ZAP Skimboard's Trent Moranda catches a wave. Provided photo.

The world’s most famous surfing destinations are near household names in even the most landlocked of states around the country. Oahu’s Banzai Pipeline. California’s Mavericks. Nazaré, Portugal’s 100-foot waves. Sarasota County’s…Nokomis Beach?

While Nokomis Beach is not a world-famous surfing destination, it is one of the premier spots on the East coast for another popular waterboard sport—skimboarding. From May 16-18, local skimboard manufacturer ZAP Skimboards will host its fifth annual Spring Fling Skim Jam. ZAP Skimboards, which is based in Venice and has grown into one of the most prominent names in skimboarding since its inception in 1986, is partnering with SkimUSA to host the three-day event.

“I would consider Nokomis Beach the skimboarding mecca of the Gulf Coast,” says Max Smetts, vice president of ZAP and professional skimboarder. “It’s one of the best beaches for skimboarding and as far as community involvement, there are a ton of skimboarders here—I feel like the event has helped grow that community over the last few years.”

The three-day event will consist of a free skimboarding clinic, a Pro/Am Skim USA-sanctioned contest, a pro signing and an awards ceremony. The Skim Jam is one of the stops on Skim USA’s East Coast tour, which will culminate in the Pro/Am World Championships in August. Skimboarding competitions are divided into age groups and broken up into heats—riders sprint from the shoreline, mount the board and ride it into the incoming waves, where they perform a variety of tricks and airs as they ride back to the shore.

“Depending on the conditions, the riders are judged on the size of the wave, the length of the ride and the style in which they ride. There are a lot of different maneuvers riders can do on the skimboard from airs to more technical tricks,” says Smetts. “Unlike surfboards, skimboards don’t have fins, so riders have more freedom to do spin tricks, like a 360 shove–it where the rider flicks the board 360 degrees.”

Numerous riders from ZAP’s professional and amateur skimboard teams will be participating in the Skim Jam, including world champion Gerardo Valencia, Skim USA’s third-ranked rider Dylan Duncan, women’s world champion Casey Kiernan-McCullough and 2024 Skim USA tour winner Nicole Phillips.

Spring Fling Skim Jam, May 16-18, 115 S Casey Key Rd, Nokomis. Competitors must register online prior to the event. 

ZAP Skimboard's Trent Moranda catches a wave. Provided photo.

To learn more click here