Best Skimboard For Beginners in 2023
Skimboarding is a way to make a day at the beach even better. Instead of sunbathing or splashing around in the waves, you can rush across the waves, ride waves, and lots more.
It is also a great way for adults and kids to get into surfing, or to have something to do when the waves aren’t quite good enough for surfboarding.
Learning how to skimboard starts with owning a board but finding a good beginner’s skimboard isn’t so easy. There is a lot to think about from the type of skimboard, to length, and volume, which makes the buying process a little tricky.
At A Glance: Our Top 3 Skimboards For Beginners
- Best Allrounder
Sandfish Board Co. White Foam Traction Skimboard CruiserJump To Review - Best On A Budget
Wavestorm Foam SkimboardJump To Review - Best Wooden Skimboard
DB Skimboards 2019 Flex Proto SkimboardJump To Review
Not to worry, we have all the answers for you here. Join me as I review some of the top skimboards for beginners and guide you through how to pick the right one for you so you end up with the best skimboard for beginners to start practicing on.
Top Product Overview
 | Best Allrounder
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 | Best On A Budget
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 | Best Wooden Skimboard
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Best Skimboard For Beginners
Sandfish Board Co. White Foam Traction Skimboard Cruiser
The best beginner skimboard for riding waves in our opinion is the Sandfish Board Co. White Foam Traction Skimboard Cruiser.
The reason this is one of the best boards for beginners is due to the excellent design, materials, and durability of the board.
This is a high-quality skimboard that is built with a foam core which means it has enough volume for sliding and for wave riding too.
The design is also built for progression and is super maneuverable. Once you get the hang of skimboarding, you can get better and start to carve waves without having to invest in a new board, saving you some cash in the long run.
This beginner skimboard is more expensive than a lot of others but this gives you the durability and performance that the others don’t. So, if you are serious about getting into skimboarding and catching small waves, this is the right skimboard for you.
Pros
- Durable and handles a beating
- Very maneuverable
- Soft, comfortable, clean top
- No wax required
- Great for progressing
- Wide to make gliding easier
- Comes in a range of lengths
Cons
- More expensive than others
Product Information
- Material: Foam
- Length: 35, 40, 45 inches
- Width: 18 inches
- Depth: NA
- Volume: NA
- Weight: 4.3 lbs
Wavestorm Foam Skimboard
The Wavestorm Foam Skimboard is an excellent beginner skimboard if you are shopping on a budget. This is a very affordable board that still provides solid durability and a great ride.
Built from a PVC foam core with 4 fiberglass stringers, it is tough as nails and has enough volume for both catching waves and gliding too. The volume and feel of the skimboard make it easy for beginner riders to learn and progress as their skills develop.
The top of the board is specifically designed for comfort and grip so there is no need for wax either. It also comes with UV resistance so won’t peel if looked after properly.
Overall, this Wavestorm board is a great beginner skimboard that will get beginner riders going in the right direction but it is not quite as high performing as more expensive models.
Pros
- 4 fiberglass stringers for durability
- Rigid and glides beautifully
- Very affordable for the quality
- A lot of fun to use
- Grippy surface that doesn’t need wax
- Great for beginners to learn on
- Solid UV resistance
Cons
- Only comes in one length
Product Information
- Material: Superior Foam Core
- Length: 48 inch
- Width: 20.5 inch
- Depth: 1 inch
- Volume: 11.3 liters
- Weight: 3lbs
DB Skimboards 2019 Flex Proto Skimboard
The DB Skimboards 2019 Flex Proto Skimboard is a high-performance wooden board that is still good for beginners. The difference with a wooden board is that it is made for gliding only and not for catching waves as it doesn’t have the volume.
This means it is perfect for calm shallow waters and gliding across anything from sand to cement, as long as there is a little bit of water on top. This is thanks to the HPL surface placed on the bottom which removes friction and sends you sliding over anything in your path.
Not only is this great for sliding, but it is also super tough to being built for impact and is very responsive to your maneuvers. You will progress quickly on this board but getting used to it as a beginner may take a little time, but that is nothing to worry about.
The main con to this lightweight board is that it is quite expensive compared to other boards, so only go for it if you know you are serious about getting into skimboarding.
Pros
- High performance but good for beginners
- Durable and flexy
- Can handle impact
- Very responsive and maneuverable
- Grippy surface and no wax needed
- Long lasting
- Good for progressing on
- Range of sizes for different heights/weights
Cons
- Quite expensive
- True beginners may struggle
- Not for catching waves
Product Information
- Material: Maple core
- Length: 39.4/41.4 inches
- Width: 18.75/19.63 inches
- Depth: 0.3 inches
- Volume: 3.63/4 liters
- Weight: 6.6 lbs
Zap Skimboards Lazer Series
The Zap Skimboards Lazer Series are foam boards that are designed to do it all and made specifically for kids. This makes them the perfect board to get your young ones enjoying a skimboarding experience.
The learning experience on these boards is easy and fun. It is built with good volume to ensure it floats and keeps beginners sliding so they can learn to progress more easily. Youngsters can slide across the shallows and slowly progress on their new board to try to catch waves in the shore break.
To top it all off, this is a tough board so it can handle being thrown around and being treated mean. The only downsides are that it is not one of the cheapest boards around and the color selection is random.
Pros
- Built for kids
- Perfect to learn on
- Tough long lasting build
- Glides beautifully
- Multiple lengths to match weight/height
- Good for progressing
Cons
- Color selection is random
Product Information
- Material: Foam
- Length: 35/40 inch
- Width: 17.3 inches
- Depth: 3/8 inches
- Volume: 5 liters
- Weight: 4.35 lbs
TCXDG Skipper Skimboard
The TCXDG Skipper Skimboard is great for beginner skimboarders who aren’t sure if they like skimboarding or not, as it is about as cheap as a board can be.
You might be concerned that the cheapest option isn’t going to last but being built from wood, this one does last a long time. It is designed for sliding only though, as it doesn’t have the volume to ride into waves.
You can buy this board in a range of lengths to match your body size and there are kid’s sizes too plus it comes with cool, colorful designs to boot.
This doesn’t have a high-performance shape by any means but it is a great starting point for the average person who wants to try skimboarding but doesn’t know if they like it yet.
Pros
- Tough, strong, and long lasting
- Glides beautifully
- Cool range of designs
- Works well for beginners
- Range of sizes for kids and adults
- Lightweight and portable
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not as well performing as others
- Not for wave riding
Product Information
- Material: Wood
- Length: 35/41 inches
- Width: 19.7 inches
- Depth: 0.3 inches
- Volume: 3.4 / 4 liters
- Weight: 4.5 lbs
Waveline Neon Wooden Skimboard
Another of the best skimboards for someone who wants to try skimboarding without a large investment in an expensive board is the Waveline Neon Wooden Skimboard.
This skimboard is made of wood with a soft grippy foam top which makes sliding and staying on your board easy for beginners. There is no need for wax, it comes in a range of sizes for kids and adults, and is generally a great board to have a lot of fun on.
The downside to this board is so affordable is that it isn’t as durable as other more expensive ones. It can delaminate when left in the sun and will probably slowly degrade after a lot of use, so look after it well.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Soft top with good grip
- No need for wax
- Handles impact well
- A good first skimboard for kids
- Comes in a range of sizes
- Glides nicely
Cons
- Can delaminate
- Not as durable as others
Product Information
- Material: Wood
- Length: 30/36/41 inches
- Width: 19.5 inches
- Depth: 0.5 inches
- Volume: 4.8/5.75/6.55 liters
- Weight: 3.15 lbs
What To Look For In The Best Skimboard For Beginners
What Type Of Board Is Right For You?
The first decision you need to make is whether you want a skimboard that only slides or a skimboard that slides and catches waves too.
Wooden skimboards are designed to provide a smooth ride while sliding over the shallows only and will not catch waves. This is because they don’t have the volume that provides more speed to get to the shore break.
In general, wooden boards are much more affordable, great for sliding, and are ok in terms of durability. If you just want to slide and glide, they are the best skimboards to start with.
Foam skimboards are a little different as they provide the volume you need for speed generation so you can catch a shore break. Not only can you catch waves with them but you can also slide too, so they do it all.
Built with a foam core and covered in ether carbon fiber, epoxy or fiberglass, foam skimboards are more durable too. They provide much more floatation, but they are more expensive. If you want to catch waves, these are the best skimboards for you.
Pick The Right Size Skimboard For You
If you want to love your first board, then you have to buy the right size board to begin with.
If your board is too small, you will struggle to use it as it will sink under your weight and height. If it is too big, maneuvering it into waves will be a lot harder too.
The general rule is that your skimboard length should be the height of your sternum (chest), so take a measurement and look for a board of that size. If you can’t find one, then bigger is better, as it makes learning for beginners a lot easier since you can slide and glide much more easily.
What Difference Does Width & Depth Make?
Being a beginner, you want a skimboard that makes things as easy and possible and this comes from the shape of the board.
You want a wide board as by having more width, you will have a big surface to skim on and be able to slide and get into waves a lot more easily.
Depth, or thickness, is all about turning and speed. A thinner board will be very fast and much easier to maneuver as you can dig the rail into the wave and get more from the board.
A super thin board isn’t quite right for beginners as those performance features aren’t quite needed but having a semi-thin board will help your progress a lot faster. Pick a board that is about ⅝ inches thick and as wide as possible, and you will be good.
Our Favorite Skimboards For Beginners
Best Allrounder
The best skimboard for beginners for all-around use is the Sandfish Board Co. White Foam Traction Skimboard Cruiser. This skimboard is designed to make catching waves and gliding as easy as possible thanks to its EVA foam core.
It is also super durable, built to be maneuverable for progression, and makes learning how to skimboard as simple as possible. If you are serious about learning skimboarding, this is the right board for you.
- AFFORDABLE START: If you're looking to get into skimboarding, the Traction Cruiser is our most affordable performance skimboard. Great for beginners & anyone still learning. The Traction Cruisers are all hand crafted from start to finish in Washington.
- DURABLE FLEX: A lightweight poplar and laminate construction make it a super manueverable and durable board that will keep you skimming all summer.
Best On A Budget
The best skimboard, if you are shopping on a budget, is the Wavestorm Foam Skimboard. This board is affordable and durable, and it provides enough performance for a beginner to learn and progress into skimboarding.
Built from foam with 4 fiberglass stringers, it provides great flex and maneuverability with a lot of volumes so can glide and catch waves with ease too.
- Dimensions: 48" L x 20.5" W x 1" T / 11.3 L, Weight: 3lbs
- Superior Foam Core
Best Wooden Skimboard
The top wooden skimboard that is best for beginners is the DB Skimboards 2019 Flex Proto Skimboard. This is an expensive and quite high-performance board that will have you sliding with ease across anything from sand to shells and even trick boxes.
It features a maple core, EVA foam grip pads, plus an HPL top sheet and base to ensure once you get sliding, you continue and can do all the maneuvers you need to.
- FAST & MANEUVERABLE: Great for lightweight riders or riders who prefer more flex. These boards are constructed with a newly engineered maple core which is light in weight and snappy under the feet. These boards have a great feel and are perfect for getting big pop, cruising, or hitting rails and boxes. This board weighs about 6.6lbs.
- LIGHT BUT DURABLE FLEX: Flex skimboards are constructed with a flexy 3-ply hard rock maple core. This layup is "flexier" for riders at the top end of the weight limit and stiffer for riders near the bottom. To create a flex board we laminate using a completely watertight bonding agent and encase the core with HPL topsheet and base. HPL is the best sliding surface we've found. It slides great over sand, PVC rails and boxes, logs, shells, cement, and just about anything you can think of!
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