07-04-2025
27th annual Spring Skim Jam draws record boarders and top talent
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Hundreds of athletes, from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic newcomers, gathered this weekend to showcase their skills on the water and sand for the 27th annual Spring Skim Jam.
Skim boarders were judged on their tricks, speed, and ability to navigate with challenging conditions of the shoreline. With ideal surf conditions, this year's event has brought out some of the best in the sport.
'It being my first pro contest is huge. I wasn't really expecting to even make it to the final, but I was able to just work through it and work through the win, and I was able to make it into the final,' skim boarder Nicole Philips said.
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The competition was created by the owners of Mr. Surf's Surf Shop off Front Beach Road. Over time, Shore lb. took the reins. There were multiple divisions for all ages to participate in the contest.
Some range from under 8 to over 50.
This year's event broke attendance records after having the most pro woman competitors in 27 years and the largest overall skim boarder attendance.
'We're trying to grow the amateur part of it, but we're also trying to help grow the female portion of skin boarding in general with the pro and amateur women trying to help support them and get them to more contests,' Shore lb. CEO Chris Ellison said.
Ellison says the Panama City Beach waves added to the challenge.
'But that was one of the parts of why we wanted to bring it back because it's part of the tour, it's a part of history. And we also believe that here in on the Gulf Coast and in the Panhandle specifically, that there's tons of skim boarders here,' Ellison said.
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The event wrapped up with an award ceremony. Winners received trophies and prizes. Some skim board winners had the option of going pro.
Panama City Beach was stop 2 of the Shore lb.'s three-stop triple crown tour competition.
Their final stop will be in Vero Beach on May 17.
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