Inland Skimboarding: Skimboard Dimensions

I get asked all the time by people making their own board, “What dimensions should I use?” This is kind of a hard question to answer because there is a lot of personal preference involved. I usually give them a ball park figure and let them experiment a bit for themselves.

Here is the deal. A bigger board will be heavier and more stable. A smaller board is usually lighter and more responsive. So are there any advantages to heavier? The answer is yes. A heavier board will go farther and faster. You should consider how you like to get on the board. Some people like to throw the board out ahead of them a bit and really get some speed before they get on the board. Some like to throw the board down and get on within a step or two. If you are the kind that likes to throw the board out ahead of you a bit the a heavier board may be nice because it will keep up it’s speed and you won’t run past it. Also once you get on the board, a heavier one will travel farther. So what are the disadvantages of a heavier board? The main one is that it is harder to get out of the water when you ollie, after all, it is heavier.

Another advantage of a larger board is that it is more stable, so it is easier to land tricks on. The problem here is that even though it’s easier to land a trick on a large board, if the trick involves getting the board out of the water it might be more difficult to do that because the larger board is heavier.

Your level of experience may also be a consideration. If you are a beginner then you may want a more stable (larger) board to get started with. You also need to consider who you are making the board for. If you are making it for you 10 year old daughter, a larger board may be difficult for her to hold, throw, etc. The thickness of a board will also come into play as a thicker board will be heavier than a thinner board. Usually the standard thickness is between 3/8” and 1/2”.

Most board manufactures have different sizes and recommended weights associated with their boards. Remember, in the end, it’s a personal preference, depending on what kind of rider you are, what kind of riding you’ll be doing, and how you want the board to feel under your feet. That being said, I’ve done some research (so that you don’t have to) and listed some popular board manufactures with sizes of inland skimboards and suggested weights so that you can get at least a ballpark estimate.

Victoria Matrix

Small 41” x 17.6” 50 – 100 lbs
Medium 44” x 18.7” 90 – 160 lbs
Large 47” x 20.4” 140 – 210 lbs

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Victoria Grinder

Medium 44” x 20” 90 – 160 lbs
Large 47” x 21.4” 140 – 210 lbs

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DB Proto

Flex Small 39.6” x 18.75” under 120 lbs
Flex Medium 41.6” x 19.5” 100 lbs – 150 lbs
Standard Medium 41.5” x 19.5” 125-170 lbs
Standard Large 43.5” x 20.5” 160 lbs +

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DB Streamline

Flex Small 37.75” x 17.5” under 120 lbs
Flex Medium 40.5” x 18.5” 100 lbs – 150 lbs
Standard Medium 41” x 19.5” 125-170 lbs
Standard Large 43.5” x 20.5” 160 lbs

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DB Standard Sandblaster

Small 42.75” x 18” under 120 lbs
Medium 44” x 19” 110-160 lbs
Large 45.5” x 19.5” 150 lbs +

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Kayotics Cali