How NOT to Skimboard: Advice for Beginners from Blair Conklin

In my 10 years of teaching skimboarding, I have noticed a couple common mistakes that beginners make. Preventing these type of mistakes will help keep you safe while learning how to skimboard. Skimboarding is deceivingly difficult and dangerous. Almost all Skimboards are very unforgiving when you come in contact with one. They are sharp on the rails like a snowboard and stiff so they do not flex. This makes for a bad combination when a board hits you. Aside from the dangers of the board, many beginners also injured themselves from falling on the hard packed sand. This video was made to be used as a guide to help prevent skimboarding injuries.
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[@aaron_jordaan]

The first day I went skimming I thought I lost my brand new exile dude cruise board but I found it shortly after I saw a lady svreaming"ow my shins"

[@sillxntsxurge8677]

lol

[@davstoops]

That would fall under (your fault ) because of rule no1: know where your board is at all times.

[@hayden6119]

@@davstoops no it's her fault for being in the way

[@nickd7057]

@@hayden6119 no

[@brad8710]

😂😂💀💀💀💀

[@zrwasp9766]

Skim boarding is such a great sport and it’s so underrated

[@JACOBLEE-hj4jn]

facts

[@princelumpypackmule1101]

Good, less wait times

[@onmymommyweballin9136]

probably because almost all people don’t have access to waves

[@charlesmartin1121]

Back in the day when my cousins were the only ones around skimboarding, I have to confess I didn't see the point. Then I saw Blair at the Wedge. And I understood.

[@Cade222]

Why is the filler so close. Goood

[@oderiyaki]

I am a skimboarder in Korea. I've been skimboarding for around a year now :) You are my hero, my role model :)

[@henrycollins3177]

Does anyone else just like hitting a wave and just flying ten feet in the air

[@yourboytheders]

so much fun

[@levistewart5610]

that’s all i can do right now and i live in colorado so going to the beach is only once or twice a year if any

[@ginlei1989]

Yes it is so fun

[@geencatty]

Lol I can skim board on a boogie board better than a skim board

[@matiasespina1490]

I do it when I get a bit tired. I’m in lucky I land close to my Baird and chill in the water for 5 mins

[@matthewsumpter8238]

13:00 Dude you actually walked onto your board and rode in a wave, thats gonna be a game changer when I'm learning to ride

[@riggalsbeatz6124]

Ik lol

[@precipitate5164]

After flopping some waves yesterday I was stoked to see this popup hah. Still having a hard time with timing the rhythm of which wave to go after...have yet to see anyone online film a few sets coming in and really break them down, would be great to see something like this.

[@MRNRD1958]

Nice to see you teaching the youngsters how to think and be aware of others not to injury them and be thoughtful Thanks Blair you a great skimboarder and a Champion Person

[@jessebott1879]

Not only youngsters. I’m 36 wasted my 20s, so I’m learning now. Just hope I don’t get to banged up. 😂

[@alexanderbuck7849]

One of the missing tutorials in this serie. Now its done. 👍 Really helpful guide for beginners to avoid injuries. Keep up the good work on tutorials much appreciated. Greetings from south Spain. 🤙

[@LeosNotFaking]

The 13:00 - 13:15 mark of the video was really eye opening for someone like me who is JUST getting into this really great video

[@bangueimid]

Nice trip. Today is my first day trying

[@ynech]

Great video. Especially for beginners.

[@perfecttweet8531]

Wtf I see u everywhere

[@reialdavidson44]

Lol I’m a bigginer

[@gavinfoote_Music_Surf]

@@reialdavidson44 Me too

[@JACOBLEE-hj4jn]

Hey man i just wanted to say that I've learned a lot from you and you are a great teacher thanks for taking time to post these videos it really helps out a lot

[@KAEmmons]

these how-to videos are so incredibly helpful and fun - thank you guys sooo much!!

[@Diffusion8]

Great advice, thanks Blair! I think all of us have done the 'stand tall to heavy fall' move 🤕 Love the sunscreen shout out! 🤣🤙🏼

[@spelldeck]

Good tips about board awareness. Getting a hit in the legs really does bum your day out.

[@tylerstewart1634]

Thanks for the tips, I just started skimboarding one month ago and it feels good to get tips from a pro

[@liamcampbell4485]

Ok

[@abbalos]

You definitely prevented my shins getting ruined. Still a few shinners here and there but usually ride all day with no issues!

[@cesarknusmann7217]

Hi Blair ! Thanks to you I started the one step drop, and am getting up to some nice speed... Your videos are really helpfull! Now i have to find some waves to catch :)

[@GabrielaCt09]

Just bought my skimboard and trying it out tomorrow!! Super excited after watching some of your videos !! 🙌🏽

[@djpollo2474]

How'd it go one year later?

[@swagmoneycash]

Thanks for the tips Blair! Sadly I live in Michigan so not many big waves, and when there are they are really far out or there are other waves in the way. Late congrats on 100k and you deserve to be at 10 million so keep up the good work and I’ll keep supporting you.

[@bepondi2822]

Hello, I am from Spain and I am starting with the skimboard I am 12 years old and thanks to you I am improving more and more, thanks for everything

[@nathanwilkinson4614]

Stoked to have a video on my birthday. Great video man keep it up

[@androos4135]

im 15 and iv been skimboarding since i was 7 so about 8 years. only now i started to one step drop. All thanks to blair thanks man hope i get a blairacuda soon :)

[@chriscorrente7174]

Blair your instruction is Rad!! The best of the best and so humble... Thank You!

[@SkidKids]

Thanks Chris! Hope it helps

[@neiohcarbonilla8511]

I just skim alot this past few days, inspired by Blair (of course) and got held back by an injury.. I couldn't run fast enough to catch a wave. I hope i can get back, and recover fast (just sharing 🤙)

[@rubenjasoncarangue581]

Learned alot, can't wait to apply them on the next sesh thanks 🤙🤙🤙 hope you will have a tutorial on how to time and do an air better.

[@NoaVanSnick]

Awesome, I love beginner videos like this really helps us out alot!

[@JamesMadisonAudits]

Nice tutorials. Appreciate you taking the time doing this:)I've been watching skim boarding now for like an hour lol

[@willpico4351]

Hey! I’m getting an exile skimboard because of you! Thanks for the great content

[@Blochbuster88]

Hey Blair, great advice! can you do an episode on how to condition your body for skimboarding? - i.e. stretches, warm ups and exercises. That would be super helpful :)

[@watosmate8935]

Pulled a muscle in my thigh from skimboarding first thing in the morning

[@jamielawrence4749]

wow, seeing you glide out over the water from walking was so helpful! Thanks. I know I'd want to run just because I'd have that idea in my head, so this was super helpful to save myself, no doubt, haha

[@calebhawkes4070]

I got a new skimboard a few days ago,this really helped

[@cedarburge4865]

Man bro I love your videos vibes!! Me an my friend are going Skid next week🤙🏻

[@jessejamessimons483]

This video was very educational. You don't have to go fast to have a blast ‼️💯🏄

[@abbalos]

Great video, excited to try it out soon. Future video idea and something that would help is content for beginners to find good 🌊 or location and what conditions to look for

[@riggalsbeatz6124]

Thanks so much great vid just got a proper exile board cannot wait to ride br9

[@knellem]

I live on the west coast of Florida and when I skimboard I sink before I reach even the smallest of waves! Can you please make a vid teaching how NOT to sink when going for a wave?

[@brrr8904]

are u on a wood board?

[@markstevenson4030]

brrr thinking the same thing here. You need not just a Foam board, but also it need to be big man. Atleast over your nippels, but still below your shoulders

[@knellem]

Brr I have a nice medium wedge (foam core) and yes it is in my weight range

[@AI_Vania]

I'm also in WFL. You want to drop into fast moving water washing up the sand from a breaking wave. Most days we just don't have the wave quality to produce fast water and are left with slow 'dead' water which everybody will sink fast in. Don't get frustrated. Practice keeping speed on the drop and putting more weight on the front foot when gliding over water, so that when conditions are actually good and firing you get to shred more.

[@ambushdrift]

East coast FL guy here. Always try to “run” on to your board, aka translate all of your energy on to the board as parallel to the water as possible. This kind of entails you being light on your feet, but it will help you maintain speed.

[@PirateNinjaCowboi]

Thank you so much for this video and the tips, it’ll help a lot

[@gempysmile134]

Congrats on 100k! 🎉🍾🎊

[@TroyVogel]

Great advice, and idea

[@charlesmartin1121]

Have you ever been skimming in such a strong onshore wind it blew your board back at you?

[@riley5032]

If that's happened to you kick some sand on the bottom of the board it helps

[@charlesmartin1121]

@@riley5032 Ok I will give it a try. Thanks.

[@alexanderbuck7849]

I did that today with strong wind and put some sand on the bottom. With this extra weight the board drops faster and stable on the ground. Try to put the sand balanced on your board...otherwise it catches rails.

[@charlesmartin1121]

@Erik Harper Not always an option on the east coast unfortunately.

[@charlesmartin1121]

@@alexanderbuck7849 It's a neat trick. Thanks.

[@SARASARA_TARO]

Thank you for always a great video. Please tell us how to pumping. For example, in this video 13:04 , when you make a turn on the board as you walk slowly, it looks like you're pumping a little. That's so awesome. It looks like some magic.

[@andirehana4485]

Thank you blair for the tips , shoutout from singapore✌

[@luisgtz8725]

Going back to basics 👌nice vid

[@pauloancarvalho]

Thank you! I just started, coming from a skateboarding background. Still with a wooden board!

[@waveriders6970]

Nice tips Blair thanks for heads up. 💯👍Cool vlog

[@Triggs-Music]

I’m watching this video with a bloody shin and scraped up foot and leg. These videos made skimboarding look easy.

[@john-jacklatteier9477]

15 seconds!!!!! Blair's the man

[@mannymo253]

Great skimboard teaching video..

[@ethomas2084]

I lost a toe nail skimboarding when I was younger. Picked up the board and it slipped out of my hand directly on the toe nail. This was a heavy wooden skimboard though. Not sure if they could happen with lighter boards

[@slctindiv3519]

Such good advice!

[@BeachBumsk8]

I haven’t tried skim yet but I do skate, so I am hoping that it will be seamless...🤙🏻 thanks B this rocks!!

[@lixid8444]

Much harder

[@yomama8588]

The equivalent of fast paced pool/bowl skating tbh

[@privateidiot4762]

Hey would you do a video on what beaches are good for skimboarding

[@jonuran9750]

Thank s man I just busted my foot on my board hard out on the Oregon coast .its swollen and colorful and not fun but I’m getting better it’s a blast and it’s a good sport when your not brave enough to surf.

[@thisdinnerbeimmaculate6252]

Yo watched ur videos for 1 month now and tommorow imma biy a skim board and u gave me sooo many tips thanks🥰 #staysafe #blm keep up the good work

[@RomboutVersluijs]

Man these boards are so different then what i used. I used self made boards, i could never grab waves with it, it didnt float that well as these. But the board was super fun on long stretched beaches. Man so much fun in those days

[@georgechoura623]

Sick vid blair 🤙🏽

[@djonny_official]

How is he catching the wave by just walking ? If I would walk that slow I would just sink in the whitewater 😅

[@xXJERBEAR69Xx]

I watched that part like 4 times it’s just magic is all I can say

[@loc9588]

I think it’s because he is using his pro model 😂

[@frogflower4026]

same with me, i think he has a skim board that floats better, but it cost $207.99

[@nathanjohnson7589]

Try it Not that difficult and I'm fat as hell.

[@loc9588]

Erik Harper it’s just pure speed that keeps you afloat on the deeper water

[@heldercolaco8525]

You´r the man!!! Like your vdeos a lot!!!!! Thanks!

[@maximobursese8566]

Thank You coach blair

[@bestoftimes80s]

I have been skim boarding since ,I was 11. I went through zap skim boards to victorian skim boards. i am 50 and still occasionally drop in on a few.

[@benjowells5407]

Can you do a video covering some of Exiles boards and the difference between a floater and a sinker board type? I'm pretty sure my board's a sinker but I don't want to use that as an excuse for not being able to go far, unless it's true.

[@chloelikesmusic9729]

I needed this

[@artuale7665]

The best explanation

[@SkidKids]

Glad you think so!

[@3rdtripp868]

Great instruction for beginners. I'm a Dad who has a hard time with teaching my kids being that I skate, snowboard and skydive. It can be intimidating to listen to Dad when they think everything I do is hard and maybe slightly crazy. You make it easy to listen and learn via your videos. I've learned that instruction from other people actually works better. Keep it up! Being a beginner I am also learn how to teach by my actioms which I am learning from you and intuition. PEACE.

[@outofofficetravels8374]

great tips, thanks!

[@humanx2852]

Dude so many common sense suggestions that I never even considered. Shinners are the absolute worst. It almost makes me sick to my stomach when a real hard shinner happens. Great video! I’m a snowboarder that just moved to Florida and want to start skim boarding/ wave riding. Honestly just be in the water as much as possible.

[@daniellouis5316]

This is so helpful

[@easygame7955]

GREAT post, TY

[@MotorVector]

Cool guy, good tips, you are my model man! ❤️👌

[@kinit1smtv55]

Watching from PH 🇵🇭🔥

[@berniekitts1786]

I have enjoyed watching your videos but this is really a practical Public Service message...

[@lil_bohts]

Wishing I watched this BEFORE I got hurt lmao great vid!

[@ambushdrift]

Great tips! Always remember to fall as flat possible too. Got any discount codes for Exile boards? Looking to upgrade from my carbon Zap.

[@SkidKids]

use discount code "blairsentme"

[@JM-qq8qq]

Blair, amazing Video just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to help out the new guys! Also what size board should i be riding? I’m 6’4” 240. Thank you!

[@erickschaefer5886]

Biggest possible 52’+

[@dickyhoey]

Loved the video. Grew up ⬆️ n the Philippines. Did a lot of beach combing and snorkeling. I’m those days they didn’t believe in sun screen. Came over here and ten years later I got a small pimple that wouldn’t heal. I got nasal cells from all that sun exposure. They carved out part of my cheek and put in near a hundred stitches. So yeah, wear sun screen. Also if you get something funny on your skin, get it. He led right away. I waited and it ate the inside of my cheek. Lucky it wasn’t the type that kills. Fast action can save your life. And it’s easy to fix.

[@maclean111111]

This guy is unbelievable 👏

[@kevinwestcott672]

Blair it is Cadel. I love your KZbin channel. I am subscribed

[@SkidKids]

Yeah Cadel! thanks buddy

[@aidensimcox1500]

Ur my inspiration and I started skimming bc of u

[@tarekelias463]

Awesome video

[@Giovanni6501]

Genuinely curious how you walked and still managed to glide pretty far, was it because of the slant on the beach?

[@mariolerayous6938]

@CollidedGeneration me too lol. I think California beaches were made for this😂

[@mariolerayous6938]

@Erik Harper are the waves good in Oregon? I know it’s in the pacific but I imagine it must get cold in the winter as well.

[@mariolerayous6938]

@Erik Harper oh ok. I live on the West side of Florida and there are only waves during storms or during hurricanes nearby or scenarios like that. We have super slanted beaches and small shore breaks. Most of the time its ripples. I live close to the east coast which is perfect for skimboarding.

[@dirtybird22222]

@@mariolerayous6938 Not all Cali beaches. Something about Orange County beaches that are just perfect for skimming.

[@Sophist990]

Sup Man! Love the Video's and I just started Skimming at 47 this summer. Just found you here and watched all the Vid's. GJ BTW. So I bought a WZ board and got out for the first time Yesterday and managed to get on a few times. Even pulled off a little side slip on one ride. Iwanted to suggest seeing as I am an older guy more video's on things to avoid. Anything that help my old ass stay in one piece is great content lol. Also I would suggest another tip to anyone in the N/E like me stay away from rocky beaches. I got a little dent in my base from hitting one. Nothing to worry about as its very faint but I was wondering how much effect damage to a base has on good riding. I know shape and edges matter a lot but what would it take to make a board not ridable dmg wise on a base and cant bad thing be repaired or are in a replace the item position?

[@toshkuhn5479]

Thank you very much for this video you are the best 👌🙏😂🤙

[@trinitytay2815]

Riippp the sun burrrnssss!! Thanks for these tips nice vid 👌👌👌

[@fann6038]

Can you do a video about after you wrap the wave how to find the line and lengthen your ride?

[@mrwagic3gv362]

i love your vids so much

[@davidalvarez2556]

Hey Blair, how many km/h or miles can you reach with your skimboard. It could be very interesant to know the speed...thank you greats from Canary island..

[@igor_podpalnyi]

Спасибо за урок! я подписался 🤗

[@bseblake8659]

Can you make a vid on what you do in your camps🤙🤘🏻

[@marcusdraper9620]

It's been a long time since you have done one of these

[@jeremyjohn4945]

Hey so do u need a big board like the one you have to catch a wave or can u use an older ovally type made out of wood?

[@alunoestudante7348]

thanks for the caption. I'm from Brazil

[@MrxNiiggles]

Can you PLEASE make a video on how to do a back/frontside wrap for beginners?

[@sasquatch1686]

Blair! Do you have any ways to practice putting your back foot down first on the board

[@garrettsfreetime8177]

thanks for making this im just starting out and my board only slides on water not wet sand do you have an answer to that?

[@tristanxa4073]

This video is so helpful I am taking notes lol

[@lievnichtso]

I am watching your videos for a while but wanted to ask where do you skimboard. Which regions have spots to skimboard?

[@jericopantua6173]

Idol 💚 great video 🤙

[@SWEETDREAMS-mn6ke]

To get your board to not stick to the sand . Do you use a wax for the bottom to make it slide easier and if so what do you use?

[@dannytattersal]

In the process of hand making my first wooden skim board 🤟🏽 making 5

[@ingridlund7359]

v helpful thank you