Here is your chance to tell SkimOnline.com (and everyone else) what you think about the site.  If you have something to say about the site, send it to me.

August 2, 2002

This site is great!  It's hats off to u guys! I'm from Clearwater Florida and I first started skimming when I was 8 and now I am 16. Only recently did I find out you could ramp and ride waves. I'm pathetic I know.  Keep up the good work the site rocks!

Shane

August 2, 2002

First off, I love the site. It's plain wicked and has totally opened my eyes to the possibilities of the sport and what skimboarding actually is. I started skimboarding about 4 years ago, (when i was 13 or so) but not the kind of skimming that you or the rest of the world, it seems, is accustomed to. My cousins introduced it to me when I was visiting near Vancouver, BC. They'd do the whole running thing, throw the (plywood) board down, and skim across the beach, parallel to the shore on about a half inch of water. There never were any big waves there so no one could do what I've started to call "California Style Skimboarding."  I didn’t even realize that it was possible to go out and ride waves in water over 3 inches deep because I was just never exposed to it. Even more unfortunate, I live about 10 hours inland and the only half-decent beach i have here is along the Columbia River, which doesn’t exactly create any tsunamis.  Basically, I'm running out of stuff (tricks/moves/etc.) to do while I'm lamely skimming along the shore. I must say discovering your site and seeing what can be done a skimboard has taken a lot of the fun out of why I used to call skimboarding.

Thanks Again, 

Conrad

Glad I could help open your eyes!  Sorry to take the fun out of what you used to do.

August 2, 2002

Hey Aaron and everyone who makes this website work.  This site has taught me everything about skimming.  I tried it one time and got completely addicted and when I found you guys' site it completely changed me now I’ve been skimming for almost a year and I cant stop and never will.  I just wanted to tell you guys’ thank you for all the awesome info and everything it truly has changed me.

Mike

Wow, thanks Mike.

August 2, 2002

Good Day,

I found your site informative. I'm a reporter covering Dewey/Rehoboth Beach and I have been given the best assignment - "Skimboarding". I managed to meet a local pro & hopefully I'll be able to try it out for myself. (It reminds me of my sk8 days). Your website gave me the background I needed to write a better story...I look forward to my skimboarding experience which very well may include eating  sand.

Thank you,

Martha

August 2, 2002

I just wanted to let ya'll know that ya'll are the coolest site I have ever seen.  I have never learned so much off the internet before today.  Thanks a lot.

Phillip

August 2, 2002

Hey Aaron, from a fellow skimmer and webmaster, I just wanted to tell you that I love all of your work. Your new video, your skimming, and this website are all so awesome and inspiring! ...and I think someone else said it, but being at this website is like skimming while sitting at home. Way cool. Also, special compliments go to your music choices for your new video...specifically, Hybrid Moments and Salty Dog! Anyway, it's great to see someone capturing so well what I love so much about this sport. keep up the good work!

Ryan

August 2, 2002

Hey Aaron, just thought I'd drop you line to say that people this side of the atlantic enjoy your site too!   Hardly anybody skims in the UK, but it's just beginning to catch on.   I started last summer, but today was the first day that I've ever skimmed with someone else.   Conditions weren't too great for reaching the waves but we had a laugh anyway.  

Keep up the awesome work on the site, it really inspires me to get out there and skim.

Cheers

Al

August 2, 2002

The winter is starting in Holland and Benjamin and I went out to buy a wetsuit and made a Skimboard ourselves. It's really strange to Skim out here because weve never noticed something like a scene.

It seems that we are the only one Skimming in Zandvoort. Maybe it's because we go after dinner when it's already dark and we only meet a few drunk asses and some fishing men. Sometimes the sea starts working for Skimming and then we can just reach small waves and That's big funn. We love your site by the way. It tell's us a lot about competitions. and good spots, hopefully next week we're gonna visit kijkduin or de groet. These are spot your site recomments. Thank you.

August 2, 2002

All I know is I always check this site all the time and it kicks ass. Its basically the best skim site I know of. .The pics and videos u have on here are un-real.  I think its sweet at some of the stuff u got on here, and the skim spot section is great, it keeps u up to date on all the tite skim spots.  Hey keep up the tizite ish u have on this site and keep it real...peace

Taylor

March 19, 2002

Really glad you liked the site and that it is getting you pumped on skimming again.  Send in some photos as soon as you get a chance!

March 19, 2002

HI EVERYONE...THIS SITE RULES. ITS REALLY COOL. I REALLY LIKE THE PHOTOS THERE ALL REALLY GOOD QUALITY. I'M NEW TO THE SPORT, BUT ALREADY IM ENJOYING IT. I COME FROM ENGLAND, (AND YES YOU DO GET SKIMBOARDERS FROM ENGLAND)THERES A BIT OF SURF, BUT NOTHING SPEACIAL. I SKIM IN WALES BECAUSE I LIVE IN CENTRAL ENGLAND WHICH IS REALLY ANNOYING, BY SOMETIMES I GET TO VISIT THIS BEACH IN WALES CALLED MAORBIER, ITS SICK. THERES A GENTLE SLOPE AND ITS SHELTERES PERFECT FOR BEGGINERS. IF ANY OF YOU EVER VISIT ENGLAND TELL ME BECAUSE I CANT FIND ANY ONE TO SKIM WITH.

Matt

November 23, 2001

This Sites Sick,  It makes me feel like Im skimming when I'm sitting here on my ass at home.  I never used to skim but I started watching brad evers skim at the boardwalk in indiatlantic and I just put my surfboard down and started skimming and now i cant stop.  I like it more than surfing, its a great sport.  It actually helps my surfing and skating, and if you watch brad evers skim ,you can tell he skates good.  I think that skimboarding is growing fast because when i started a year ago none of my friends skimmed but now I've got a lot of competition out there.

Matt

And what could be better than feeling like you are skimming while, in actuality sitting on your ass!  Seriously though, I am glad you like the site and am happy to hear that skimboarding is growing in your area.  I hope it conmtinues.

November 23, 2001

Who ever keeps this website in shape, I just want to tell you that you are doing a fantastic job.  I practically learned how to be a true skimmer off this website.  Your message boards have been very helpful and the videos are awesome.  Thank you for the great site. 

Scott M.

Wow, thanks for the props!  I will try and keep improving it!

Rodrigo

I am glad you took the next step and happy that the site inspired you.  It is great to receive email from readers all over the world.  Indeed that is one of the benefits of the internet.

Jim W.
Largo FL

Wow, that is quite a hiatus!  Hope to see you someday on the beach too.

July 31, 2001

Hey, man...great site.  Glad to see SOMEBODY is taking time and initiative on a skim website.  And to do it with such detail and information.  After reading the updated letters, I was inspired by Peter's (dated 7/10) comment about localism killing the true spirit of surfing.  I dunno about that, but I am curious if there's a local-aggro thing in laguna at all the skimspots you have listed.  I am asking because I just moved from Malibu (westward and sycamore cove are the old stomping grounds-think I saw 6 other skimmers in 1.5 yrs.- no attitude) to San Clemente.  Due to time restrictions and injuries I have yet to explore the potential skim areas here, Dana Point, and Laguna.  When I do, though, I am wondering if I'll get heckled, cut off, laughed at, you know, the usual crap someone not on the in-crowd list gets...kinda like, well....surfers do (or so I'm told).  Please tell me the spirit of skimming IS alive and the Laguna local aggro scene has not yet been born.  If it has, tell me where to stay away from.  Thanks and keep up the GREAT job.  I look forward to the updates every time I log on.

C.J.

Well I think the most accurate thing that can be said is that most of the time you will have no problems in Laguna.  On a particularly crowded and good day you might get cut off by a skimboarder or two but aggro attitude will be missing.  Surf style localism hasn't developed among skimboarders, yet.

July 31, 2001

"The goal in my mind is for the sport to gain enough recognition to be respected in the surf community without losing its soul", I like that perspective on skimboarding.  However, that leaves very little options for the sport to grow.  This point of view is very much disputed inside the music industry.  Its like as if people want to hold onto this small little garage band and say how they heard about them first.  People don't want to see something underground "sellout".  You know its no wonder that Billy wins all the contests, I wonder how many kids with all the natural talent in the world to be amazing skimboards, just sit around at the beach and see a couple of guys riding a woody and think about how stupid that is.  If they were exposed to how awsome guys go off on skimboards they might be inclined to see what its all about.  We need exposure in my opinion.  I would love to see skimboarding in the summer X Games, Gravity Games, more blue torch stuff, and any multimedia experience that someone can get of our   "The very best thing about this sport is that across most of the world the problem is not finding uncrowded waves, it is finding other people to ride with", thats sad.  I would much rather come to a beach with 5 guys killing it and pushing the sport to a higher level.  Who knows what sorts of tricks could begin to be pulled if more riders with different backgrounds in other sports get involved.  People might think that something more can't be done, and all the tricks have been exhausted but that's so wrong.  I remember in Freestyle Motocross people thought that an Indian Air was as far as you can go, now look pastrana and heart are doing backflips.  Whats next in skimboarding, possible 360 kickflips? Who knows, but it will be interesting to see.  It seems like every week someone will come up to me and ask me how much one of those "little surfboards" costs.  And I'll see them out there learning a week later.  We need that, and I think we can all share the ocean, that's not a big concern in my opinion.

Anyways, I thought that I'd share my opinion on your response to a guy named peter on july 10th in letters to the editor.  Keep it up, this site rules...  Good luck in the comp this weekend, I'll probably see ya up there maybe.

Chris

Your points are well taken, at least with me.  Thank you for the good luck, I think it worked!

July 31, 2001

I  enjoyed the skim contest yesterday (Sunday) in Laguna Beach and found it most exciting. The morning waves seemed perfect for the competition to display their skimming skills. An added bonus was the  very young skimmers who showed extra courage approaching the very same sizable swells the experienced adult skimmers were riding. I believe these "grommets" (as they were labeled) will be the future of this budding and spectator friendly sport. A comfortable spot in the sand is considered pit row, or loge seating to an enjoyable show of talent and competition called skimboarding.   Why not do an interview on one of the "grommets". These kids are very good...

Peechie

That aint a bad idea Peechie.  I may look into that.

July 31, 2001

Thank you so much for making this website. It is just what I was looking for. I love this site. I think skim spots and the tutorial is really cool. keep up the good work.

Phillip

Hey thanks Phillip.  Glad you found what you were looking for.

July 11, 2001

Photo set #26 kicks butt! A fine job indeed. Keep up the excellent job.

Joe

You know that I will do my best.  Glad you liked it.

July 11, 2001

Hey Aaron thanks for all the work you put into this site.  Being from CT and having to deal with flat conditions all the time gets depressing after a while, but after checking out your photo's all the time I want to get back out there.  A few friends and I have a site goin so I really appreciate all the work you put into this.  Thanks again.------Nick

I wish you a freak 5 foot swell with light offshore conditions and 85 degree weather.  Thanks.

July 11, 2001

Aaron~ your page is my fist stop every time I log on. I am now 29, oh man, and just started skimming for the first time in 15 years. I suck pretty bad right now, knowing that my fear factor and coordination have both changed dramatically, but I'm practicing often and hope to be pulling off some good tricks soon. I'm in Sacramento, so I mostly river skim @ the same spot those skimfest pics were taken. out here it's more skater moves than surf moves, but when i make those two hour trips to Santa Cruz i get a little more adventurous, but i go home in pain. just running all damn day is killing me. is it possible to ride waves on wood boards? I'm riding a j.gordon board, and I'm sliding out and getting spray, but not really getting brought back into shore. my son is two and a half, and he's already better than me. the future of this sport looks good, so keep up the hard work promoting, and if the sport does sell out, then maybe my boy will lead me to early retirement. 

~ Cody

Indeed it is possible to ride waves on wood boards.  It is just a lot harder than on a foam one.  I am glad you like the site and I will do my best to keep promoting.  Thanks.

July 10, 2001

Aaron, Every time I open your web site I am amazed by the growth of our sport. Your efforts have earned my deepest respect.

I was recently surfing Upper Trestles, with a midsummer crowd, when I had the good fortune to meet two old-timers, Guy Hansen and Steve Bixler.  (In the late sixties, Steve was one of the top 5 surfers in the world. He surfs like Chris Henderson skims, smooth, graceful and every move with purpose.) We had a pretty good session for a few old guys and spoke about the changes we have seen in surfing over the last 35 to 40 years. We concluded that the spirit of surfing has changed, localism has all but killed the true spirit of the sport. Then I told them about SKIMMING. The REAL SPIRIT is still alive in SKIMMING. It was so evident at last year's VICTORIA. As you remember we were blessed with good surf and a great turn-out. The last few pro heats the riders displayed some of the finest riding I have seen in my years of attending the contest. There were great performances from all the age groups. And the awards ceremony was a most fitting cap to the two day event. Sitting in the crowd I could feel the true spirit of the sport.

I hope to see everyone and meet some new friends at the VIC.

Let's bring the REAL SPIRIT.

See you there,

Peter

Hi Peter.  I hear ya.  I am trying to walk a fine line between promoting the sport and selling it out.  The goal in my mind is for the sport to gain enough recognition to be respected in the surf community without losing its soul.  This would allow the very best skimboarders in the world to earn a modest living doing what they love and spread the joy of our sport across the world.  No one wants it to go the route that surfing has gone though.  The very best thing about this sport is that across most of the world the problem is not finding uncrowded waves, it is finding other people to ride with.  I am glad you enjoy the website.

July 10, 2001

Thanks, your web site has proved to be really helpful and informative. I've decided to take up skimboarding and go buy myself a board....problem is, I live in Singapore and there is no surf culture here cause the waves really suck;  really steep beaches & waves break at knee height on good days, really a pity cause this is such a nice tropical island. anyway I will go ahead & see how it turns out.

Hill

I am glad you found the website helpful and I wish you the best of luck.

July 10, 2001

The latest Photo set (26) kicks ass!  What kind of camera was used?? I have never seen skim photos like that before; a definite step above the rest of the usual fuzzy, blurry ones i see on other sites. I wanna go out skimming right now, despite the fact i'm 3 hrs away from the beach, in an office building.

keep putting em' out!

-Chris

Hey Chris.  I am stoked you liked the Photo Set so much.  They take a ton of time but responses like yours make it worthwhile.  I will try and keep them coming.

p.s.  I use a Canon D30

July 2, 2001

Hey, whats up? My name is Kia and I live in Connecticut. Unfortunately, skimboarding isn't big here because of the small waves and well, the wet sand near the ocean is more pebbles and small rocks than actual sand. I was first introduced to skimboarding when I saw some kids sand skimming on a beach in Maryland where I vacation every year. It looked so fun! When I got home, I did a search online for skimboarding and your website popped up. I have been coming here ever since. I recently just made my own wood skimboard, by following your instructions in the "How To Make Your Own Skimboard" article. They worked great! The materials didn't cost to much, and it was pretty easy to make. Now when I vacation in Maryland, I always skimboard (that's basically the only place I can). Well anyway, I just wanted to tell you that the article was great and VERY HELPFUL. And, the rest of your site has helped me become more informed and interested in skimboarding. Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!

Kia

Hey Kia.  I am stoked you were able to make a board from my somewhat shady instructions.  Congratulations and thanks for the letter.

July 2, 2001

I just wanted to say thank you for making this site.  I just got a skim board today and have currently been using a boogey board with a slick bottom for skim boarding.  Well with a real skim board I figured I need to learn more about skim boarding and your site helped loads,

Thanks for the info.

Adam

That's what it is here for Adam.  I started out on a bodyboard too.  i used it until I found a skimboard in a dumpster.  Check out the story in Erik Christensen's profile.

July 2, 2001

Your Fucking site kicks ass Aaron. My name is Dave XXXX and if this shit is a little messed up its just cause I am, Its 6:40 in the morning right now and I've been up all night but fuck sleep, I'm from Michigan and when summer comes and the weather is nice you have to celebrate. Man I go skimming with my two buddies every day. We rock it out as hard as we can and really push our capabilities as far as we can. as soon as I get some good pics on my Dads digital camera I'll send them in. right now our tricks are basic at best ( we can do all of the tricks in your beginner section) right now were working on big grabs (We can hit them its just a matter of consistency) and pop shuvits (at least 6 inches out of the water to count, and we hit them now and then its just a matter of consistency) I can do speed runs all that shit, I'm really tryin to learn how to do headstands right now so any pointers would be much appreciated. We live in this town called.  Grand Haven right on the east coast of Lake Michigan, but all I really wanted to say is that I love your sight and that lots of us Lake skimmers visit it and if you add any pics you receive and any articles about lake skimming that you receive it would be much appreciated

Hell I'll even right the articles myself I can be a pretty articulate sonofabitch when I'm not drunk

Thanks again if it wasn't for people like you I almost definitely wouldn't be skimming

Take it easy

Dave

Dave - Thanks for the letter and the laugh.  When you figure out how to do a headstand let me know.  Whenever I turn upside down all the blood rushes to my head and I get dizzy.  I am stoked you like the site.  I will work on some more lake skimming pics for all the landlocked riders out there.  In the meantime check out www.skimfest.com, it is right up your alley.

June 28, 2001

Thanks to the webmaster (you). Your site has a consistent feel and is very well put together. I am not sure where you find the time to keep things so fresh. I hope to (while not a skimmer) add something to the sport real soon. Best of luck and I will check back often. BTW I think Joes' poo bath sequence is the best set on the site.

Chris

It just happens to be one of my favorites too!  Thanks Chris.

June 24, 2001

Hi Dave.  Glad you like the site.  What I say about Zap is essentially that the boards are made to be low cost and entry level rather than high performance.  When I talked to Bob Smetts last summer he said that he thought what I was saying about his boards was "accurate".  And it was.  Now however Zap has come out with some new boards which put more emphasis on performance than price.  An update is needed to reflect these changes and I will do it right now.  Still, I feel what is said in my current review is accurate for most of Zap's models.  And as far as I know, Mr. Smetts agrees.  Thanks for the heads up.

June 24, 2001

Thanks for the feedback.  I will try to get more but to me quality is more important than volume.  Just hope my web hosting company doesn't cut me off!  Weekly Q&A is a great idea but at the moment I just don't have the time.

June 24, 2001

Matt

Sure thing Matt.  This website was created for people like you.

June 18, 2001

Personally I dont think that the site is dole, but the lack of updates has been slowing things down, I love coming to the site and seeing something new to look at, especially photo sections, I love to look at the pics and read the comments that you put under them.  Also if there were more videos added that would help out a lot too, those are always fun to watch.

I think your doing a great job Aaron, I don't think that there needs to be a chat room, but it couldnt hurt, I think it could help by interacting with other skimmers and finding out when and where there like to skim, so maybe that way skimmers could skim together more often and get to know each other better.

Kyle

Thanks for the feedback Kyle.  -Aaron

June 16, 2001

THIS SITE IS GETTING REALLY DOLE. MAKE A CHAT ROOM OR SOMTHING.IM NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE. I KNOW YOU WORK AND ALL AND I RESPECT THAT. BUT AT LEAST A CHAT ROOM WOULD BE NICE.

MUCH LUV
SKIM ON!!!
JAMES

Hey James, sorry you think the site is getting boring.  Mark (of GoSkim.com) and I are kicking around the idea of a chat room but I honestly don't feel that there are enough visitors yet.  Still, we may give it a shot.  Thanks for the suggestion.  -Aaron

Here is your chance to tell SkimOnline.com (and everyone else) what you think about the site.  If you have something to say about the site, send it to me.