As a beginner skimboarder it can be extremely difficult to know what board to buy for your first board. Are the cheaper wooden boards good to get started on or should you really spend the money on a higher quality, but more expensive board?
As someone who surfed for years and recently got into skimboarding I had no idea what to buy. I started out with a wooden skimboard and while this was ok I wish I knew more about what kind of skimboard to buy as a beginner so I didn't waste my money on a bad board.
I wanted to be catching waves as quickly as possible and having the wrong board (which I did) really slowed my progress. I wished there was a beginners guide to choosing a skimboard and some recommendations for what to get.
After hours and hours of personal research, listening to pro rider recommendations, trawling forum posts for advice and some trial and error I have a pretty good idea about the best skimboards for beginners to start on.
Things To Consider For Your First Skimboard
Before checking out the skimboards I recommend beginners start with it's a good idea to understand the differences between boards so you don't get overwhelmed like I did and can buy the right board that will make learning easy and will last you a long time.
If you want to you can jump to the list of the best skimboards for beginners but I recommend you read this section so you know exactly what you're buying and why.
Foam vs Wooden
The 2 main types of skimboards are wooden boards (which are usually cheap) and foam core boards which usually have a fibreglass, epoxy or carbon fibre exterior for strength. I've written a full article on if wooden skimboards are any good but here is the basic breakdown between the two types of boards and which you should get.
Wooden Skimboards – Only buy these for skimming along wet sand or flat water or as a beginner option to start learning how to drop onto the board. Do NOT buy this type of board if you want to catch waves.
Foam Skimboard – This is the type of skimboard you NEED to buy if you want to catch waves like the pros. They are bigger and float better meaning you can skim further out and actually catch waves.
Below is a quick comparison chart to help you choose between a wooden skimboard and a foam skimboard.
| Feature | Wooden | Foam |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Very cheap | More expensive |
| Float | Little to no float | Much more float |
| Durability | Ok | Higher durability |
| Best for: | Skimming along sand or flat water | Skimming along sand, flat water and catching waves |
| Not good for: | Catching waves | N/A – These are the best skimboards you can get |
Size of the Skimboard
When it comes to the size of your skimboard almost all manufactures (as well as the pros) recommend getting a board that comes up to your sternum (or nipple line). For beginners bigger is usually better.
Too small and you won't be able to skim very far and will struggle to keep speed and get onto waves. Too big and the board will be harder to turn once on the waves.
Pro skimboarder Blair Conklin is 6 foot tall (which is my height) and rides a “medium” board which is about 52″ in length. Austin Keen, who is another pro skimboarder, is shorter than Blair but weighs a bit more and he also rides a board that is around 52″ in length.
Measure yourself and then look for a board that will come up to your sternum. If it doesn't Austin Keen recommends you go a little bigger rather than smaller. He says:
“If you're unsure always go a little bit bigger. It's better to have a board that's a little bit on the bigger side than to be too small. If anything you're just going to be able to get a little further out at the expense of not being able to turn as fast”
This is one of the reasons wooden skimboards are not the best skimboards for beginners. They are usually very short (34-44″) which means you can't skim as far.
Below is a size guide from Exile Skimboards:
Shape of the Board
Skimboards come in a variety of different shapes and different brands have different names for everything. Exile Skimboards for example have names like “hybrid”, “pro” and “blairacuda” which can make choosing a board confusing.
To make it simple:
Wider the better – As a beginner choosing a skimboard a wider board is going to be better than a thin board. Wider surface area means you'll skim further and be able to get onto waves easier.
Thinner = better turning – The thinner the board is (and the thinner the tail) the faster the board will turn on waves. This comes at a sacrifice of not being able to skim as far. So while this isn't recommended as a beginner some people may want to go for this.
For exile skimboards the best board shape for beginners is usually going to be the Hybrid. This is a great overall shape for anyone from a beginner to a pro.
Austin Keen says in this video:
“I always recommend going the hybrid shape especially for beginner, intermediate and even advanced. These are my favorite shapes. I think it's good for any conditions. Big waves, small waves. It keeps your momentum going, it's still super responsive nice buttery smooth turns.”
Thickness of the Board
The shape of the board is more important than the thickness of the board but thickness is still something to consider and something you need to be aware of.
Skimboards usually come in 3 thickness options.
5/8″ (Recommended for most people) – This is what the pros use and if you plan on catching waves then this will allow for easier turns. This is the best if you're going to be surfing decent sized waves.
3/4″ – This is the thickest type of board. Great for larger people or people who are heavier set. Can also be good if you're going to be surfing small waves.
3/4″ tapered to 5/8″ – This board is thicker in the middle and thinner on the rails. It's good for smaller waves with less power or larger/heavier people. The thickness in the middle gives float and distance while the thinner rails allows for sharper turns.
The pros generally recommend you just go with a 5/8″ thick board unless you have a good reason to choose another thickness.
Quality of Materials
As a general rule, the more expensive the board the higher quality the materials.
Wooden – Cheap boards and fairly durable but not great for catching waves
Foam – Foam topped boards give you more float than wooden boards but aren't very durable at all. Fun for getting started and mucking around.
Fiberglass/Polyester/Epoxy – Fiberglass and epoxy coated boards give you the same shape as a pro carbon fibre board for a cheaper cost. The downside is they are less durable than carbon fibre.
Carbon Fibre – This is the best money can buy. Carbon fibre is super strong, super rigid and super durable. The best pro boards are all made using carbon fibre.
7 Best Skimboards For Beginners
Below are my recommendations for the best skimboards for beginners. There is a range of options that vary in price, performance and quality.
Depending on where you're at and what you want there should be an option that suits you.
1. Exile EXO
BEST FOR SERIOUS BEGINNERS
I would classify myself as a serious beginner. I don't have a whole lot of skimboarding experience but I have a burning passion to get good at skimboarding and start catching waves.
I'm not happy with just skimming on flat water and thus my wooden board doesn't quite cut it.
I want the performance of a professional board but I don't really want to invest a huge sum of money to get into the sport at the moment.
For the serious beginner the Exile EX0 is the perfect combination of high performance and high quality mixed with affordability.
It's got a wide surface area and rounded tail making it easy to maintain speed and get out to waves. It's lighter than a wooden board with a larger surface area making it so much easier to practice your drop and get good technique. The shape and seamless rails will help you turn sharply and keep momentum as you get onto waves.
This is an amazing board for beginners. It's not cheap but it's also not crazy expensive like the carbon fibre boards (which I recommend for super serious skimboarders).
It'll get you riding waves and having fun and is significantly cheaper than a professional board ($200-$400 cheaper).
For adults you'll want to get the 52″ (3/4) and you'll only want to get the smaller sizes for kids.
Materials: Foam core with E-Glass Epoxy construction
Sizes: 44″ (5/8″), 48″ (5/8″), 52″ (3/4″)
See the latest price of the Exile EXO Skimboard
2. Wavestorm Foam Skimboard
BEST CHEAP BOARD/SAFEST BOARD
If you are looking for a cheap entry level skimboard then the Wavestorm Foam board will give you the larger size and shape of a more professional skimboard but the cheaper materials means it won't break the bank.
It's made from foam which gives it more float than a wooden board and uses a 4 x marine ply stringer system for strength.
The base is made from tough HDPE plastic which skims along wet sand and water fine and has a GFT foam deck which gives you cushion under your feet and makes it really pleasant to ride.
The foam top makes this one of the safest boards to learn on and perfect for kids. No banged upped shins like with other boards and if it comes back and hits you then it shouldn't cause too much damage.
Compared to the EXO or other fibreglass/carbon fibre boards this board has more flex meaning you won't maintain as much speed and catching waves will be a little harder. But it'll get you skimming easily and you can upgrade to a more professional board when you're ready.
There's also a durability sacrifice here. It's not going to last as long as a professional board, but it should get you started and last you long enough to get good.
This is a definite step up from a wooden board so if you're considering either of these cheap options then I would definitely go with the Wavestorm over a wooden board. It's only a little bit more money and much higher performance.
Materials: Foam core with GFT foam deck and hard HDPE base
Sizes: 45″, 48″
See the latest price of the Wavestorm Foam Skimboard at Amazon
3. Exile Hybrid Carbon Fiber
BEST FOR BEGINNERS WANTING TO GET REALLY GOOD
If you're super serious about skimboard and you know that this is something you want to do a lot and want to do well then skip all of the beginner boards and go straight for the top-of-the-line carbon fibre board.
This is what all the pros use but they are also great for learning. You're getting the right shape for skimming long distances, maintaining speed and carving on waves.
Carbon Fibre is super strong and durable, meaning it will last for ages and it's the most rigid option out there. You want your board to be stiff and rigid because the less flex you have the further you'll go, the more momentum you'll keep and the sharper your turns will be.
There are a lot of different shapes in the carbon fibre boards and a lot of great brands but Exile make some of the best boards out there and pro riders like Austin Keen and Blair Conklin ride Exile boards.
The Hybrid shape is a great balance between large surface area for longer distances as well as good rails for sharp turns and ultimate control over your board. This is what I would recommend for anyone buying this type of board as a beginner.
It'll serve you well from being a beginner learning right up to a professional level.
Austin Keen uses the Hybrid board at the highest level and Blair Conklin used to use the Hybrid shape before he designed his own board and he speaks very highly about this board.
You can get different sizes and different thickness but I personally would go with the 5/8″ thickness as it gives high performance and still more than enough float. If I was a heavier person then I'd consider the thicker options.
If you are super serious about getting good at skimboarding and you have the money you literally cannot go wrong with this board.
Also if you're getting this type of board you'll definitely want to invest in some traction pads as well which adds a bit more cost to the overall setup. Learn more about wax vs traction pads for skimboards.
Materials: Foam core with double carbon fibre epoxy
Sizes: 46.62″-54.6″
Thickness: 5/8″, 3/4″ tapered to 5/8″, 3/4″
See the latest price of the Exile Hybrid Carbon Fibre Board
4. Wooden Skimboard
CHEAPEST OPTION
If you're looking for the cheapest option to get started skimboarding then a wooden skimboard is going to be the best option for you.
Wooden skimboards are made from marine ply and usually cost around $30-$80.
They are great for getting started skimming on wet sand or flat water and are good for learning drop technique and doing basic tricks.
Wooden skimboards aren't high performance boards though and if you want to get good then these will hold you back.
They aren't very buoyant, are heavier than foam boards, usually significantly smaller and have a lot of flex it them.
All of this leads to you slowing down faster and it being near impossible to get onto waves.
But if you just want to have a bit of fun skimming along the shoreline or having a play around whilst on holidays then a wooden skimboard is the perfect board for a beginner.
It also won't break the bank and is the cheapest option to get you started.
This is the type of board I started out with but I quickly realised that I needed to upgrade if I wanted to get any good at skimboarding.
Materials: Marine ply
Sizes: 30″-44″
See the latest price of Wooden Skimboards at Amazon
5. Driftsun Skimboard
The Driftsun is a great starter board for beginners that will get you skimming quickly and easily but also has a high performance shape that will allow you to catch waves as you start to improve.
It's a lightweight board with a PVC foam core and an outer layer of fibreglass for strength with reinforced carbon fibre rails for durability.
What I really like about this board is the entry level price point and the fact that it comes with traction pads and an archbar.
Traction pads alone can sell for $50-$80 for a tail pad plus arch bar so the fact this board which retails for around the $200 mark comes with the included makes this a really great bargain for someone who wants to start catching waves but doesn't want to invest the full amount in order to get an Exile skimboard.
See the latest price of the Driftsun Skimboard at Amazon
6. Zap Pro Skimboard
HIGH QUALITY BOARD AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
Zap Skimboards are another high quality skimboarding brand like Exile and they make a variety of boards at a variety of prices.
The Zap Pro skimboard is a high quality skimboard that comes in either a 52″ or 54″ size which is ideal for adults.
It's 3/4″ thick which gives it good buoyancy for skimming further distances out to waves and a very similar shape to the Exile Hybrid which is good for performing sharp turns once you get onto the waves.
It's made from a strong polyester resin with a TuffCoat gloss finish that makes it sturdy and rigid and also strong and durable.
If you want a high quality board but Exile isn't the brand for you then Zap is a great alternative option. Bother brands make very good boards and it's difficult to go wrong here.
See the latest price of the Zap Skimboard at Amazon
(or compare to the price on Zap's website)
7. South Bay Board Co.
South Bay Board Co make surfboards, paddleboards and wakeboards but they also have a small skimboard lineup too.
The 48″ Marauder isn't quite as big as the Exile or Zap board which means it's not going to skim as far as easily but it's still much bigger than a wooden skimboard and much higher quality.
It's big enough that you'll be able to ride waves as you improve.
It comes with grip pads meaning wax isn't required and the white/gold and black/gold marble design looks absolutely amazing.
It's price is in the middle range so it won't break the bank like a carbon fibre board might but it is still extremely rigid and durable due to its tough dual fibreglass sheets and polyurethane resin exterior.
A great board for beginners and a beautiful board for someone who cares a lot about the way it looks.
I could definitely see myself buying this for my girlfriend if she ever got into skimboarding.
See the latest price of the South Bay Board Co Skimboard
