Y. Valencia & McCullough Grab First while White Clinches Women’s UST Title
The 18th annual Exile Oktoberfest took place at Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, California on September 16th and 17th. This was the final stop for the United Skim Tour for the 2023 season, counting for both the Men’s division and the Women’s division.
Conklin Returns to Win the Vic while Fink Clinches UST Title
Blair Conklin Backside Wrap | Photo by Tyler Brooks (IG) The 46th annual Vic skimboarding competition took place on August 26th and 27th at Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach, California. For the professional men’s division of the UST, this was the fifth of six events. The pro men’s division included 42 skimboarders including riders from Brazil, Mexico, Japan, the east coast, and California. Blair Conklin of Laguna Beach returned to competition for the first time since 2021, and he claimed the top spot. Lucas Fink of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil finished in second place ahead of Yahir Valencia from Barra de Navidad,
Fink and White Victorious in Delaware
Lucas Fink Backside Hack | Photo by John Yeatman (Website | IG) The Zap World Championships of Skimboarding took place at Dewey Beach, DE on August 11th through 13th, presented by Alley Oop Skim and Skim USA. The contest had 30 professional men and 8 professional women including riders from Brazil, Mexico, California, and up and down the east coast. The conditions were excellent throughout the weekend, with offshore winds and 2-3 foot waves on all three days. For the professional men, Lucas Fink of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil finished in the top spot, his second UST win of the year.
Valencia and McCullough Take First Wins of 2023 at OBX
Yahir Valencia Backside Liner | Photo by Maggie Fernandez (IG) On July 21st-23rd in Nags Head, NC, the OBX SkimJam brought 24 professional men and 7 professional women to battle for a $15,000 prize purse, the largest prize purse in OBX SkimJam history. In the professional men’s division, Yahir Valencia walked away with the top spot after a fierce battle in the final against Lucas Fink. For the professional women, Casey McCullough defeated UST rookie Jaclynn Koder in the final to claim her first UST victory of 2023. The contest site at Jennette’s Pier saw a one-to-three foot swell throughout
Lucas Fink Returns to Top Spot in Santa Cruz, CA
Lucas Fink Floater in the Final | Photo by Matt Folsom On July 15th in Santa Cruz, California, the TAC Skimblast brought 25 professional skimboarders to Third Ave for the second stop of the Men’s division on the 2023 United Skim Tour. After missing the first stop of the tour due to injury and scheduling conflicts, Lucas Fink returned and claimed the top spot. The contest included riders from Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Florida, Southern California and Santa Cruz. The swell was forecasted to be 2-5 feet for weeks leading up to the event. However, about five days before the event,
Bryan Lopez and Chabe White Take Victory in Melaque
Bryan Lopez Air | Photo by David Haefele (IG) On January 14th and 15th, Melaque Skim Magia took place at Laguna del Tule, a spot nestled in San Patricio, an area locals often call Melaque. Bryan Lopez, a local from Melaque, took first place in the professional men’s division, and Chabe White of Mazunte, Mexico took the win in the professional women’s division. The contest featured 29 professional riders, with 21 men and 8 women. Riders in attendance included those from Brazil, Portugal, Mexico as well as Delaware, Florida, and California. This contest was the first time the UST has
Valencia Wins in Newport While Kiernan Secures 3rd UST Title
Yahir Valencia Floater | Photo by Braden Walker (IG) The 17th annual Exile Oktoberfest skimboarding competition took place on September 17th and 18th at the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, CA. Yahir Valencia of Barra de Navidad won the professional men’s division and Casey Kiernan of Stuart, FL won the professional women’s division. Both the professional men’s division and the professional women’s division counted as part of the United Skim Tour, the world’s only international professional skimboarding tour. Casey Keirnan Backside Wrap | Photo by DingoSaidSo (IG) The professional women division featured 13 competitors and the professional men division featured
Lucas Fink Wins in Spain, Clinching UST Title
Lucas Fink with a Driving Barrel in the Quarter Finals | Photo by Artur Costa (IG) Lucas Fink of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil won the professional men’s division at the 6th Annual Intrafalgar skimboarding competition on September 10th and 11th at Faro de Trafalgar in Canos de Meca, just south of Cadiz, Spain. The professional men’s division counted as part of the United Skim Tour, the world’s only international professional skimboarding tour. The 2022 Intrafalgar was the first time the United Skim Tour has had an event in Spain and the first international stop of the UST since 2017. The
Yahir Valencia & Chabe White Take 1st in Laguna
Yahir Valencia Wrapping at Aliso Beach | Photo: Nick Souza (IG) Yahir Valencia of Barra de Navidad, Mexico won the professional men’s division and Chabe White of Mazunte, Mexico won the professional women’s division at the 45th Annual Vic West skimboarding competition on August 27th and 28th at Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach, CA. The top pro men and pro women finishers took their piece of the $9,000 combined pro men and pro women prize purse. The professional men’s division and the professional women’s division counted as part of the United Skim Tour, the world’s only international professional skimboarding tour.
Lucas Fink Takes First in Dewey Beach, DE
Lucas Fink Backside Air | Photo: Brooke Hamm (IG) Lucas Fink of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil won the professional Men’s division at the 2022 Zap Pro/Am Championship held in Dewey Beach, DE on August 12th – 14th. The competition drew an international field of 196 competitors including 37 pro men with a $10,000 combined pro men and pro women prize purse. The event was the final stop of the 2022 Skim USA tour, and the men’s professional division also counted as the third stop of six on the 2022 United Skim Tour, the world’s only international professional skimboarding tour. The Professional