Friday, July 9, 2010

School Your Self About Skimboards

By Paul White

Maybe you want to be a surfer, but you have no beach nearby. Maybe you want to be a snow boarder, but you have no snowy mountains. Well, can you find a wet spot somewhere? Can you find a decent mud puddle or something? Because the thing for you to try is skimboards.

These things are more fun than a barrel full of monkeys, and so easy to make that a monkey could do it. All it comes down to is a disc of plywood, maybe something to seal the wood up with, and a wet spot to slide it across. Oh, and some guts are good, too.

It really is a rush, and really could not be simpler. These are perfect at the beach when the waves are flat, or on the lake when the boat is low on gas. If you trucks are wasted on the skate, toss the wood instead. Low tech can make for some high times, all right?

What you are going to want to get stared is a disc of plywood. Try to get some thick enough to not break underway, and big enough to cut about a two-and-a-half foot circle. You want to be able to stand on it with both feet and still have plenty of room to jump on and off of the thing. Then seal with old paint or whatever that will do the trick.

Get some paint, or some crayons, or whatever you can scrounge up and decorate it. Put you name on it, or carve it if they will let you handle sharp tools. At least put your name on the thing so someone does not take it for a dog house door or something.

Then go out and find that little bit of water you need. Wear old clothes because you will fall down, go boom, and get wet and dirty. And you will have fun. Skimboards are simple to make, gravy to use, and quick to master. Easy is rarely so much fun.

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