Tim Fulton Interview & Mini Movie
Tim Fulton (Apex Skimboards) is a new up and commer in the professional division. Although he has been pro for a couple of years, he hadn’t taken much interest in competing until this last year. Normally Tim will go into hibernation during the winter and concentrate his efforts on skateboarding, but he finally got a wetsuit this year and realized that Laguna has waves during the winter. Just from this past winter Tim has progressed a great deal. He’s incorporating his knowledge of skateboarding into skimboarding and pulling some unheard-of maneuvers.
Here are more than a few questions with Tim Fulton.
Where do you primarily skim? What is your favorite local break?
I usually skim in South Laguna, West Street, Aliso, and 9th Street, but my favorite local break would have to be Camels, it doesn’t work much, but when it does I would choose it over all spots.
How long have you been pro?
This will be my third year as a professional.
Are you doing the entire UST tour this year?
I’m debating on doing the New Jersey contest, but other than that, yes I will be doing the entire tour.
The first contest on the pro tour was Cabo San Lucas. We understand this was your first time ever in Cabo. How would you rate your experience there?
Yes it was my first time in Cabo. The experience was amazing, it was nothing like I’ve ever seen before. The scenery, the water, how powerful the waves are were completely different then anywhere I’ve been. I would rate the experience a solid 10.
Editors Note: Check Out Tim’s Experience In This New Video!
Your first time ever in Cabo you managed to beat some big names and take 8th overall in the event. Is this your best result on tour? What other top placings have you had?
Yes this was my best result in the tour, other than recently when I got top 8 in Delaware; but other than that, my best result was in my first pro contest at the Vic when I got 9th overall.
So you went to Delaware recently, was that your first trip to the east coast? How’s the transition from skimming west coast waves to the less powerful east coast?
Yes, Delaware was my first time on the east coast. It’s a big transition from powerful to weaker, but yet it reminded me of Thalia, (North Laguna Beach) so I had a lot of fun.
What are your goals on tour this season and where do you hope to see your rankings at the end of the year?
My goal for this year on tour is to get at least top 8 in every contest, and for the rankings at the end of the year, I hope to be around top 6.
What/who influences your unique style and the tricks you are doing?
Ever since I was little, all the pros influenced me. Koty Lopez with his wraps, throwing the tail of your board; but other than that, the Stinnetts, the whole family from Sammy to papa Scott taught me how to skim. Inspirations from skateboarding help me to, how to bone out tricks, grabs, late shuvs, I pretty much practice a trick on my skate then take it to skimboarding.
It would be rad to see more videos of you, are you planning on doing any filming this year?
Film wise, I have a section in Beakers new movie, a lot of clips in Cabo, and some secret footage of me and Sam Stinnett at 10th street the other day. Also, some mini movies from Cabo are about to appear.
You recently switched to Apex skimboards, how do you like riding their boards and how are they helping to support you in skimboarding?
I switched from Grape Skimboards to Apex, and I’m loving their boards. It was a big transition from riding a grape for 6 years and then switching, but recently my pro model just came out and it’s my favorite board by far.
You now have your own pro model for Apex, how was working with apex to create that board and what’s different about your board than the normal skimboard?
Working with Apex to create my pro model was pretty exciting, I had Tony from New Jersey help draw out the art for the bottom. We worked on that for a good 2 weeks trying to make it just right. My board is wider, around 20 1/4th of an inch, with a big flat area in the center of the board for speed. The nose rocker is slightly bigger at 2 and 1/8th of an inch, the tail is a little wider for bigger airs, and the tail rocker is 1/8th of an inch. I based my pro model off a skate board basically wider deck for better catch, and more rocker for better flick.
How do you feel preparing for the next stop on the UST?
The next stop is my home break, the Victoria World Championships, held at Aliso Beach. I feel pretty good about this contest, it’s always fun and there is always a huge crowd. I’m going down to Aliso right now to go skim actually. I need to practice getting back on bigger waves after Delaware.
Thanks a lot Tim, we can’t wait to see you competing more this year.
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