Skimboarding, like surfing, has been around for decades, but it didn’t experience a boom in popularity until recent years. In fact, skimboarding dates back to the 1920s, when lifeguards used to glide along the Laguna Beach shoreline on driftwood.
In the 1950s, surfing began to gain popularity on the beaches of California and began to spread across the country. In the 1960s, it could even be heard on the classic Beach Boys hit “Surfin’ USA.” At that time, people began to pay more attention to surfing and other water sports, even those who did not live in the coastal regions.
But while surfing was just beginning to gain popularity in the 1960s, surfers and other beach-goers in California were trying to push the boundaries even further with skimboarding, which was relatively unknown to the general public at the time.
Skimboarders can be seen along Laguna and Victoria Beach in what has been called “double ends” due to the rounded shape of the boards at both ends. The most daring skimboarders would take to the ocean, with pioneer Mike Buxton, performing all manner of aerial tricks. But if he didn’t live in Laguna Beach, Dana Point or anywhere near the Pacific coast of Southern California, he probably didn’t know a thing about skimboarding.
In the 1970s, skimboarding began to take off, thanks to a couple of Laguna Beach teenagers, Tex Haines and Peter Prietto, who created Victoria Skimboards. The company not only produced skimboards, which were designed according to their preferences as riders, but also an instruction and information center.
It wasn’t until the late 1980s that skimboarding became part of mainstream culture, much like surfing did in the 1960s. Tournaments began to spring up everywhere, and events were televised. By this time, longtime skimboarders like Prietto and Haines had downed their craft to a science, creating sophisticated boards that allowed riders to do all manner of tricks, including spins and flips.
Then, in the 1990s, skimboarding magazines began to appear. With the invention of the Internet, skimboarding websites were created and used to educate interested people and for skimboarders to connect. Now, with the invention of YouTube, you can watch thousands of videos online from amateur and professional interns of all ages, men and women, all over the world.
Contests are held with cash prizes and sponsorships available. Surf shops offer skimboarding lessons along with surfing and paddle boarding. In fact, go to any beach and chances are you’ll find at least one person skimming. It’s this kind of mainstream attention that continues to make skimming one of the fastest growing sports in the world!