By Jeff Bell

I read it again and again on the message boards about various “skim-fests” and “Just for Fun” get-togethers being organized almost weekly by small groups of amateur skimboarders from coast to coast. These little quasi-contests are a blast to put on, and they do a lot to promote the fun, healthy and friendly image of skimboarding. As skimboarding grows on the distant shores of beaches, lakes and rivers across the US, one thing comes to mind. Who can collectively bring all these elements together, categorize them by discipline (wave vs. flatland vs. whatever) and get a true starting point for competitive skimboarding? Can something be done to help cultivate these talents into professional skimboarders and perhaps future ambassadors?

Over the last few years, The World Championships of Skimboarding (aka; The Vic) has taken some steps in order to control the huge number of contestants hoping to enter their contest at Aliso Beach. Victoria Skimboards has taken the only step they can in order to accommodate the riders that want to compete. They need to be able to control the number of riders to a manageable quantity. Unfortunately, this puts them in the unfavorable position of picking and choosing who gets the magic tickets, and who doesn’t. Shouldn’t some set of numbers, rather than a group of people determine such things? Is it really a fair system? How soon before this is the norm for every contest out there?

This is where I think an Amateur Qualifying Tour or Series would be good for the future of competitive skimboarding. A qualifying series serves many purposes. First and foremost it unifies the growing number of competing amateur skimboarders across the U.S. Secondly it gives them the experience of competing in a ratings system and working for a goal that is “well defined.” Third, it gives the UST or Skim USA (after they develop Pro-Only Tours) a baseline for accepting qualified riders into their system and seeding them accordingly. Seeding is a huge key to streamlining heat setups and providing a reward system for the top group of incumbent pros. But the real payoff is for the future of skimboarding itself. The riders earn the right to compete as professionals and they develop into top level competitors that help to push the sport from the bottom up. They perpetuate and grow competitive skimboarding and continually groom the next crop of up and comers. Another unique benefit is that the “media” would have a pool of accepted and legitimate amateurs and professionals to which they can video, photograph, profile and write about. Your typical “bromag” goes away, more riders get coverage, there is less bias and the overall content gets better.

Another huge benefit for the competitors in a qualifying series would be in obtaining sponsorships. In literally one season of competing, a rider can fill a portfolio with enough contest results and achievements to approach his local surf shop and start working some deals. This has a positive domino effect in helping a rider to stave off some of the associated costs of traveling and entry fees, new boards and good discounts on equipment etc. They learn more of what sponsorships are all about and they develop relationships within the industry to help further their career and prepare for the next step. A potential sponsor would be aware that this is an amateur who is trying to qualify for a pro tour, and that he will make it to as many contests as he can in order to earn that right to compete on a pro tour. It shows that the rider has a goal in mind and it makes the rider more valuable to them.

If you take a look at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), you will see that they have exactly what I have explained with their World Qualifying Series (WQS). This is nothing new. It can be used as a benchmark for competitive skimboarding, period.

I would guess that this idea has already been thought of, discussed and tossed around by the board of directors over at Skim USA and the UST. At least I hope it has. As far a visions and mission statements go though, I don’t see any mention of a two tiered system within any sanctioning body that has yet put this idea onto the table or offered any timeline for implementation in the future. As it stands now, it is purely a random decision by an amateur rider to decide to go pro. In my opinion, amateurs need a little more direction and input from sponsors and industry mentors before making these decisions.

Competitive skimboarding owes its amateurs a series that will not only benefit the riders, but will also protect the integrity of the sport for those who truly wish to compete with the best in the world.