Nantucket

If you are looking for a great vacation spot as well as some great breaks for skimboarding then Nantucket, Mass., is your place.  If you are on the Island (reachable by a 2hr. boat ride from Hyannis, MA) then head out to Cisco beach.  Here, you will find some really great breaks, perfect for the intermediate/advanced skimmer looking to ride the breaks, or do tricks off the broken sets.  Here, I've seen some of the best skimmers in my life.  As far as the tides go, pretty much anytime of the day is good, the skimming remains the same, however the power and size of the waves often alter with the tidal changes.
 
As I said earlier Nantucket is an excellent vacation spot, and is only a short boat ride, or a half hour plane ride from Providence or Hyannis.  To get to Cisco, grab yourself a tourist map (usually there are some on the ferry over to the island) and look for signs to Cisco.  It is an easy beach to find because it is a very small Island, you can almost just follow the pack of surfers to find this great skimming spot.  Happy Skimming!!!

Submitted by,  Elliot: DMBAND101@aol.com

hi my name is Rooney Areson.  i do most of my skimming at the long nook beach, cape cod, Massachusetts.  cape cod is all sand so the exact spots change yearly depending on the shifting sand bars.  but the beach in general is quite steep, waves break hard on the shore, and there are always two or three decent spots within 1/4 mi. either side of the beach access (many more if you want to walk.)  east coast surf is irregular but the best waves come around storms, (most consistently during hurricane season.) whenever the wind blows out of the east for at least a couple days there can be good waves too.  the skimming is best with little wind at mid to high tide in waves knee to a little bit overhead high; any bigger and they break outside.  most swell comes from the south east, wrapping around the edge of the cape and as a result there can be excellent rights, but there plenty of places to go both ways because of the shifting sand.  there are many different ways to skim depending on the tide and wave size but my all  time favorite comes at dead high tide on a big wave day, (5-8ft.)  some waves wash up the bank of the beach and over onto where it levels out and all the people sit.  if you throw your board on the flat and jump on slightly headed towards the edge of the bank you inevitably go over picking up unhealthful amounts of speed on the descent, and then smack into the approaching wave.  jumping can be really fun as can riding, but if you opt to ride and mess up/fall you can really get worked over, anything over about three feet breaks really hard.  directions: take route 6 (just about the only one) from the Sagamore bridge out the cape approximately 60 miles (I'm guessing.) until you get to Truro, the long nook rd. is on your right.  there aren't any real landmarks but the town is real small and once you drive past the Truro exit keep an eye out on your right (the rd. is about 3 mi past the first Truro exit,) if you go past the Truro elementary school you have gone about 2 mi. too far.  when you find it and trust me you will go out the long nook rd. to the end  (2 or 3 mi.) and you're there.  it's easy to find but during the summer on non-rainy days beach stickers are required so ditch your car and ride a bike, hitch, or walk down the long nook rd.  i'd stop in if you get the chance, e-mail me with any ?s.

Submitted By,   pareson@gwi.net

Hi, my name is Sean Mullin and I've be skimming on Cape Cod for the past three years now.  The best place on the Cape is Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable.  It is the largest barrier beach in New England and one of the largest in the country.  It has six miles of flats that are out of this world for skimming and if you have four wheel drive you can get to any place on the beach other than the public beach which is usually very crowded in the summer just because its the cape.

It is very easy to get to.  When your on the mid cape highway (rt. 6) take exit five and at the intersection, take a left onto rt 149 and go all the way to where it meets rt.6a, you'll cross some train tracks on the way.  Go left onto Rt 6a and follow it all the way past a salt marsh that is on your right.  When you come to the salt marsh to road to sandy neck is only about 1/3 of a mile up on the right.  Then just take the road all the way to the beach.  You need a beach sticker or you can pay $8 to park at the lot.  You have to have a 4x4 sticker to use the off road trails to get all the way down to the point and every where else in between where there are no tourists.  but the surf on and around the public beach is one of the top five places on the whole beach.  the surf is best from when its going out to when its about 1/2 of the way all the way in.  My email address is wmullin@capecod.net if you want better directions, conditions, or my secret place to ride.

Submitted By,   wlmullin@capecod.net

Dennis Beach

This is an awesome beach at low tide the surf is perfect for catching some big time waves. I would say that it is the best place I have skimboarded. There is also not many rocks. I don't know how to ger there but its in Dennis in Cape Cod

Submitted By:  slwrestler@earthlink.net

Nauset Beach, Orleans

Hey, my name's Joe Imparato and I have been skimboarding my whole life on Cape Cod.  In my opinion Nauset Beach is the best skim spot on Cape Cod. I've hit some nice tricks and eaten a lot of Nauset sand. Nauset offers great flatland as well as wave riding surf. The main beach is pretty steep and the waves can crash pretty hard. They aren't exactly Laguna Beach but the can get pretty big. The best time is during hurricane season. If they don't kick you off the beach then your in for some sweet skimmin'. The best time is from mid to high tide, although you can get some nice flatlanding in during low tide if you walk far enough. One thing you know should is that Nauset has no tidal pools, so prepare to hit some big waves. Nauset has a wide variety of skimboarding. If you go far enough off the protected beach you can hit some nice waves that will stay up long enough to get some long rides. This beach is great for crowds. If you're good you can attract a lot of people. There have been up to thirty people at a time wa

Cross the Sagamore Bridge and take highway six to Orleans. turn right into Orleans center and follow the signs. They're pretty clear and will take you straight to the ocean.

Submitted By:  Grinched52@aol.com

More on Nauset Beach

I just moved up to Boston from VA. Beach in January, and since have checked most of the beaches in Mass. Nauset Beach has been by far the closest thing I've seen to Dewey Beach Del. and 14th St. (pier) at VA. Beach. At high tide the shore breaks are great and the sand has a decent slope to it... Besides the cold water and the rocks (during low-tide) Nauset is by far one of the best skim spots in Mass.

From Boston take 93 South to 3 South, and follow signs for Cape Cod. You'll eventually cross the Sagamore Bridge. Take exit 12 and go right off the exit. You will instantly see signs for Nauset Beach. The rest is on you!

Submitted By:  dchampagne3@yahoo.com

Even More on Nauset

The spot is best in the summer, tides are best when low. the break has mostly sidewash.

On the right side of the cape (south end), as far as you can go on the right side out.

Submitted By:  branst10@hotmail.com  

And Yes, Even More On Nauset

On Nauset Beach there is a kind of island that has been broken off of a small peninsula.  This section of the beach has great sand bars that at the right time of day will be constantly covered with about a half inch to 3 inch deep water.  This place is ideal for sand surfing, but it has tiny waves so wave riding is nearly impossible.  These little waves are fun to ollie off of and do little shuv-its or grabs.   You will almost never encounter people on these sandbars.  In fact I can't remember the last time that I saw more than 25 people on the whole beach.  This being because this section of Nauset beach is only accesible by boat.

Orleans is a town at the very tip of Cape Cod.  I am on ly 14 so i can't give great directions, but if you just keep driving I am sure you will reach it.  Once somewhere near the tip of "The Cape" all you have to do is ask where the beach is.  It is a pretty famous beach around there.  I suggest going to www.mapquest.com for directions.

Submitted By:  odiekix@hotmail.com

Plum Island, Ispwich/Newburyport, MA

Well you can only get there by boat, and during mid, and low tide but the waves crash right on the the sandbar and they leave the perfect amount of film to skim out to the waves. The waves aren't huge (about 3-4 feet) but they're the best I've seen so far in my area. The best thing is, there are virtually no people there, so you don't have to worry about crowds or hitting a little kid!

Well i wouldn't recommend going to this spot unless you know the area. Because if you go by boat you need to have access to a dock, which means you must be a member, or you'll have to launch at the town wharf which is about a 10 minute ride from the spot

Submitted by:  smooth6@aol.com

More on Plum Island, Newburyport

Plum Island is a little-known skim spot. There are two components of this beach. The main part is where most of the shorebreak and wave jumping happens. Even on an average day, nice sized waves will pound the beach, which slopes pretty steep to meet the water. The slope allows for picking up a lot of speed, and you can jump some sick waves. Occasionally, I've seen some fair sized barrels form right in shore. The next feature of Plum Island is Sandy Point, which is right across from Ipswich, essentially. This beach is so isolated, almost no one goes there. It is most useful as a sand-skimming beach, and is a really beautiful spot to have to yourself. Plum Island has no rules regarding times when you can or cannot skim, which makes it really fun, and the local scene is composed of some really laid-back Salisbury/Newburyport kids.

Take route 95 north to Scotland Road/Newburyport. Follow Scotland Rd. all the way to the track field (about 3 miles) then take a right. At the lights, take a left (route 1) and then take your immediate right (water street) Follow water street all the way out of the city to Plum Island. Signs will help along the way.

Singing Beach, Manchester

My name's Ben Hodgman and if your near the North Shore, this is where you want skim. The beach's slope is pretty steep so the waves crash close to shore. The best time to skim is around mid tide. High tide is okay but the best slope is during mid tide. The waves break just right. Low tide is not that great either: too much seaweed, small stones and other obstacles. Unfortunately the lifeguards won't let you skim so you have to wait until 5 O'clock PM when they leave, or better yet right after a storm. Parking is also a problem, but like the life guards, after five its free. Aside from that, I've had the best skim sessions there; both long flat sand skimming at high tide and consistent waves at mid tide. If you dig skimming, you have to check this beach out. It is also one of ten beaches in the world which has sand the squeaks when you walk on it (hence the name.)

From Boston, you just hop on rt.95 to rt. 128. Take exit 16 (Pine Street), turn left and continue down that road until it intersects with rt 127. take a left on 127 and follow it to the center of town. At the center, 127 makes a left turn and continues up through Magnolia to Gloucester, but keep going straight to the end of that road. At the end of this road you will be at the beach.

Submitted By:  Jamin2000@hotmail.com

Cisco Beach

If you are looking for a great place to skimboard this is it. Get out on the Fast Ferry for a 1 hour boat ride and get to Cisco beach. This is good for beginners to professionals the waves are perfect for big air and spins. The waves change upon where you are on the beach so if you like a certain kind of wave then you can definitely find it on Cisco.

Just ask any native Nantucketer and they will tell you how to get there

Submitted By:  aldog@looksmart.com

The Doorstop, Falmouth/Cape Cod

The best place in Fallmouth, hands down, is the doorstop. This area is also referred to by us locals as Skimmertown USA. It has excellent flats at low tide, and some great barrels at high tide. Be warned, however, the doorstop is not for the faint of heart.. The local experts run the beach, and you can expect to find Maverick, Iceman, Hoopty, and Nicknuckles, rain or shine. The big barrels, or "donkeys" are unbelievable, and unless the wind is blowin' like a dirty slut, you can ride the flats forever.

The Doorstop is accessible through Chapaquoit Beach, which requires a sticker or 10 dollars between 9 and 5. From there you just walk past the public beach and the beach club. It is identifiable by the long flats and rope of buoys.

Submitted By:  jmper0@student.umass.edu

Winthrop Beach, Winthrop

If your looking for a good place to skim on the north shore, this is it. Waves anren't huge and the only time its really good it at or around high tide, unless during or or after a storm. But its the best i could find in my area. Crowds are minimal, but no one really understands what your doing, so its your job not to hit them. The beach is on a slope, so its best riding paralel to the waves then turing into them.

The easiest way to get there if you know the area is to enter Winthrop through Revere and just drive straight untill you hit water. IF you'll be entering Winthrop through East Boston take a right at the landurmat as soon as you enter the town. Follow that road aroung a left turn untill hit a 4 way intersection with a hardware store on your right. Proceed straight and you will hit the water. Take a left and follow the road untill you begin to bare away from the water. Park near the green rails. Parking is never a problem unless its a 100+ day.

Submitted By:  nop1787@mail.com

Mayflower Beach, Cape Cod

This beach is awesome. I am not a pro or anything but when the tide goes out it goes out! It has tons of pools and shallow water where the waters edge is. It has little wave, but they are fun to carve into. I think this beach is excellent.

I don't live in Mass so I don't know exactly the way to get there but, I do know it is in Dennis and it is near the Dennis play house. Its only like 5 min from there. Get there early though because it get real packed and you might not be able to get in on a nice day.    Have Fun!

Submitted By:  jtdiving10123@aol.com

Salisbury Beach

Beach entrance #13 is killer really at any time besides right at high tide because its flat beach contours and multiple breaks in the waves moving in, the past month my three buddies and I have had the beach to ourselves and usually gain a crowd of onlookers.  Check it out, we'll probably see you there

Jaime Kraus Age 21 Newburyport, MA

Take left at Ten's showclub on the Salisbury Beach strip and follow until beach access point #13, Beacon Street.

Submitted By:  jkraus@smcvt.edu

Coastguard Beach, Eastham, Cape Cod

Ok, Coastguard beach is the best place for skimming that I've found in the harsh conditions of cape cod, you can get some sick launches and spins in particular, you can't be on the main beach though, it's too crowded in summer, when you come off the main boardwalk near the coastguard station, you walk to the right until you come to a red sign, this is marking the end of the guarded beach, right there and around there is some great breaks, it breaks in a tube from right to left, and it's quite rideable sometimes, I've been just going in summer cuz I don't have a wetsuit, but it's good stuff in any season, high tide is the best for launches and pretty much all you can get there, good luck

From the bridge, stay on the highway till it turns into route 6, stay on there till you get into the town of eastham, on your right you'll see a sign for the cape cod national seashore, as well as the "Salt Pond Visitor Center" this is across from the "lobster shanty" anyway, get on that road to the seashore and keep on it, you'll see signs everywhere to go either to coastguard or nauset light beach, take the ones to coastguard, and go past the booth, up to the main parking lot, and then go to the place above.

Submitted By:  shamrockpunker@hotmail.com

Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester

Good Harbor is a great place to start learning or if you want to get a little old-school for some sand riding. Low tide provides a long, flat beach with waves that just barely cover the sand with totally even cover. Mid-to-high tide gives the same environment for sand riding, but now you'll be able to get some shorbreak and ride them out and in. High tide is good for just all around shorebreak, and on big days the waves break in nice even sets across the whole beach. The lifeguards are kind of particular about skimming until after 5:00 pm but you can get away with it in the morning before anyone is on the beach. Skimmers and surfers alike ride here often, and the vibe is very casual and fun.

Submitted By:  BoardKing152@hotmail.com

Martha's Vineyard

I've been skimming for close to 9 years now and I've never been to a more challenging or more satisfying skim area. Here I've taken some of the worst diggers but have also pulled off some of the most intense tricks. Before I started coming her no one had ever seen a skimboard, but in the past couple years it's starting to explode. The beach is pretty steep some times, but during low to mid tide you can find a nice ramp which to run on to hit a wave. The sand is pretty dense so running isn't so bad. The break usually rides up the beach pretty far and gives you about 15 to 20 ft. of good thin water before the next wave comes in. The swells are usually 2-3 feet but after a storm you can get some good 5 footers rolling in to ride in on. I've noticed a pattern to the waves. You might have to waight 5 to 6 waves before you get one that you can actually ride. But if you can pull off aerials they're fun to bomb at and do tricks off of. Like I said many people have never seen this sport. And I swear I've seen some of the most beautiful girls here. They come from around the world to be on these beaches. So if your looking for a challenge you need to check this island out. South beach isn't the only beach there too check out the trustee's beach and a place called Gay Head (no I'm not kidding and there isn't a huge gay population there.) One thing is there are a lot of little kids sometimes and I've taken out a few. But over all check this place out. My name's Jay and I'm there a lot. I'll probably be there all summer.. I'm the only older skimboarder there so you probably can't miss me. I'm getting ACL surgery so I may be a little rusty but it's not going to stop me. Trust me if you are am intermediate to pro you need to try this place. 

Preston Beach

This is a good beach for begginers. The non-steep incline at low tide makes it awesome for sand tricks. This year (2002), there have been no rocks, just a little bit of sea weed. The waves get bigger, when their is a hurricane off the east coast. You can only skim it at low tide because at high tide it comes up to a wall of rocks (sea wall). There are many skimboarders that come here. At the most, there have been over 20 at a time. Some have come from California.To see images of some of us (begginers) at this beach go to http://www.angelfire.com/gundam/deadtail/gallery.html

The beach is located along Atlantic Ave. ,on the town lines of Marblehead and Swampscott, Massachusetts. To get there from Boston, you take highway 95 north which connects to route 1A, you follow that till you get to Swampscott, then you take a right on Atlantic Ave.

Submitted By: cheovent@aol.com

:Chatam light, Cape Cod

I think the best spot is light house beach (Chatham light). The waves aren’t big but its great for sand surfing. It has great flats and its fun to launch off the waves.  During low tide you can go out to the sand bars and ride forever (great for little shuv-its and spins). At mid you can launch off the waves.  At high tide you can ride forever in this one spot.  You can’t do anything right at the main part, its to crowded.  On certain days, the good spots are packed with little kids, beware.

Alright, this is an easy beach to find, just go through the town of Chatham on main street and turn onto bridge street, or just take bridge street.  To get to the good spots is the hard part.  Go down the stairs and turn left.  Keep walking until a little past the spot were you can dive in(you'll see it if you go), this is a great place at high tide.  You’ll be able to tell were all the sand is.

Submitted By: boyhinge612@aol.com

Buttermilk Bay

Buttermilk bay is a great place to ride. Buttermilk bay runs off of Buzzards bay, which runs off of the cape cod canal. It is a salt-water bay, and the tides can be a bit sketchy, but it is a great place to practice, of just brush up on your skills. I have lived on the bay for about 9 years now, and have been riding about the same amount. i own a private beach, but sad to say it suck for riding. I have found out that Little Bay, which is a bay in back of Buttermilk bay, it’s one of the best places to ride in the area for flats. At Low tide, Little Bay is Only a couple of inches deep, that’s right, the whole entire bay is only 2-3 inches deep, which results in unlimited spots to ride on. If your in the area, and are looking for some sick flats, stop by. Hell...you might even see me there busting out my skills. And as far as the crowds go, there is literally no one around.

Submitted by: Shrimp1@adelphia.net

Corporation/ Howes Beach

 I have lived on Cape Cod for about 10 years, and I have been skimming it for about 5. If you are a beginner, intermediate, or even an advanced boarder this is the place to go. Corporation Beach (also know as Howes) neighbors Mayflower Beach. So it is very similar in surf style. And it is smaller then Mayflower. But if you work your way away from the public side you should be able to find some nice spots. Low tide is flat, and the waves are small. It is not the place to go if you are looking for big wave riding (like Nauset). But don’t get me wrong; this place is awesome if you want to learn to launch little kickers, and get down and dirty on the flats.  Then it comes to what time of day to ride, it really depends on the tide. Low tide is obviously the best time to go. Anytime after 4:00 you can avoid the parking toll at the Howes Street Beach parking lot, about a quarter mile down from the Corporation Parking lot. This is what I usually do. If you stay away from the public side, and work your way to the private side it will be less crowded, and if you go after 4:00, (when the sun is low) you should be in the clear.  

Corporation Beach is off of 6A in Dennis. Passing the Mayflower Beach Entrance on your left and the Dennis Public Market (DPM) on your right, follow 6A past Smuglars Ice Cream on your left (good stuff), and all the way to the Cape Play House (on your left also). And take the next left after that. Follow the neighborhood roads all the way down to the Corporation Beach parking lot. Just before the Corporation Beach parking lot there will be a Baseball field to your right. If you take that right and follow the road along the Baseball field, it will bring you to Howes Street on your left.

Submitted by: jskater@capecod.net

Marconi Beach

I went there on June 30 2004. It's a walk on beach with very little lifeguard action. Some spots are crowded but with mostly other skimmers. The waves were a good but they break out kind of far. It's a good sand skimming area, it's nice, flat, and doesn't have many rocks, SWEET! There is some surfing action but not much. The waves, after they break (whitewater), are a prime choice for airs and little wave rides. I did not see a wave more then 5 ft. or less than 2 ft. I enjoyed Marconi Beach and be sure to visit Little Overhead surf shop in Eastham, Cape Cod. Enjoy all your skimboarding experiences.