Many core choices are available to board builders. A quality craftsman will consider all options to find the one that will give both float and durability. Surf Industry Foam Core MaterialsPolyurethane (PU) foam - Most commonly used in surfboards. Poly is lightweight and shapes well using a full range of shaping tools from saws to planers to sand paper. This foam choice is thermosetting and glassed with a polyester based resin.Polystyrene (PS) foam - Lighter in weight than PU, but more labor intensive to shape. PS is the weaker of the two but some of that gap is closed with epoxy resin. Important to note - PS is a thermoplastic foam and will melt if glassed or repaired with a polyester resin.Coastal Surf SupplyI am a blank slate - therefore I can create anything I want.Tobey MaguireExpanded Poly Styrene (EPS) foam - basically Styrofoam bonded beads. You likely know the strength of Styrofoam (think disposable coolers and packing materials). Though very light, EPS is very difficult to shape with any precision. Craftsmen generally steer far away from this core and it is usually reserved for boards shaped by a machine such - import boards and pop-outs. EPS also begins to gas out over time (especially at impact points) causing the shell to delaminate from the core of the board. (NOTE: There is a release plug on Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards to vent off this gas periodically to stave off delamination.Wood - Ochroma pyramidale, known as the balsa tree is a large, fast-growing tree. Balsa wood is a very lightweight, stiff material sometimes used in surfboard shaping. Multi-layer plywood, is sometimes used in skimboards; however, can be quite heavy. If used, it is usually found in beginner or imported skimboards.Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Foam - structural PVC (like the pipe) foam. Waterproof. Light. Durable. This foam can be sourced in different densities. The higher the density the stronger the foam. This foam is finished with combinations of gel coat, polyester or epoxy resin and is used in skimboards, boat decks, boat hulls among other applications.Surf vs. Skim - The Core DifferenceRicky Carroll, Master CraftsmanSurfboards - The choice between PU and PS foams, is often driven by the Board Builder. Like any art, each craftsman will have a preferred medium (type of core) and the type of resin will be driven by that core. Work Hard Surf HardRicky Carroll - R& D SurfTim McKevlin - McKevlin's Surf ShopIt is challenging to find a Board Builder willing to shape EPS foam. That core is generally found in machine milled pop-outs.Skimboards - Poly foams are sometimes used in skimboards, however are not the best choice. PU and PS can be glassed like a surfboard and will have performance and float, but not durability. The impact routinely dished out to a skimboard vs. a surfboard can make compression dings the least of your worries with poly foam. Bob D. - Delamination of his import skimboard.EPS foam claims no fracture resistance and will also gas out, causing the board to crack and delaminate. EPS cores are usually found in import boards and, while sitting on a shelf waiting for purchase, they begin the gassing/delamination process and sometimes crack after only a few uses. These can sometimes be identified by the claim that a skimboard offers "seamless rails."PVC foam is the top choice for skimboards. The dimensional stability will contribute float and balance. The fracture toughness of a high quality PVC core will deliver impact resistance. This explains why a skimboard can weigh under 7 lbs and support a rider weighing in at 200 lbs.
Wave Zone's Slash Skimboard Gets a Nip & Tuck for the 2018 Season. 4 Sizes - 50", 52", 54", 56"Core: 3/4"Skill Level: AdvancedRider Weight Limit: No LimitShaper Insights: The Slash is known for its buoyant core and that has stayed solid. Some precision engineering has exchanged boxy rails for a hard step rail that knifes into the water easily. This lets the water abruptly release from the board's rails letting it plane faster and turn quicker. A high level of responsiveness with the float of a 3/4" thick core. Expect smooth wraps, generous lift and big spins.Board Builder Specs: Gloss deck with full graphic art. A thick, high density Divinycell foam core by Diab. The low water absorption, closed cell foam marries light weight to strength and is the ideal choice for this build. Once shaped, our board builder adds in doubled wrapped fiberglass rails, power rods, premium resin and strategic reinforcements. Lamination speed and kick time are carefully measured to bond this board and keep it light. If you need extra float, whether for small conditions or bigger wave wraps, the Slash has been a top choice for several years. Now sizes up to 56", this can be a go to choice for bigger riders.
Because it's lonely at the top, the WZ Squash Tail 51" Skimboard is now joined by a 53" and a 55" option.3 Sizes - 51", 53", 55"Core: 5/8"Skill Level: ExperiencedRider Weight Limit: Up to 200 lbsShaper insights: The squash tail brings the lift, release and pivot of a surfboard style ride. This means more bite and control as the squared end releases for faster pivots and more abrupt turns. The width along the body of the board and the smooth leveled bottom allow the board to maintain a fast, stable and consistent speed, even in slower areas.Board Builder Specs: Gloss deck with full graphic art. High density Divinycell foam is at the core. Stiff, impact resistant, and stable, Divinycell leads the pack in strength to weight ratio. This allows WZ to increase the deinsity of the core with only a fractional increase in board weight. A competed Squash weighs in at about 3 pounds (lighter than even a bag of sugar), but easily floats riders up to 200 lbs. Once shaped, our board builder adds in doubled wrapped fiberglass rails, premium resin and carefully placed reinforcement points.The WZ Squash is a stand out performer that has lead the line among WZ's specialty tails for the past two years. Brings some great surf elements into the world of skim. It's a great choice as either your go to board or addition to your quiver.
2021 Skim Contest Circuit Strong Out of the GateIn 2020 the world was faced with a pandemic, the likes of which we've only seen in movies and history books. We withdrew from many familiar things with key focus on safety. As outdoor activity flourished, new skimboarders took the beaches in record numbers. Along with most public gatherings, however, Skim Contest Events were redlined on calendars for the better part of the year.Waiting for life to resume normalcy has been hard on all Americans. Now, at long last, we are seeing a break from the understandable restrictions of COVID-19. Our team's enthusiasm was high as they prepared to embarking on a new season.March 13, 2021, the 4th Annual Shore lb. Throwdown took place in Vero Beach, FL. As the first stop of the 2021 Skim USA Tour, the entire skim community was pumped!After quarantining for the bulk of the past 12 months, it was a welcome sight to see our team taking to the sand for the first contest of 2021! Skills were anything but rusty as everyone skimmed extremely well - crushing it through heats. Team Manager Alex Bevard along with pros Ryan McFarland and Adam Barker kicked in their expertise. Bringing it home were Ryan McFarland, Sterling Myers, Nathan Carter, and Nicole Phillips. These wins undoubtedly charged up our riders and sent them forward stong and confident!April 17, 2021 brought us the PCB Spring Break Skim Jam in Panama City Beach, Florida. The contest provided a fun run of waves for a Gulf Coast contest (If that’s not a good sign - we don’t know what is). Those who attended skimmed well and advanced through heats. Taking the podiums were Sterling Myers, Nathan Carter and Gavin Garrison. This event marked Myers second First Place finish of the season and gained him a coveted sponsorship by Shore Lb. Looking ahead - we are psyched to carry this momentum throughout 2021 at beach events and comps at as many venues as possible.The upcoming contest schedule for Skim USA and the UST is: Skim USA Stop 3: Skimmunity Showdown in Sandbridge, VA - 6/19 - 6/20Skim USA Stop 4/UST Stop 1: OBX Skim Jam in Nags Head, NC, — 7/17 — 7/18Skim USA Stop 5/UST Stop 2: Zap Pro/Am World Championships in Dewey Beach, DE — 8/13 — 8/15UST Stop 3: Florida Pro/Am – Vilano Beach FL – 8/21- 8/22UST Stop 4: The Vic – Laguna Beach, CA – 8/28 - 8/29UST Stop 5: Exile Oktoberfest – Newport Beach, CA – 9/25 -9/26Welcome Back to the Contest Circuit!Safe Travels andBest of Luck to All Competitors!
Wave Zone at 30 Years and Counting4/10/20 / Staff WriterHaving just celebrated Wave Zone at 30 Years, we can't help but look back at the journey that brought us here.Today, Wave Zone Surf Company houses Wave Zone Skimboards, Hammer Traction Deck Grip and Wave Zone Custom Surfboards. Lots of pivoting along the way and some key principles kept the company strong through good times and bad.The day it all started... November 1, 1990, Jeff Shinham signed the lease on his first ever Wave Zone facility. 2 weeks of fast paced build out paved the way for a grand opening on November 15th of that year. Now, with 30 years firmly under his belt, Shinham operates one of the largest skimboard companies in the world, the only Surf Traction brand 100% made in the USA, and a custom surfboard shop. It is safe to say, his hands are more than full.justhttps://youtu.be/_loCbSP40-AWhat is at the core of Wave Zone Skim & Surf Company's massive success?Shinham is regularly heard saying, "Good enough is not good enough." With 100's of surfboard shapes and well over 100,000 WZ skimboards on the beaches, Shinham still continues to focus on design and development with every board he creates. As business continues to boom, Shinham insists that customer service is key to continuing that growth. His motto, "Treat others the way you'd like to be treated." Shinham shaping at the Orange County Convention Center - Orlando, FL. 2016 Shape Off Award Winner. Honorable mention for the ingenuity of the shape created on demand.What inspired the birth of Hammer Traction?By the end of 2012, in an industry turn, there were no longer any US manufacturers of surf traction to be found. Incented by his business goal to, "buy in the US and sell US products," by 2013, Shinham launched Hammer Surf Traction. Now after 8 years, Hammer remains the only surf traction 100% made in the United States and offers grip for surf, skim and marine.How did WZ handle expansion from a back yard workshop to today?Moves to larger facilities were essential as the business grew. Originally all board building was handled in Shinham's back yard. A move to his first warehouse came in 1997. The last move, in 2004, brought WZ to its current home in Palmetto, FL. Still busting at the seams, Shinham makes it work. His tried and true business plan of controlled and sustainable growth continues. Credit to his father, who always said, "It's not what you make, it's what you keep."When Asked about Next Steps Shinham offers this:"I've been in this industry and in this brand, most of my life. I love doing what I do. I find my reward in every rider who loves their board, our family of team riders who proudly rep, and every parent who is truly excited to give their kid their first Wave Zone. Every next step is about continuing that."
New 2020 Shape Review - The Funky Fish4/10/20 / L. ShinhamIntroducing the Funky Fish skimboard by Wave Zone. A 2020 new release in keeping with Jeff Shinham's retro theme during Wave Zone's 30th year. The board features a swallow tail for a bit more targeted volume than can be found on the Shovel Fish shape of Shinham's Classic Fish, making it an ideal performer in both small and steep waves. Rider: Sterling Myers. Photo: London MyersBoard Builder Specs:Level: AdvancedLength: 50" or 52 1/2"Weight Limit: 200 lbsColors & Art: Assorted Performance: Retro Fish Design with a swallow tail and a concave bottom for thrust. Twin Tail performs like two pins for highly responsive performance on small and steep waves. Sizes:50″ x 20 1/2″ x 5/8″52 1/2″ x 21″ x 5/8″Construction: High density pvc foam core and double reinforced poly wrapped rails. Carbon upgrade options. Individually hand crafted in the USA. Art Choices: Gel coat assortment or upgraded color infused resin art.https://youtu.be/WZewab419msRider Test Trials:This new shape was perfomance tested by Wave Zone's Team Rider Sterling Myers and Team Pro Chester Burnett.Feedback: "The board is super fast, floaty, and is so stable when going at high speeds." - Sterling Myers"First time out on the Funky Fish and I landed a 5 shuv... it was almost effortless!" - Chester BurnettAn fine tuned shape with a head nod to retro swallow tails. Expect fast glides, buoyant float, and stability at the tail. A great choice for spins and wraps in both small and steep waves.
