VERO BEACH – Improving over last year’s Skim Jam at Mulligan’s in Vero Beach, organizers said they couldn’t have asked for better surf or weather.
Hurricane Earl and the remnants of Tropical Storm Fiona, too, didn’t hurt, as waves crested a couple feet tall.
“We’ve been very lucky every year,” said organizer Chris Ellison of the weather.
Last year, strong winds whipped the waters into tall waves. This year it was the activity out in the Atlantic.
More than 70 skimboarders from around the state descended on the beach off Sexton Plaza Saturday to take part in the Third Annual Mulligan’s Skim Jam to benefit the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Organizer and Skim Jam Mastermind Rus King said they chose St. Jude’s because he has had friends who have benefited from the hospital.
“It’s always been a favorite charity of mine,” he said.
The Skim Jam is different from most skimboarding competitions, according to King. He explained that they have split the competition into four divisions based on ability rather than by age and gender.
“That seems to do well,” King said of their format.
Such divisions were named: “I Suck,” “I’m Good,” “I’m Better,” and “I’m Going Pro Tomorrow.”
“Every year it gets bigger,” Ellison said of the event, crediting the sponsors for the success of the fund-raiser.
“They’ve been so accommodating,” Ellison said of Mulligan’s Grill and Raw Bar, which offered breakfast specials.
“It’s really great to do something we love to do and the community supports us,” he added.
Due to the support of the annual Skim Jam, King plans to hold another one in about six months.
He said that by holding more events, they have the opportunity to raise that much more money for St. Jude’s.
Skim Jam organizers wish to thank the following sponsors for supporting their event:
- Connery Concrete
- Morning Star Custom Printing
- Deep Six
- Mulligan’s
- Emlett Lawn Service
- No Bull PR
- Epic Sessions
- Schlitt Electrical Contracting
- Exile
- School Uniforms
- Filthy McNasty’s
- Skim City
- Freak Traction
- Slotstik Skimboards
- G&B Trophies & Signs
- The Shop
- Gatzke Insurance Agency
- Vero Marine Center
- His & Her Hair Styling
- Waldo’s
- Inner Rhythm Surf
- Wave Zone Skimboards
- J&J Auto Works Inc.
- Zapp Skimboards
