Customer Service
How do I choose the right skimboard?
What size skimboard should I get?
What is the deal with rocker?
What are skimboards made out of? What are the benifits of different materials?
How do I place an order with Skim Shop?
How fast will my order be shipped and how much will it cost?
How do I track my Skim Shop order?
What are your other policies?
Is your site secure?
How do I choose the right skimboard?
Not exactly sure what board you should be skimboarding on? You're not alone, this is probally the most commonly asked question out there. Every skimboarder goes through this process, so please do not feel clueless. We love to help riders pick out the right board. In the end it's not really our decision, but we can guide you in the right direction. Most of the time there are a few boards that could be right for each skimboarder. After that, it just comes down to personal preference.
The first step is to check out the following classifications, and try to figure out which best fits you. Then take a look at each one of the suggested boards, read the descriptions, and go from there.
Sand Skimming - I love going fast down the beach. Real thin water is what I am into. I might get into wave riding someday but for now I just run, drop, skim, and repeat all day long.
Zap Lazer
Zap Wedge
Just getting into Wave Riding / First Board - This is going to be my first board for riding waves. I want to get out there and start learning how to get in deeper water and ride back into shore. By the end of the summer I want to be able to wrap a wave. I just need a decent board to get out there and start learing.
Zap Wedge Large
Victoria Ultra Vac
Zap Pro
Wave Riding - I need a good skimboard that is going to perform. I have been skimming for a while and am into the wave riding aspect of skimboarding. I don't have tons of money to spend on the best materials but I want something that will last me a while.
Victoria Poly Vac
Zap E-Glass Comp
Wave Riding Advanced Materials - I love skimboarding and want the best. I enjoy a tech board that is alittle stiffer. I am out skimming all the time so having the best materials in my board is important to me.
Victoria Carbon
Victoria Carbon Epoxy
Zap Carbon
If you don't feel you fall within one of these types, or just don't want to be classified at all, drop us an email (service@skimshop.com) and we would be glad to make some specific suggestions. If you do email us try to include your weight, your skill level, how many times you skimboard a year, and what kind of waves you ride (are they usually right on shore or alittle farther out?). We can definitely make a few suggestions.
What size skimboard should I get?
To get a better idea of what size board you should be riding, first figure out your weight, and then check out the chart above. This will give you a general idea of what size you might want to get. Each company has different sizing. Please take the above chart as just a suggestion. Riders might want to go a size smaller than what is recommended if they are more efficient (good drop and good skill) or would like more maneuverability once on a wave. On the other hand, a larger board will help carry you out farther but will be slower while turning. When learning it is a good idea to have a slightly larger board to compensate for mistakes and poor timing. As always if you are not sure what size is right for you, feel free to email us (service@skimshop.com) and we would be glad to lend our suggestion.
What is the deal with rocker?
The term Rocker describes the amount of curvature in the bottom of a skimboard. If you are looking at the profile or side view of a skimboard you can easily see that there is an up-curve in the nose (and sometime tail) of the board. This is also easy to see when you place a board flat on the floor; the nose is raised a few inches (usually 2"-3") off the ground.
This characteristic allows skimboards to travel over rough or choppy water with a greater amount of ease. Rocker also makes it easier for a rider to turn while in deeper water. Each board company takes a slightly different approach to rocker design. But Generally speaking, there are currently two types of rocker available on skimboards today: continuous and 2-stage rocker.
Continuous Rocker
This type of rocker design is curved throughout the length of the board and creates a smooth arc from tip to tail. The main difference is that not only does the board have a curve in the nose, but it also has a slight up-curve towards the tail. This is called tail rocker and makes it easier for a rider to either turn while in deeper water or while on the face of the wave. This design is very maneuverable but does not come without tradeoffs. Because if its design it is slightly slower than a board with 2-stage rocker. Riding a board with continuous rocker will allow for better turning and maneuverability but will not be as fast while skimming out to a wave or going down the line. It is better suited for stronger waves that are closer to shore where speed is not critical.
2-Stage Rocker
Also called traditional rocker, this design has a curved-up nose as well, but when placed on a flat surface you can see that the mid to tail section of the board is almost completely flat. This large flat spot is more efficient for skimming across the water and will be slightly faster than a board with continuous rocker. But again, this design does not come without tradeoffs. Although it will be slightly faster, some find it less maneuverable. Riding a board with traditional rocker will allow for faster speeds while trying to reach waves or going down the line but will be slightly more difficult to turn. This design is more suited for weaker waves that require more speed to ride. 2-stage rocker is also better suited for reaching waves that are breaking farther out from shore.
In general more rocker will make a board more maneuverable but slightly slower. A board that has less rocker will be faster but slightly harder to turn. But please remember that these differences are small, and if you are just getting into skimboarding it will take some experience to tell the difference. So don't sweat it too much, just get out there and improve your skills.
What are skimboards made out of? What are the benifits of different materials?
Skimboards are made out of a shaped foam core, fiberglass, and resin. To best recognize which skimboard is right for you, it is a good idea to understand the differences between materials. Here is a quick rundown of the materials commonly found in the boards we carry.
Core Materials
High Density PVC Foam Core - You will find this material in the majority of the skimboards we carry. Better than polyurethane foam, high density PVC foam is a great foundation on which to build a skimboard. Not only does it make the board stronger overall but it's high density also helps prevent against impact damage such as pressure dings. Pressure dings are indentations left by anything harder than your skimboard (such as a rock or your heel). Another benefit of PVC foam is that it is resistant to water, so unlike surfboards, if the core gets exposed to water it will not begin to degrade right away. However, if a skimboard goes without repair for too long it will become weakened. You should always repair your board soon after any damage.
Fiberglass
E Glass - provides an excellent balance between strength and cost. It is the most commonly used reinforcement material in skimboards today. As the standard, it provides a good amount of durability and overall strength without being too expensive.
S Glass - is a specially treated form of fiberglass that is roughly 30 % stronger than E glass. Because of its special treatment while being manufactured it is also more costly to use. In addition to its added strength it is also about 15% stiffer than E glass. Some riders enjoy the responsiveness that S glass provides.
Carbon - is the strongest and stiffest material currently used in skimboards. When compared to the same about of Eglass, carbon is almost twice as strong and twice as stiff. However on a carbon skimboard, usually only one layer on carbon is used on each side, so it only comes out slightly stronger. The main difference is that it makes the board twice as stiff, which some riders prefer for more powerful waves or to better support their weight.
Resin
Polyester - has been used in fiberglass contruction for quite some time. It is definitely the standard. It is mainly used because of it balance between strength, durability, and price.
Epoxy - is superior to polyester because of its strength and durability. A board made with epoxy will better resist damage and normal wear and tear.
How do I place an order with Skim Shop?
You can place an order in one of three ways with us...
1. Place an order securely online or by phone with a credit card (Visa, Master Card, and Discover).
2. Place an order by phone, mail, or fax and send us a check or money order.
How fast will my order be shipped and how much will it cost?
What zone are you in?
Using the map above, determine which shipping zone you are located in. This is the amount of time your order will take to reach you once it has been shipped. We process and ship most orders within 24 hours.
Shipping Rates
We ship your order free if it is over $99.00 to the lower 48 states (not available for Hawaii and Alaska)
International shipping is also available to select countries and can be calculated upon checkout.
To obtain an exact shipping quote, add your selections to the shopping cart and choose a location and shipping method. You will then be able to review your shipping charges and order total before continuing. Shipping quotes are actual shipping charges. We do not mark up shipping and do not charge for handling.
To ensure fast and safe delivery we ship most orders using UPS Ground or USPS Priority Mail. Upgraded shipping options are available and can be selected upon checkout.
How do I track my Skim Shop order?
Tracking your order is easy. Use your username and password (created during checkout) to sign in to your Skim Shop account.
What are your other policies?
Sales Tax
No sales tax on orders outside of SC.
Returns/Exchanges
All returns and exchanges must be made within seven days of delivery. Please call for a Return Authorization number. The Return Authorization number must be clearly marked on all boxes. No returns or exchanges will be accepted without prior authorization. Shipping charges are non-refundable. Return shipping must be pre-paid by the customer.
All merchandise must be in "un-used" condition with all manufacturer's tags still attached. Any shrink-wrapped products must be returned Unopened. This includes videos, traction pads, arch bars, etc. Skimboards must be in "out-of-box" condition. Please do not attempt to return any item that has been used (including on carpeting).
Damage during shipping.
All boards and products have been inspected before leaving our shipping location and are in perfect condition when shipped. If you receive a product that has been damaged during shipping, call Skim Shop and notify us of the problem. We will contact the carrier and have them pick up the damaged package. Please leave the package in "as-received" condition and do not throw away any packaging material. All claims are processed through the carrier.
How do I cancel my order?
Please contact us right away if you have any concerns. Unfortunately, an order cannot be canceled once it is shipped.
Product Warrantees.
All of our skimboards carry the manufacturer's warranty. In general this covers any board that is defective due to materials or workmanship. This does not cover normal wear during normal use, does not warrant against boards not kept in good repair, or boards that are misused. Normal use includes dings, scratches, and breakage. Warrantees vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Damage during use.
No skimboard is under complete warranty and we are not responsible for damage caused by use. They do break, sometimes even the first day out; it is just the nature of the sport. Although we sell the best quality boards, chances are at some point your board will get damaged. Unless it's a major break, this does not ruin the board by any means and most problems can be fixed with a repair kit and a little know-how. Please check out our "Board Care and Repair" section for some more information, but just remember that skimboards are not indestructible and should be handled with care.
Minors and use of our site.
We do not allow anyone under the age of 18 to purchase without the involvement of their guardians. We also do not allow anyone under the age of 14 to register their personal information on our site.
Privacy Information:
We respect the privacy of our customers and will never sell your personal information to anyone. We understand that you want to maintain your privacy and it is our objective to do so. To effectively serve our customers we do collect some information for internal use.
Anytime you place an order we require that you provide us with certain contact information (such as your name, address, and email). This information is essential for us to process your order and contact you if necessary. When you choose to order from us we also must collect billing and shipping information, including credit card numbers. This information is required to fulfill your order and bill you for your purchases.
Like most e-commerce sites we do use "cookies" to track what products you have selected in your shopping basket. This is a generally used practice and we do not use it to profile our customers.
Occasionally we may use registration or order information to contact you about promotions, special events, or send you free stuff. Hopefully this will be information that you are interested in and don't mind receiving. However if at any time you are not interested in receiving these communications or would like to be removed from our databases you may opt-out by contacting us at service@skimshop.com.
Is your site secure?
Yes, our site is secure. We utilize the most advanced security technology for online purchases. Our secure servers protect your information using advanced encryption and firewall technology anytime you are entering financial information during the checkout process.
Most browsers will show a lock icon if the page you are viewing is secure. Look for this icon any time you are asked to enter in any of your financial information during the checkout process. This will tell you that the information you are entering will not be able to be viewed by a third party and that your credit card number is safe.
However, if you have any concerns about ordering online please feel free to place a phone order and contact us at 843-516-5455.