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This is the starting position for both sand skimming and wave skimming. Stand with the water on your left side if you're right-handed and vice versa. While you're holding the skimboard, put 1 hand on the back tail and 1 hand on the side rail halfway up the board. Hold the board so that it's parallel to the ground. One of the most common mistakes in skimboarding is pointing the board upwards before you throw it, which will result in a significantly slower skim. The best time to throw the board is when there's a thin coating of water on the sand between 0.25 inches (0.64cm) and 0.5 inches (1.3cm) high. If you're sand skimming, throw the board just as a wave is being sucked back out into the ocean. If you're skimming the water, throw it just before a wave comes in. Make sure you throw the board parallel to the shoreline to give yourself a longer ride. You can also opt to get a running head start before you throw the board, in order to pick up more speed. However, this isn't strictly necessary if you can throw the board hard enough. When you're just starting out, practice throwing the board from the starting position a few times to get the feel of it down and to learn how hard you need to throw it. If you jump or hop onto a moving skimboard, you'll immediately faceplant. Instead, run up to and alongside the board at an even pace. Place your front foot just slightly past the middle of the board, then place your back foot behind it. Using this method ensures that the board loses no speed as you get onto it (whereas if you jump onto it, the board is forced to break the surface tension of the water and thus stops skimming). Aim to take about 3 running steps before you jump onto your skimboard. Do not push off hard with your first foot when getting on the board; this will make the board shoot forward and fly away from you. Be sure to wear a helmet the first few times you try to run onto the board, just in case you fall off the board. It'll be difficult to learn how to run onto the board without falling, but you'll be able to master this move with enough practice! This is the ideal stance to be in on your skimboard in order to maintain balance and not fall off. Put slightly more pressure on your front foot if you're sand skimming. If you're skimming on water, put more pressure on your back foot just as the board makes contact with the water so that the front of the board doesn't catch on it. Maintaining a low stance on the skimboard is also a good technique for staying balanced while skimming. Your knees not only play an important role in skimboarding, but they're also one of the more at-risk parts of your body when you're skimming. Stop skimboarding immediately if your knees start to hurt to avoid giving yourself a serious injury. Whether your sand skimming or skimming on water, the act of riding a skimboard is mostly about staying on the board until it stops on its own. If you want to turn to change directions, simply shift your weight slightly to the side that you want to be turning towards. You generally won't need to turn much if you're sticking to sand skimming. However, turning is essential for riding waves and performing most tricks.
Lean forward and hold your board about 6 inches (15cm) above the sand. Throw the board out in front of you when the sand is wet. Run onto the board rather than jumping onto it after you throw it. Keep your knees bent and your weight centered on the board. Maintain your balance until the board stops or shift your weight to turn.