VERO BEACH — Until very recently, driving on Beachland Boulevard at the end of August was a solitary experience. On Saturday, however, crowds flocked to the beach at Sexton Plaza, in front of Mulligan’s Grill and Raw Bar for the annual shore lb. throw down, billed as the largest one-day skim board competition in the world.
In addition to more than 90 local amateurs competing, several professionals, some from as far away as Brazil, came to Vero, fresh from competing on the world skim boarding circuit.
The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association benefited from the day of sun, fun, sand, and skimming.
Saturday morning dawned hot and sunny, the perfect weather for bobbing in the turquoise brine. Boats hovered on the flat water, as gentle waves lapped against the shore. Spectators staked out viewing spots early, and many stood on scaffolds set up for the event, in order to get the best views of the skim.
Boarders gathered to register at 8 a.m., followed by five flights – I Suck (beginners), I’m Good (intermediates), I’m Better (advanced), Women, and I’m a Professional.
The small waves were actually a plus, according to contest organizers.
“This is what skim boarding is about,” said Vero Beach lifeguard Timothy Capra. “The waves don’t have to be huge. The real skill is performing on flat waves. The tricks are more technical.”
Owen Leyda, 13, competed for the first time in the “I Suck” division and advanced to the semi-finals.
“I had a board for a while,” said Leyda, a Gifford Middle School student, explaining how he got involved in the competition. “One day, I came out with it and noticed a bunch of my friends skimming.”
When asked what he was doing to prepare for his next performance later in the day, Leyda replied calmly, “I’m staying kind of loose.”
Leyda takes skim lessons with Chris Ellison, a former city lifeguard, who founded shore lb., a surf/skim/stand up paddle board attire company, with his wife, Tiffany, in 2011. A motivating principle of the company is giving back to the community, and Ellison is as passionate about the people who guard the beach as he is about skim boarding and the ocean itself.
His purpose is to raise money for a good cause and to have fun, and it was evident that he, along with everyone in attendance, was fulfilling that goal.
Ellison, who had planned a beach clean up for after the event, was fielding questions from skimmers all morning.
“Our lifeguards are so undervalued, which is not good, considering that people come here because of our safe beaches,” said Ellison. “They are the backbone of this community.”
Several local businesses and artists donated all kinds of swag for the event. Mulligan’s served sandwiches on the beach to the crowd. Raffled items included local photographer Tatum Bacchi’s exquisite representation of the Sebastian Inlet. Capra donated some of his colorful pen beach scenes framed in pallet wood. And the visiting professionals enjoyed discounted rooms at the Holiday Inn, overlooking the beach.
As a California-based film crew recorded the day’s events, Ellison was overcome with emotion at the turnout and all people who made the day a success.
“I am humbled, blessed, blown away by all the support,” he said as he surveyed the good, clean fun taking place in front of him.
