Skimming into summer

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By Jim Zeeben

Call it the unofficial start to summer.

A crowd that peaked at around 300 people soaked up the mid-April sun while watching some of the top skimboarders in the province.

Skimfest '06 took over the north end of Cadboro Bay beach last Saturday (April 22), as 27 skimboarders competed for prizes and prestige.

"I was hoping for more than 20 competitors - and at least a couple of hundred spectators and we met all my expectations - and, as far as spectators, we exceeded them," said Pat O'Farrell, the young president of Outbreak Skimboards.
A few ramps and rails were placed in the surf, allowing competitors to get air or perform tricks as other skimmers hydroplaned along a wave as it receded from the beach.

"I was pretty sure it was going to be a hit when we were setting up at 9:30 a.m. and there were already competitors coming down," said O'Farrell, who grew up wakeboarding in the Okanagan before moving to the Island after graduating from high school in 2002.
As morning turned to afternoon, the temperature stretched into the high teens and music filled the air. On the beach, little more than bikinis and skater shorts protected the athletic bodies of many members of the young crowd.

Directing traffic were a handful of parent volunteers, including O'Farrell's mom.

It was in her carport that O'Farrell began building skimboards, something he hopes to eventually do full time. His love affair with the sport that combines elements of surfing and skateboarding began four years ago.

"I was going on a trip to Tofino to surf but I didn't have enough money to rent gear everyday so I brought up a skimboard," O'Farrell said.

The resourceful young man drew up his own plans and built a board out of plywood. He had a blast in Tofino and when he got back to Saanich he took up the sport on a regular basis.

"Whenever it's sunny out I try to get down to the beach," he said, noting Cadboro Bay is a two-minute walk from his house.
It's not the best skimboarding site in Victoria, though it proved to be an ideal venue for last Saturday's festival. O'Farrell came up with the idea for Skimfest only six weeks ago, planning the event as a way to promote his brand of skimboards.

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