Skimboarding
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What is Skimboarding?
Skimboarding is a water board sport similar to surfing but on the shore instead of out in the water. The skimboarder stands on shore and waits for waves to come into shore. When the wave comes in with a layer of water over the sand, the skimmer drops the board and jumps onto the board. He then glides out onto the water towards the incoming waves.
Skimboarding began in California around the 1920s. When some lifeguards used disks made from redwood trees to glide on the water. Boards actually kept the shape from this original disk until the 1960s.
Man skimboarding on the ocean.
Is Skim Boarding Easier Than Surfing? How Difficult is Skimboarding?
Skimboarding is similar to surfing as it is also a waterboard sport. Skimboarding can be easier to learn versus surfing. However, catching and riding the waves is harder than surfing. Skimboarding is a harder sport to master than surfing for most. A skimboard cannot be used to surf.
How Dangerous is Skimboarding?
You are unlikely to drown while skimboarding as you are in very shallow water. Due to falls and landing you are more likely to bruise or have musculoskeletal injuries than surfing. This is due to the acrobatics and falls that skimmers perform. Common injuries are in more detail below. Lifeguards say that skimboarding does not account for a large number of serious injuries such as spinal cord injuries. You are more likely to get sand burn (from falling and sliding across the sand) and bruising. This is especially true on the tailbone if you land on it.
Man skimboarding in mid-air in the ocean.
Where is the Best Place in Northeast Florida to go Skimboarding?
Vilano Beach is a good beach due to the steepness of the beach. The Jacksonville Beaches are also good and have a long shore to skimboard on. If you go a little bit more south of Jacksonville, Coco Beach has great waves and beaches for skimboarding and surfing.
What are the Most Common Skimboarding Injuries?
Bruising is common due to falling when skimboarding. Fractures are most common in the lower leg, specifically the distal tibia/fibula and mid foot. Usually, sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding, falling is more associated with wrist fractures. With skimboarding, however, the lower leg is the most common injury location. This is likely due to the “high energy torsional falls”.1 The wrist is the second most common due to a fall on outstretched hand.2 Soft tissue injuries are also seen with skimboarding, but close to 90% of musculoskeletal injuries are fractures.2 If you injure yourself in a skimboarding accident, contact your orthopedic physician or physical therapist for help with returning to normal. A physical therapist can work with you to strengthen and stretch to prevent injuries.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2465017/
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546509332254?journalCode=ajsb
Tips on How Do You Prevent Skimboarding Injuries?
- Making sure that you stretch and warm up sufficiently can help prevent any strains/strains in your body. Stretching can certainly help prevent several types of injuries.
- Avoiding soft sand can help avoid groin injuries.
- Work on agility, balance and proprioception exercises on dry land every day!
Related Links:
Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute
Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute has a team of highly specialized orthopedic doctors and therapists. We can help you with your injuries. We’ll treat you like a pro!
To schedule an appointment with a JOI Orthopedic Specialist, call (904) JOI-2000, schedule online, or click down below. For Physical Therapy appointments, please call 904-858-7045.
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