Near Johns Pass on Madeira Beach is a great spot called simply 124th due to it lying at the end of 124th Ave.  It breaks well most of the year and high tide is typically the best time of the day.  If there is a high tide in the morning it is usually worth checking out.  It usually breaks south to north.  Occasionally one of the gambling boats leaves johns pass and throws up a big wake which quite often is pretty good.  Occasionally you have to fight off the vacationing shore-fisherman old guy but other than that it is not too crowded.  Coming from St Petersburg it is easy to get there.   Head west on Central and turn right on Gulf Blvd and head north a little ways and just count the street numbers until you get there. Parking is free and usually not too
crowded.

NIK  Questions/Comments Email me at NIKSMGB@aol.com

Indian Shores

Central Avenue, Indian Shores is one of the best skim spots on the west coast of Florida.  It is located near the Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater area.  If you are near this area, then take Ulmerton Road west until you cross the Indian Rocks Bridge.  Take a left after you cross the bridge and go south about a mile and a half until you see Central Avenue on your right.
 Parking is limited, but free.  There is a ZAP skimboards sticker on a sign right before the spot.

Central Avenue breaks best on a very strong South to South-West wind.  It breaks onshore and lines up nicely.  On a good day it jacks up to about chest high or above and is fairly easy to get out to for an intermediate skimmer.  It rarely bottoms out on a big day and dumps hard for the Gulf Coast of Florida.  It sucks when it is flat or a North swell.

Submitted by :   HUMGW@aol.com

St. Petersburg Area

There are many good spots in this area, all within a 30 minute drive. First off, break out your map of the area.  I don't give directions.  Go to a gas station and ask them. If you can't find it on a map, stay home.  You don't need to be driving anywhere anyways.

Now that were past the disclaimer  For beginners, you'll be hard pressed to beat Fort DeSoto park. There are many excellent tide pools on the beach strand nearest the Gulf.  These run anywhere from 1/2 inch deep to a few feet in some areas.  This is perfect for starting out, doing spinners, shuffle's (shuvit's) etc. Some of these spots, depending on the tide, time of year, etc., may run just an inch deep, but for over a hundred yards long! Fun spot for the better skimmers who are looking to spin til they puke! My personal record is seven full 360's, followed shortly by five minutes of waiting for the world to stop and let me get off.

Two things to be aware of #1 - Bring wax with the highest temperature melting point possible.  You will wind up melting it anyways, but it will last much longer than the cooler temp stuff. Dip your board in the Gulf occasionally to solidify your wax if it's really hot that day.  #2 - Watch out for stingrays! Step on one and you'll remember this forever.  It's a fifteen minute drive to the nearest place to fix yourself up, and you will hate life until you get it fixed (hot water, maybe with a little salt, for twenty minutes, will solve your problem. Still hurts, but it will eventually stop the stinging.)

Next is Upham on the north end of St. Pete Beach.  Good spot for intermediate riders to ease into wave riding.  Some days are great, others suck, but a nice transition to larger, more aggressive skim.  Watch out for shells (makes for a rough run and bloody feet if you're not used to it) and especially the tourist kids. There are parking meters, but if you're a cheapskate you can park at Woody's Bar & Grill or McDonalds, and walk the two blocks to Upham. There's a concession stand on the beach, complete with grub and a set of showers.

Indian Rocks Beach is pretty darn good, my only complaint being the drive, and the rocks (notice the name - Indian ROCKS Beach!). If you live near there, it's worth it. I wouldn't go too far out of my way to skim there, but it's a good spot.

Another spot (outside of the rest of the areas - sorry) is Bradenton.  Take the main drag on the north end of town all the way to the beach. If you find free parking, a playground, and the pier, you're in the right spot.  Beautiful clear clean water, nice beach, really good skim. Long drive from St. Petersburg, but a nice getaway.

Arguably the best skim in the area is Madeira Beach, aka "Mad Beach".  124th street is phenomenal, with consistent lines and good size/shape waves.  More often than not, you'll find a swell between one and two feet, usually closer to two feet, breaking within ten feet of the hard packed shore.  These waves are easy to time, perfect lines, and with a great shape. It don't get much better than this. This is my favorite break, the mere thought of it makes me drool. If the wind happens to be blowing NW or WNW around 10 mph, pack up and head there.  You can park at the hotel/condo there (not legally, but who's checking?), and walk back to the beach.  Nice little shower next to the pool, short walk to the car. Two access points to the mainland nearby, and a short drive to the nearest eatery (McDonalds in Treasure Island or Subway in Mad Beach).  On second thought, this spot sucks ass.  Don't go there, you'll hate it, it's horrible skim, flat all the time with huge rocks and stingrays and sharks and tourists and fat blue-haired old people in Speedo's.  You'll hate it - it's not worth stopping to look at. Avoid it at all costs!  

The Gulf coast is fantastic skimming.  Hard packed clean white sand, very few obstructions (rocks etc.), and gently sloping beaches with good size drop offs in the nice warm water.  The East coast can be decent, but the sand is much softer and the angle steeper, the water much cooler. I've been many places on the East Coast, but none have really impressed me. The surf is good, but shorebreaks are rare finds. Sebastian on a small surf day would be your best bet.

 If you want more info on these spots, care to discuss their good/bad points, or need advice or help learning to skim, feel free to e-mail me at surfkidd@silcom.com  

St. Pete Beach

Hey Skimmers!  If you are in the area and your just starting to skim, right behind the sandpiper hotel is the best! The piper is on gulf blvd. Right across from Calipso Joe's. The best time to get out there is about 5:45 pm to 6:30pm. That's when the tide rolls in. Keep Skimmin!

On gulf blvd. across from Calipso Joe's.  Down the street from The Don Ceazar (near pas-a-grill beach).