Knowing What Board You Want

When starting skimboarding, it's important to choose the right board for your skill level and the conditions you'll be riding in.

If you're just starting out, then you're probably looking for a flatland board like this.

Flatland skimboards are made of laminated plywood and are good for beginners because they are very cheap and easy to learn on.

If you're looking for something more advanced, there are more expensive options like the flatland boards at OXS.

If you're looking for something that is light and durable to go out into the waves, then you should look into a board like this.

This is called a wave rider. These are for going out into the water instead of across the wet sand. The best skimboard brands

are Exile in America and OXS in New Zealand. Exile is used by almost every pro rider because of the quality and materials used.

But that makes them extremely expensive. Exile's biggest downside is the shipping cost. Because they are made in America, they

cost close to $800 nzd to ship here, OXS on the other hand are made here and don't have a shipping cost, Exile boards can range

from just over $700 nzd to $2000 nzd without shipping, while OXS boards sit around the $600 nzd mark

Shapes

Choosing a board shape can be difficult. There are 3 main shapes for wave riding: hybrid, pintail, and fishtail. There are many

variations on these shapes, like the Blairracuda by Exile, which is a variation on the fishtail shape. Each shape does something a

little different. The hybrid shape has a wider body for easy balance and stability. It's good for smaller waves and learning on.

The pintail shape is more maneuverable and good for bigger waves, while the fishtail shape is designed for speed and performance in

larger waves.

Fishtail shapes are designed for speed and performance in larger waves.