Miles Grobman’s Iberian Skim Adventure
It was some time last year when I first began thinking about returning to Spain to visit family and friends in the Basque country. On my last trip three years ago, I didn’t bring a skim but ended up meeting up with Pascal in Hossegor and running into my friends from Exile the same day I arrived. We ended up getting super fun waves and having a great time in Hossegor.
Earlier this year I saw an article in FSM about skimboarding in Spain which got me thinking about making a skim trip out of it! After contacting “Shein” of Gorgonitas skim Barcelona we decided to organize a Mini Skim contest with the help of Victoria Skimboards for the Skimmers of Catalunya. I pitched the whole idea to Tex and Trigg and just like that I was off to Europe for the summer.
The contest turned out splendidly with small waves but not bad for the time of year and was held in Castelldefells right outside of Barcelona. This beautiful Catalonian city of Barcelona is located right on the beach an has just in the last 4-5 years gave birth to a vibrant skim scene. All and all the Catalonian skimmers had a great time and got to practice their competition skills before stop number The Voodoo Skim contest is held in October (ESL stop #3). The first and second place finishers received a Bill Byran Pro model and Foamie respectively; check the pics below. One lucky kid named Adri scored a Beaker Pro model for being the most up and coming skimmer without a board sponsor. Although I didn’t score very good waves I can see the potential for some fun waves in October and November when there is more waves coming from storms in the eastern Mediterranean.
After Barcelona it was down to Malaga (Southern Spain) with Shein, Pedro and Eric to meet up with our friend Oli and try to score some waves. One day we checked out Faro Trafalgar on the western side of the straights of Gilbraltar which is much more open to swell. To our disappointment, the skim did not deliver on this particular day. However, of all the beaches I saw on my trip this place looks like it could be the best with a steep slope and swell that marches right in. Not that day though.
Since the waves were flat the five of us took off in Oli‘s Dad’s car to Portugal and up to Santa Cruz for the Ocean Spirit contest where I met up with Jason Wilson and Skim USA. We didn’t score the best waves but we did get a few fun ones. Hugo Santos and then Mario Gomes put us up and took us skimming along with the ever hilarious Joao Dinis. One thing for sure is that the little towns north of Lisbon along the coast are absolutely beautiful and there are some very good skimboarders.
Upon our return to Malaga Oli, Shein, Pedro and I scored some fun lil waves at Oli’s home break “La Carihuela” in Torremolinos, Malaga. It is a little tourist town outside of Malaga just inside the Mediterranean Sea. Some fun waves with a manageable trough, but definitely a good time.
Now I’m back in Bilbao (Northern Spain) visiting family for a week or so and then I’m off to Hossegor to stay with Pascal and hopefully score some waves during the contest there. If its as good as last time I will be happy! After Hossegor check back into Bilbao for a few days and then I’ll be heading back to California after two-and-a-half months; broke, tired and happy 
Nice bro.
You are the man. Congrats & thx.
Un besito! xD
Yeah!!
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Miles!! I am so jealous!! I LOVE Espana! And Bilbao is where i skimmed!
ViVA EspanA! 
Bilbao is famous!!!! Skimchicks in Bilbao? WHAT?!?!?!?!?
Sorry for not having the time to meet you Miles, Shein told me how great the trip was, what a mess to miss the oportunity to drink liters and gallons of Beer with you, I´m also great doing this
Good Skim and Karma hermano del skim
Horacio (VooDoo)
The ultra secret Skimmer method that will allow you to ALWAYS win chips on your FIRST HAND at a new table!
Wow, nice waves … so jealous seeing your pictures while surfing!
wohooo….keep going man!!
Gorgonitas skim contest 2011 maybe at first week of September, nearly to Barcelona.
If somebody needs info will can to write to gorgonitasskim@hotmail.com or in facebook.
Huggs, Aaron!
Miles, vuelves a venir?
Keep in tocuh,
Shein.