At Bindy Australia, we make skimboards for beginners, but we realise that our boards may not meet your own specific needs. Here, we've tried to simplify the buying process - regardless of which board you end up buying, we just want you enjoy your skim boarding experience and get out into the great outdoors!
As we say - devices down....surfs up!
Skimboarding..... is awesome. It entails riding along shallow water, on flat boards and can be done either on flatland or on waves. If you’re a beginner, generally you won’t start out absolutely shredding on waves and may want to keep it simple.
With enough gusto and imagination, you could skimboard almost anywhere - the beach, inland water bodies like lakes or flat streams, in puddles after a big rain storm, or in your own back yard with a make shift slip n slide - sure, you risk getting injured - but get creative! Skimming doesn’t just have to be a summer sport either - since you're not immersing your body in the water, it can be done almost anywhere, any time.
Right, let’s get down to business. Choosing the right board for you can be a pretty daunting task. There's so much information out there. Here we've tried to summarise everything you need to know, considering factors like weight, height, material type, shape of board, grip, intended use. Considering this stuff will help you to determine which board is right for you.
This guide covers everything you need to know and we'll break it down into the main categories:
Size of board - and of you
Material used to make the board
Shape and design of the board
Grip
Your Skill level and what you intend on using the board for
1. Size of the board - and of you
To keep it simple, there’s one main thing to consider.
Larger, wider, skimboards are easier to manoeuvre for beginners. Smaller, narrower boards are designed for skimboarders that are experienced and can already carve waves.
If you are yet to try boarding or new to the sport - aim for a larger, wider board.
If you are a bit of a pro, aim for a smaller board with a narrower nose.
As for you - the larger you are in terms of both weight and height - the bigger your board. The smaller you are, the smaller the board. Correlations between body weight and board dimensions are crucial, but try to keep it simple if you're just starting out.
For more detailed information, here’s a bit of a size guide, but the general rule of thumb above still applies.
75 – 135lbs – 45”
115 – 165lbs – 45”-47”
145 – 185lbs – 47”-49”
165 – 205lbs – 49”-51”
200lbs or more – The largest board possible, 51”+
2. Material used to make the board
Essentially you can choose from foam, wood, or fiberglass.
Again, we’ve tried to keep this simple.
Foam - generally more expensive, tailored to those that want to ride waves and are more experienced - lighter, more flexible, and geared towards more pro riders. For the avid, long term skimmer. These have better flotation to take on waves, with a rocker geared towards tricks and turning.
Wood - Better suited for beginners or those not intending on riding waves like a surfer. Best used on the shore of the beach in the shallows, on creeks, lakes, puddles, rivers. Much smaller price tag for the budding skimmer, wanting to 'have a go'. You’ll notice a weight difference here, wood boards are heavier which makes them easier to keep your balance on. They are aimed entirely at beginners, great for messing around in the shallows for lighter adults and kids. You’ll generally notice a wider shape here too. Once you’ve had practice, you may want to pick out a more expensive, fibreglass or foam board.
Fibreglass- These are generally high performance boards used by professionals, that come with a much higher price tag. They can cover greater distances at speed over water, and perfect for superior wave riding and tricks.
3. Shape and design of the board
Again, this can get complicated. If you aren’t a beginner, If you aren’t a beginner and you’re about to invest a fair amount in your board, you may want a more thorough explanation.
Generally, wider and longer boards allow for greater distance than smaller, narrower boards. If you are a beginner, and finding it hard to balance, go for a wider board for now, regardless of your body weight. If you want to perform tricker, more experienced moves, aim for a smaller and narrower board.
4. Grip
If you’re a complete beginner, and I mean complete, you won’t believe how little grip the surface of the deck has on a skimboard. Depending on the type of board you buy, you need some grip. You'll be surprised just how slippery they are. Typically if you buy a board, you'll need to make sure it has some grip. Foam and fibreglass skimboards - you need to buy and attach separately. Wood skimboards - some brands like ours include EVA grip top, so everything the beginner needs is included. Others don't - so you'll need to either purchase some skimboard grips or wax. Don't make it harder than it needs to be - it hurts!
5. Your skill level and what you intend to use the board for
In summary - if you’re here and you’re a beginner - you should aim for a relatively inexpensive, wood board with a wider base and some great grip on top. This will get you started on your boarding journey. Likewise if you want to use your board for flatland use and not for riding waves - the wood board is perfect for you - expert OR beginner.
If you’re planning on riding waves, and you’ve had enough practice to really invest in your boarding - you will eventually want to upgrade to a foam or fibreglass board.
The faster and more experienced you are - you can manage smaller boards, that are more flexible and easier to perform leaps and skillful stunts.
The less experienced you are, go bigger. This allows for more foot area and gives you a greater sense of balance This should keep things pretty simple. There are so many tips and tricks online to get you started. We hope this guide has helped to simplify the buying process!
Our particular board is a great one to start with - it comes with EVA grip pad top as well as a board bag to carry and protect it - if you’re looking for a gift for a beginner, or intend on using the board for flatland riding - look no further.
The skim boarding community is such a friendly one - if you want to contact us about anything at all, please don’t hesitate to do so - at gday@bindyaustralia.com. We started our brand because we saw the need to get teens off their socials and in to the great outdoors, so if we can help you in any way at all, please give us a shout.
Cheers!
Brooke
Bindy Australia founder - High school teacher and Mum
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