What is the best shape for a wooden skimboard?

The best shape for a wooden skimboard depends on the type of skimboarding. Skimboards that feature a curve from nose to tail are more effective with steep slopes and big waves. Hybrid rocker skimboards, however, are curved near the nose and flat near the tail.

Hybrids are good for speed and have decent control on waves. Finally, traditional flat skimboards have only a slight curve at the nose and are stable and speedy, which makes them more suited to long shallow waves, such as those on the East Coast of the United States.

The thickness of a skimboard affects its performance as well. Generally, thinner boards are easier to turn but not as fast as thicker boards.