Skimboard Shape Styles

Skimboarding, like surfing, is a sport that requires individuals to successfully navigate waves atop boards as they roll onto the shore. Skimboards, however, are roughly half the length and thickness of surfboards, and typically are slightly wider. Skimboards also have no skegs and are considered far less stable. A skimboard's shape, however, often serves to provide various benefits to its maneuverability even without skegs.

  1. Primitive Skinboard Shapes

    • The earliest shape of skimboard -- dating to the 1920s and rarely in use today -- was a simple circle, or sometimes an ovoid circle. As skimboarding became a more notable sport, enthusiasts began experimenting with various shapes.

    Traditional Shapes

    • Traditional shapes for skimboards are the most common and widely used, and are all based on an egg or oval shape. Variations on the point of the nose and tail are common between manufacturers. The most common tail shapes include swallow, square, and pin tails, whereas the most common nose types are pointed or rounded.

    Modern Shapes

    • Modern shapes are often somewhat rectangular in nature, with rounded edges and various, dipping curvatures on all sides. These boards are thought to best represent the feeling to being on a surfboard, as they provide the largest surface area. Considered ideal for advanced skimmers or those who enjoy doing tricks, they are often more expensive than traditional shapes.

    Other Shapes

    • Some skimboard manufacturers -- such as DB and Exile -- have begun hybridizing different types of shape styles. Others even offer the opportunity for customers to commission custom shapes. Many skimboard manufacturers draw their inspiration for shapes and materials from the aerospace industry, and the evolution of shapes in skimboard construction is likely to continue to occur.