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James Sweiderk photo

James Sweiderk photo

James Sweiderk photo

James Sweiderk photo

James Sweiderk photo

The 2023 annual OBX SkimJam skimboarding competition will take place from July 21 through 23 at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. The event will draw an international field of competitors with a $12,000 prize purse. The professional men’s and women’s divisions will count as part of the Skim USA tour and the United Skim Tour, the world’s premier international professional skimboarding tour. The contest is put on by Skim USA.

Professional men riders include the 2022 men’s UST champion Lucas Fink of Rio De Janeiro, the 2021 men’s UST Champion Gerardo Valencia of Barra De Navidad, Mexico and locals including Perry Pruitt of Kill Devil Hills. Professional women riders include 2022 women’s UST champion Casey McCullouguh of Stuart, Florida; current UST points leader Chabe White of Mazunte, Mexico; and Ashley Poshard of Los Gatos, California, who is currently ranked second on the women’s UST.

The OBX SkimJam will count as the third of six stops for the professional men’s division for the UST and the second of four stops for the professional women’s division of the UST. The event will start at 8 a.m. each day of competition, running from Friday through Sunday.

As part of Skim USA, the contest also features amateur divisions for both men and women. For the amateur men, divisions include Minis (8 and under), Menehunes (9-11), Boys (12-14), Junior Men (15-17), Men (18-21), Senior Men (22-24), Masters (25-29), Grandmasters (30-39), Senior Grandmasters (40-49) and Legends (50 and older). For the amateur women, divisions include Girls (11 and under), Junior Women (12-14) and Women (15 and older). A semi-professional division also enables all amateur riders to compete against one another without age restrictions.

The combined prize purse for the pro men and pro women divisions at the OBX SkimJam will start at $12,000. The prize purse for the pro men and pro women divisions will be equitably distributed based on the number of competitors in each respective division.

“This is the largest professional prize purse we’ve offered in the history of the contest,” said contest co-host Wendy Caputo. “Last year we saw excellent waves and the largest competitor turnout we’ve ever had. This year we’ve expanded to a three-day event and gained great support from the skimboarding community and local businesses in Outer Banks. We’re looking forward to a tremendous weekend at Jennette’s Pier.”

Remaining UST tour events include the Zap Championships in Dewey Beach, Delaware; the Vic West in Laguna Beach, California; and the Exile Oktoberfest in Newport Beach, California. In the men’s division, points from the best four of six performances count toward each skimboarder’s 2023 UST points total. In the women’s division, points from the best three of four performances count toward each skimboarder’s 2023 UST points total.

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