“Skimmers surf but surfers may not skim…†–J. Duazo Jr., PSA
Before coming up with an article telling the untold story of my quest to find out what in the world is Skimboarding, I made a promise to publish as well an article about it that will lead people to understand the basics of the sport. Now, I myself is not much of a reliable source of information, so I decided to write the interview I did with Philippine Skimboarding Association (PSA) President Juan Duazo Jr., this, to give more “teeth†and credibility in this story. So for all those “blind†about the sport, the way I was before, here’s your chance to know stuff about it.
Read on…
(The interview was done in Cebuano dialect, as requested by Mr. Duazo and I took the liberty of translating it in English for the benefit of those who can’t understand that language…)
RMEB: Good afternoon po, thank you for accommodating my request to have this interview.
JDJr: Your welcome. I hope I can satisfy your curiosity of the sport.
RMEB: Ok, here we go po, the first and probably the most important question for the day is, what is Skimboarding? And why is it called Skimboarding?
JDJr: Skimboarding is a sport that makes use of the waves that break in the shore. Skimmers use these waves to do some tricks and exhibitions, practically riding over them, doing stunts, under or “in†them before the wave finally breaks into the shoreline.
RMEB: Why the term SKIM po?
JDJr: The term skim means glide and read or browse quickly. Thus, Skimboarding is basically gliding quickly into the thin water.
RMEB: Now, this part is quite confusing to me, is Skimboarding the same as surfing? Is there any difference? Who gets to have a better standing where proficiency or excellence in this sport is concerned?
JDJr: Actually we skimmers don’t hold much weight as to who gets to “conquer†the water or the waves more. Skimboarding is very much different from surfing. You were right in your quip kanina that Skimboarding and surfing uses different sizes of waves. While surfing requires you to be in the deeper part of the sea, Skimboarding is basically done in the shorelines of the sea, using the thin water on it to do stunts and exhibitions.
RMEB: So which one is tougher or more difficulty to do po?
JDJr: We skimmers don’t get to judge as to who are better or who can deliver more tricks using waves, if that’s what you want to know. All we know is the fact that Skimboarding and surfing are different sports using the same requirements, a board and a wave. No contest between them at all.
RMEB: Oh I see. So in Skimboarding you just have to do your thing here in the shore? No need for you to really like, worry about sharks or other deep-sea water perils? Hehehe…forgive po my naiveté?
JDJr: Yes, Skimboarding is done in the shores. No sharks involved. (Smiles) Actually, it’s like painting, the wave is the canvas, the smaller the wave, the smaller the chance for you to paint your image. The bigger the wave, the bigger the chance to do more tricks and stuff using your board.
RMEB: So also utilizes big waves breaking into the shore?
JDJr: Yes. Necessarily. Skimboarding competition is actually judged using 3 sound bases: wave quality, trick difficulty and execution of the trick. Skimmers have to wait for the right wave to rush into the shore, do their stunts using this wave before it finally breaks into the shore line.
RMEB: So with this po, what physical training does one need for the sport?
JDJr: Well, just like surfing, a skimmer has to master their balancing prowess, the gift of swimming and the ability to ride the waves. But I guess Skimboarding is even more athletic than surfing, since it will require you to run to meet the waves before doing your trick.
As for personal training, well, I think there are no actual physical examinations needed; to do Skimboarding one has just to be enthusiastic about the sport and should do personal preparation before actually doing the sport, some great skimmers today actually begun by observing others to do it. I think skimmers would agree with me when I say that they have to suffer mending thousands bruises, aching muscles and at times worse case scenario, broken bones, before finally mastering the sport.
RMEB: Run? Bakit po?
JDJr: The running part is actually needed because you have to “meet†the wave before riding your board and doing your tricks on or in them. Surfers will have to lay flat or sit on their boards, paddling, as they wait for the right wave. Skimmers run and meet the waves.
RMEB: Ah…okay. If I intend to do the sport, what specific size of board do I need? Do I need to use a big one, since I am big? What’s the measurement po?
JDJr: Actually Skimboarding requires the basic law of physics, that for you to really balance on a board there has to be congruence on the size of the board and your body type. These two have to be “balance†to a certain extent. So, for every body type there is a specific size of the board. Ergo, the taller or heavier a skimmer becomes, the bigger the board he needs. I think most of our skimmers use custom-made boards for themselves.
RMEB: During a competition, does each skimmer have to just run and ride the waves? Or do they compete simultaneously? How do you go about it?
JDJr: Every round of the competition is called Heat. Each heat requires 4 skimmers to simultaneously do their tricks for 5 to 10 minutes. These skimmers will share the “limelight†and the waves for that allotted time. At the end of each heat, 2 skimmers will be given the chance to advance to the next round.
RMEB: As for the tricks sir, can you describe or name some?
JDJr: Oh well, for the tricks we have call Front Side Air Shove It, in this trick, a skimmer is to use the wave as a ramp to launch into the air to make a 180 degrees revolution while on board. And then we also have what we call, Tube Ride or Barrel where the skimmer has to duck into the wave as it closes out, just like surfing.
RMEB: So, how does Skimboarding “network†grow? Or how do you encourage individuals to do this kind of a sport?
JDJr: Actually, the sport’s basic requirement is personal passion to really do the sport as well as an untiring enthusiasm. Once you finally decide to do Skimboarding, then off you go!
RMEB: So there are other competitions aside from this national competition?
JDJr: Actually PSA holds local competition is done to encourage beginners and see if they are really into the sport. And then we hold this annual National Skimboarding competition to scour and discover more gifted skimmers all over the country. We hope to establish Skimboarding as one credible and valid sport. Who knows, it may soon find its way to the Olympics or Sea Games, di ba? International competition here in Tanauan is not impossible but we, together with Tanauan local government and SPAWN, is still gearing up for it.
RMEB: And now the clincher question? Hehehe… Why in Tanauan, Leyte? Why did Tanauan become the Skimboarding capital of the Philippines?
JDJr: Actually, Skimboarding is done by some in other parts of the country. However, Tanauan became the Skimboarding capital because the town has the highest saturation of skimmers and riders in the country. I think skimmers in Tanauan grow like mushrooms overnight. A lot of Tanauanons love the sport and almost every day, a new skimmer is born here in Tanauan. This is well-received sport here in Tanauan and it is definitely here to stay.
RMEB: Okay po! Now I know now why Skimboarding is such a great hit not only here in Tanauan but in the rest of the country. My thanks to you Sir for the time provided. Hope we Skimboarding in Olympics soon.
JDJr: Welcome dear. The pleasures mine. So, you’d like to understand more of Skimboarding? Come, let’s see what’s happening there on the shores now…
So off we go to watch the 4th National Skimboarding held in Tanauan just very recently.
As for those who took the time to read this interview, I hope I was able to impart things, may Skimboarding “mentors†(Bambam, Culver and Kim) weren’t on me.
If you want to try the sport, the shores of Tanauan wait!