview of the conditions and the atmosphere. Enjoy

  • Euro Skim League Rd 4 Results – Newquay, UK

    Wow, what a weekend! Newquay delivered the best conditions of ANY Euro Skim League this year. The riders from all over Europe were blessed with 2-3ft glassy conditions with connectable siders, and it wasn’t long before the best riders started to shine. There wasn’t a bad word to be said about the event or the…

  • Video: Tow skimboarding/bodyboarding on snow!

    Following on from last week’s video; bodyboarding on snow, we have just uploaded another snow video to the Sandskater You Tube Channel. The video was filmed on Dartmoor at the height of the snowy period in February 2009. Most of the moor was only accessible to 4×4’s, so we took advantage of the conditions and…

  • Video: Bodyboarding on snow

    A few of the crew headed up to Dartmoor this week to get in some snow bodyboarding. We used a few Circle One bodyboards, which work really well on snow and headed to a nice steep hill with a natural drop off. We then built a compacted snow launch ramp, and then threw ourselves down…

  • Where the f*** has the skim gone?

    Where the f*** is the skim? If you know, please tell me, coz i haven’t found it yet this season. The 2008/2009 autumn & winter season has been one of the worst ever for skim conditions in the south west. Since September i can can count the number of times i have been skimboarding on…

  • The Grinch arrives at Paignton

    … well, not the real Grinch, but a homemade version (The Wench!), that has been built by some of the Paignton guys! So what’s a Grinch? Basically its a petrol motor attached to a winch system with a shed load of rope and a ski-handle at one end. The idea is you can tow yourselves…

  • How to apply skimboard deck grip

    Skimboard deck grip provides a couple of essential features that will help your skimboarding or surfing. Number 1, it provides more traction than regular wax. Number 2, the kick tail at the back of the pad allows you to feel where the back of the board is, and number 3 it gives you a visual…

  • Skimboard International Results

    We have arrived back from the Skimboard International contest in Hossegor and normal service is now resumed! It was an awesome trip for everybody involved and the standard of European skimboarding is going through the roof this year. So, lets have the results: Open Contest: (49 Competitors) 1st Olivier Chaubert 2nd Hugo Santos 3rd Mega…

  • 2008 Preston Beach Skim Contest Results

    For the 2nd year running, the recently held Preston Skim Contest was a great success. We had to cancel the contest on the Saturday due to wind and rain, so instead the older guys split the competitors into 3 groups and gave them a coaching session so the younger competitors could learn some new tricks….

  • Getting Stoked

    Following on from the Stoke – what is it? article, a few weeks ago where i discussed what stoke is, it is now time to turn our attention to “getting stoked”. Over the winter one of our team guys, Adam Wootton, was going through a bad patch and questioning his own commitment to skimboarding. He…

  • Stoke – what is it?

    “To catch a wave was (and is) to stoke the fires of the heart and soul. Hence the terms: to be stoked, a stoked life, degrees of stoke and pure stoke.” – John Grissam, Pure Stoke (1982) Every true surfer/skimboarder has had the feeling of stoke at some point in their lives. That feeling you…

  • How to look after your skimboard

    Skimboards aren’t indestructible, if they were, they would be too heavy to ride! Your skimboard can last anything from 6 months to 3 years depending how you ride it. It is common for riders who are just starting out to be quite hard on boards while they are learning. As you get better, and perfect…

  • UK Snow Skimming!

    With Spring in the air, the sea being it its coldest, and winter making one last stand, here’s what you could have been doing over the winter period: Snow Skimming! We first tried snow skimming at the start of last year and found it to be great fun, I know what you thinking isn’t it…

  • UK Skim Fest : Behind The Scenes

    Although the UK Skim Fest is on for just two days a year, the organisation takes a lot of time and effort, and the planning starts early on in the year. The Skim Fest is really a team effort, including family, friends and skimmers that all pitch in to lend a hand. So let’s start…

  • Video : Boardwalk Blowout 2008

    Sandskater team rider, Adam Wootton, alerted me to this video, it’s from the 2008 Boardwalk Blowout held in Florida, USA. The reason i have chosen to post it here is that the conditions for the Boardwalk contest are very similar to the conditions we regularly get in the UK. But it’s the level of riding…

  • Skimboard Construction

    Gone are the days when round pieces of wood were used as skimboards. A modern skimboard uses some of the most advanced materials and construction methods available. Technology adapted from aerospace industry results in a high performance board built to take the extreme forces involved in riding shorebreak waves. There’s a lot of exotic materials…

  • Paignton Flatland Skimboarding Video

    Last week, Mark and Adam hit up some ankle slappers at Preston beach in Paignton to practice some flatland tricks. Chris was there to film it, resulting in this video. Enjoy:

  • Video: UK Sidewash

    Last weekend Porthcurno in Cornwall was the venue for some of the Sandskater crew to hone their sidewash skimboarding skills at one of the best connectable sider spots the UK currently has to offer.

  • Preston Beach Skim Contest Results

    The skim contest held at Preston Beach in Paignton at the weekend was a huge success. The event was blessed with scorching hot sunshine for both days, and had a large number of competitors of all ages who came to test their skimboarding skills. Thanks to all the competitors who helped make this a fantastic…

  • Sandskater Urban Skimboarding Video

    Wanna know what to do when its flat? Go Urban Skimboarding… Pioneered by the Jackass lads, we recently gave it a go at a local hill. Using an old Victoria Ultra Vac, and the complete skimboard bottom layer we had stripped from another board, we tried sliding the tarmac hill with some pretty funny –…

  • Preston Skimboarding Video

    Following on from last weeks Paignton Skimboarding Video, here is the second part filmed at Preston Beach in Paignton at the end of May. Filemd and edited by Chris Danby, the film features the same Paignton grom crew that was featured last week. Sit back & enjoy…

  • Paignton Skimboarding Video

    Here’s the first of 2 mini skimboarding videos filmed at Paignton and Preston beaches. It features the usual Paignton Grom Crew as they hit up Paignton during some shin to knee high waves that came through at the end of May. Thanks to Chris Danby for the filming & editing (shot and edited entirely on…

  • Destination Torquay by Moses Barrington

    Some of the local grom’s found this spoof tourism video about Torquay on You Tube last year. It features “Moses Barrington” giving a 10 minute guide to Torquay. It went down such a storm, that “Moses” got featured in the local newpaper, and was hailed as a hero for publicising Torquay as a holiday destination….

  • South Devon Skate Jam

    Our skate team rider, Jay Darbyshire, is organising a longboard skate jam over the weekend of 16/17 June. Its going to take in all the best south Devon hills for some sliding and downhill fun. There is a lot of interest for this jam, and there are going to be some sick riders turning up…

  • You know you’re from Devon when….

    We found an amusing blog post the other day, and thought we’d post it here. It focused on “You know when you’re from Devon when…” As the Sandskater crew are from Devon, a lot of it rang true for us 😆 But seriously, we really aren’t all inbreds – it’s just the Totnes lot you…