The boards are ready; the riders are set. The best wedges are expecting the best tricks, as a brand new skimboarding season opens new title races.
The United Skim Tour (UST) determines the UST world champion of skimboarding each year through a series of eight sanctioned events.
The 2014 United Skim Tour (UST) season is underway. The first stage has been successfully concluded in the warm sands of Sununga.
The level of riding, wave quality, and atmosphere could not have been much better. Skimboarding is definitely growing, and organization plays an important role in the process.
The largest and longest running skimboard competition of the Gulf Coast gathered professional and amateur riders from all corners of the country.
There were fun waves pumping the down the beach, and the weather was warm and sunny. Skimboarders showed why this is a must-watch event in the South Coast.
The local skimboarders have managed to pull great tricks in a contest full of custom made ramps, rails and sliders. The event attracted the younger generation from Villa Varona.
They wanted to watch the best moves being pulled by the Philippine skimboarding stars. In the end, everyone had a wonderful time.
Once again, the experienced skimboarder from Tybee Island, Georgia, took out the top honors in the final heat against Juan Carlos Nazario, a local Mexican star.
The ocean and weather conditions were absolutely great. Everyone had the opportunity to display skills and talent in one of the most iconic skimming spots in the world.
There are very good news for the Old Continent's skimboarding community. The newly created European Skimboarding Cup 2014 is a series of flatland events that have kicked off in Germany.
In each stage, competitors finishing in the top 10 will earn points for an overall ranking. The winner of the European Skimboarding Cup 2014 will be announced at the last event, in Poland.
He is one of the best wave riders in the world. Grab a thin finless skimboard and try to imitate the magician from Wabasso, Florida. Nice effort, it's simply impossible.
Domke is never lost, and he can often be found cutting the cleanest wave lines on Planet Earth. In half. Actually, Brad is the pioneer of big wave skimboarding. How can he do that?
Keen secured the second victory in the 2014 United Skim Tour (UST), and moves to the top of the overall ranking. He overtakes Leandro Azevedo.
The skimboarder from Tybee Island finished the first event of the season in third place, and the Cabo Clasico event in first.
Skimboarding is growing fast, and not everyone has a river, sea or lake nearby. That's why we have to invent new ways of riding the planet.
The unusual urban skimboarding conceptualists found the perfect spot to run a competition. A flat surface. And that's it. Ready to roll, under an industrial roof.
The skimboarding community continues tight and united, showing bodyboarders and surfers the limits of board riding.
Andre Maragao has published an high-quality video of a superb session at The Wedge, in Newport Beach, California.
The Vic 2014 saw small but contestable waves breaking on the shores of Aliso, in Laguna Beach. Fortunately, the most consistent sets provided rippable lines to crown the champions.
The longest running contest in skimboarding history had the women competing for the United Skim Tour (UST) World Tour rankings, so there was too much at stake. A total of 53 male and female riders dropped in.
The Floridian skimboarder has ridden what is widely considered the largest wave ever on a skimboard. Domke took off on a massive barreling ride at Puerto Escondido, Mexico, in early July, alongside Shane Dorian.
While riding big waves on a surfboard is no longer a secret, holding the line on a finless skimboard is a different story.
The 11th edition of the DB Pro/Am, one of the longest running flatland competitions in the world, was blessed with plenty of sun, spectators and perfect skimboarding conditions.
The Thomas brothers - Isaac and Josiah - were completely fired up. They completely dominated the rails and ramps, and left their opponents battling for second and third places in the podium.
The fourth stop on the 2014 European Skimboarding Cup saw Wolkanowski climbing spots in the overall rankings.
The Polish skimboarder managed to finish the competition ahead of Jedrula Tomaszewski and Helvijs Savickis. Marek Wolkanowski collected 20 points, and now sits only ten points away from Adrien Raza.
The fifth event on the 2014 United Skim Tour had everything, when it comes to weather conditions. On the first day of competition, and despite the small waves, skies were delivering bright sun rays. The second day was cloudy and rainy, with choppy seas.
The heat is on. The first event of the second half of the tour played an important role in knowing who's ready to battle for the world title. After winning The Vic 2014, Stinnett had the board gliding his way.
Brad Domke is one of the best wave riders of all time. He may very well win the Billabong XXL Ride of the Year award, in 2015, after riding the biggest skimboarding wave of all time, in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
On the 5th July, 2014, Domke tried all waves, in finless mode. He was able to escape a few monsters, got barreled, but also got pounded by massive walls of brown water.
Raza has also been crowned the 2014 European Skimboarding Cup champion. The Dutch rider won five out of the six events in the calendar, gathering a total of 100 points.
Marek Wołkanowski finished the last Polish leg in third place but managed to keep the silver place in the season rankings. Daniel Prieß, from Germany, concluded his 2014 European Skimboarding Cup campaign in third place.
Six events down, and only two to go. The 2014 United Skim Tour season is ready to crown a champion, but there are still critical points to be disputed.
The Floridian stop didn't have big waves, but at least they were pretty contestable. When Nature commands, pro skimboarders have to adapt and show their talent in what's on offer.
The gnarliest skimboarder in the history of the sport took his finless setup to one of the most dangerous waves on the planet. Domke flew from Florida to chase a dream. He wanted to be the first skimmer to taste The Right.
When the big wave skimboarder reached the spot, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was big, maybe twenty feet. After carefully analyzing the conditions and the wave's behaviour, Brad Domke said he was ready to claim the beast.
How do you choose a skimboard? First of all, write down your height and weight, as these variables will count when buying a new skimboard.
Then, are you a skimboard beginner or an accomplished rider looking to increase your quiver? Finally, are you a frequent flatland skimmer or do you prefer trimming the line in the waves? Your answers matter talking to your nearest skimboard shop owner.