Skimboarding competition comes to Captiva this weekend
In the past, Captiva’s beaches have played host to celebrities and swimsuit models, film crews, and famous authors and artists.
But this weekend, for the first time, young athletes from all over will amass on the shores of Captiva to participate in the island’s first Skimboard Pro-Am competition.
“Captiva has the best skim in the country,” said Captiva Holiday Skim Jam organizer Greg Balloqui. “It’s the furthest out in the Gulf and Captiva water, from Red Fish Pass southward, is the deepest water before the beach, and that creates better waves.”
“When Greg called and told me what he needed, I was really excited because I thought we were a good fit for the activity,” said Captiva Erosion Prevention District Administrator Kathy Rooker. “Captiva always gets positive attention, but this was a new angle. The Pro-Am will be bringing in teenagers and young adults from all over the United States that interested in sports and the outdoors, and I thought that these are the people that we want on Captiva. It’s also a family event, and not only is Captiva beautiful, it’s also a family destination.”
On Friday, Dec. 10, the Captiva Holiday Skim Jam will start off with the Trash Hunt and Big Trick Competition, from 3 to 6 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 11, the competition will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“If it’s successful this year, it could become an annual event on Captiva,” Rooker said. “It would be great to be known as a place for a family sporting event like this.”
In conjunction with the competition, South Seas will also host a Skimboard Art Show featuring 30 skimboards painted by southern Florida artists.
“This art show is very cutting edge and very different, but completely complementary to Captiva being such a creative, beach community,” said Paul McCarthy, who helped develop the Skimboard Art Show.
The Captiva Holiday Skim Jam is presented by Skim USA and is sponsored by Zap Skimboards, Exile Skimboards, Victoria Skimboards, Surf Gel, Freak, Skim City and DNA Energy Drink.
For more information, go to www.skimusa.org or e-mail Greg Balloqui at swflskim@gmail.com.