Rank Your Personal Skimming Abilities
This is kind of a 2 part poll and is DEFINITELY not meant to discourage anyone from skimming. If anything this is just a personal assessment of where you feel you are in skimming and then (the 2nd part) ideally where you want to be or realistically think you'll end up.
Here's my generic rating scale just for reference. The descriptions probably won't apply 100% and are just for fun. But you'll get the gist.
1- beginner, just started, learning to drop, balance, stance. Have a beginner board and may skim alone. You are probably pretty rashed up & scratched like we all were and contemplate quitting. DON'T!
2- Still beginner but you stuck with it and can get on the board with a little more consistency. bails are still frequent. Still prob skim alone or with a friend. Still could give it up at this point. AGAIN DON'T!
3- Improving, drop & stance are steadying. Feeling more confident. Maybe have tried riding a wave or a flatland trick or two. bailing less. Wounds healing. Meeting people and maybe venturing to newer more populated spots. No turning back now. You want that first ride
4- Got your first wrap/ride or nailed your first trick! You are infected with the skim virus. Constantly talking about skimming. Missing work or family events to skim. Maybe had your first wet dream about a wave/trick. Leaning more about the skim world (spots, pros, etc).
5- Intermediate status. Feeling real comfortable and not as concerned with weather conditions (ex. wind). Working on wave balance, planes and tightening up overall skills. Might have tried a different drop (ex. 2 step to 1 step). Running faster, skimming more often & generally shifting your life to skim. Probably bought a sticker, movie, etc; attended a comp or maybe upgraded your board
6- Rarely bailing. Days range from consistent and fun to complete rip fests (trying anything and everything). May be able to ride switch. Invested heavily in skim at this point. Not afraid to hit any spot. May have entered or considered entering a contest or two. Learning new tricks regularly or just attacking your wraps & lines (or ramps/rails for the flatlanders). Perhaps planning your first trip. Using other methods to stay active when you can't skim (indo, surf, skate, longboard). Obsessed with becoming better ...or..this is where you made it to and have plateaued as a skimmer (maybe life, work, etc got in the way).
7 - With a concrete riding foundation and bag of tricks you are mow focused on tweaking minor things about your skimming to become fully versatile (ex. out/in wave reentries, more switch, etc). Going after bigger & better waves (or ramps/rails). May have been offered local amateur sponsorship. Travel whenever possible and encourage others to skim or are well known (unless you go lone wolf). May have been featured on a video. Getting involved in other aspects of the skim community from skim camps, working with companies or at contests,etc.
8- Amateur/Pro sponsorship (or at least should be). Entering contests often. May be on the UST and placed fair in contest (placed high in a few). Own the board you want. New tricks, airs and wave variations come with ease now and don't need to be practiced as much. Your skills landed you in a video. Skimming is life. Progression is natural at this point and you are elevating beyond everything previously listed. Some people stop at this point too. By stop I mean, don't need to (or can't) go to the next levels and are pleased with their accomplishment(s). While you could take off for years at a time. You will always skim. It's in you
9- You pushed for more. You are determined to be the best skimmer. You skim daily or as much as possible. When you aren't skimming you are focused on perfecting your skills. You are a Pro, on the UST, multiple sponsors, won purses and have been on a few videos or DVD. Place in almost every contest entered.
10- You are insanely good. You have placed in the top 5 at UST contests or maybe high at the Vic Worlds/Cabo. You may have your own board or merch. You have reached the high point of your skimming and will only help all skimmers around you or coming into the sport, to progress, by setting the example. There is not much more to accomplish at this point except for new tricks, 1st place contest placement, etc.
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Originally Posted by Derik Kent
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