Federation News
The story of a sport going global
Official announcements from the Global Skimboarding Federation, stories from athletes around the world, and the programs and events carrying skimboarding to its next stage.
GSF Announcements
Official Federation news
Every milestone below is a real step in building the international foundation of skimboarding. This page is the Federation's official record.
September 5, 2026
A growing connection between Germany and the Netherlands
The Global Skimboarding Federation is glad to recognize an important connection forming within the European skimboarding community. Sebastian, founder and chief executive of German Skim Zone and founder of the European Skim Tour, is traveling to the Netherlands to meet with Adrien Raza and members of the Dutch skimboarding community.
The meeting comes ahead of the Dutch Skimboarding Championships on September 5 at Waalhalla Skatepark in Nijmegen, an event that showcases skimboarding in a skatepark environment, featuring jams, a best trick competition and €1,000 in prize money.
For the Federation, this is an important opportunity to strengthen relationships between Germany, the Netherlands and the broader European skimboarding community as GSF works toward international cooperation, national representation and the continued growth of every discipline of skimboarding.
The International PathwaySeptember 2026
An exciting September for skimboarding around the world
September 2026 marks an exciting moment for the growth of skimboarding, with five prominent events connecting a national championship in the Netherlands, regional competition in the United States, a groundbreaking international gathering in Bali, and the championship finale of the United Skim Tour.
The month opens September 5 with the Dutch Skimboarding Championships at Waalhalla Skatepark in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The Bali Skim Gathering, promoted as Indonesia's first international skimboarding gathering, runs September 12 and 13 at Pantai Berawa in Canggu. The same weekend, Skim USA hosts the Skim Bash in Sea Bright, New Jersey and Premier Skim presents the 2026 Pacific Wave Open in Santa Cruz, California. The month closes with Exile Oktoberfest at Balboa Pier on September 19 and 20, the final event of the 2026 United Skim Tour, where the season's champions are crowned. GSF will be on site.
Read the September ReportAugust 22 to 23, 2026
A successful soft launch: GSF debuts at The VIC
The Federation's soft launch at the Victoria Skimboards Championships was a tremendous success. GSF was announced live during the VIC broadcast, giving the Federation an introduction to the international skimboarding community, and the Federation and its new website were introduced in person to leaders of the skim industry.
Over two days on the sand, GSF connected with international skimboarders, leading professional athletes, industry representatives, families and the broader skimboarding community, and shared the Federation's vision: greater international recognition for skimboarding, expanded athlete support and compensation, Federation roles for athletes and community leaders, public and youth education, and a worldwide athlete network.
The first conversations about the Global Athlete Map also began at The VIC. Building consistent headshots and profiles for leading riders around the world is now an ongoing Federation project.
The Global Athlete MapSeptember 19 to 20, 2026
GSF heads to Oktoberfest at Balboa Pier
The Federation's next major community appearance is the Exile Skimboards Oktoberfest on September 19 and 20 at Balboa Pier, the final stop of the United Skim Tour season. GSF will be on site with a booth, Federation banner, stickers, a QR poster, a step-and-repeat and event photography, so athletes can start a profile and headshot for the Global Athlete Map. Promotional sponsor: Ralley Graphics.
Event DetailsAugust 2026
Industry conversations open with Victoria Skimboards and Exile Skimboards
Follow-up meetings have been arranged with Victoria Skimboards and Exile Skimboards covering industry collaboration, affiliate links, and athlete headshots and profiles for the GSF website. This is the beginning of a larger effort to connect the Federation with the established skimboarding organizations, tours, brands, athletes and communities that already exist worldwide.
To the Skim IndustryAugust 2026
Bringing Skim to Schools: district engagement is underway
GSF has begun introducing its mobile skim clinics and beach-access programs to educators in Orange County. Early conversations with educators connected to local unified school districts generated real interest in the proposed programs. These discussions mark the next phase of the Federation's schools initiative as GSF works toward identifying pilot schools, building school partnerships, and bringing accessible skimboarding experiences to students both on campus and at the beach.
Schools and YouthAugust 2026
Work begins on GSF Unified Rules and Competition Standards
The Federation has begun developing a comprehensive unified rules and competition standards framework. The first phase reviews the rule systems of established international sport organizations as structural models, then identifies the skimboarding-specific rules and questions those models do not answer. Those will be worked through in collaboration with athletes, judges, event organizers, tours and industry leaders.
Unified Rules and StandardsAugust 2026
GSF unveils its federation crest and launches globalskimboardingfederation.com
The Federation unveils its official crest, the mark that will travel with GSF athletes, events and programs around the world, and launches its home on the web at globalskimboardingfederation.com.
About the FederationAugust 2026
Membership program opens with seven levels
GSF membership is open, with seven levels spanning the whole community: from free General Membership through Youth Athlete, Athlete, Judge and Official, Coach and Instructor, and Supporting Member, up to National Federation affiliation. One sport. One worldwide community.
Choose Your MembershipJuly 6, 2026
IRS grants GSF 501(c)(3) public charity status
The IRS grants the Global Skimboarding Federation 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity status, effective June 14, 2026, under EIN 42-3150113. Contributions to GSF are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and the Federation's donation and receipt infrastructure is live.
Financial TransparencyJune 14, 2026
Global Skimboarding Federation incorporated
GSF is incorporated as a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation, organized for public and charitable purposes and not for the private gain of any person. The legal foundation of an international federation is in place.
GovernanceStay Informed
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Athlete Stories
The sport is people.
Tell us your story.
Skimboarding's history was written by athletes, families and beach communities long before there was a federation. GSF is now collecting athlete stories from around the world through the Global Athlete Map: who you are, where you ride, and what the sport means where you live.
- Athletes of every level, from first lesson to professional
- Every country and every coast, established scenes and brand-new ones
- Coaches, judges, organizers and the families behind the athletes
First Stories Incoming
This page is waiting for you
The first athlete features will be published here as stories arrive from the community. We would rather show you real athletes than filler, so for now this space belongs to whoever writes in first.
Send a short introduction, where you skim, and a photo if you have one, to pr@gsfmail.org. Selected stories will appear here and on the Global Athlete Map with your headshot, country, discipline and bio.
Global Community
One sport, every coastline
GSF's vision is 75 countries united under one international structure. Community reports from national scenes, clubs and local organizers will be published here as the worldwide network takes shape.
National scenes
Organized skimboarding already lives on beaches across the globe. GSF invites clubs, event organizers and national groups to introduce themselves and join the international conversation.
International DevelopmentOn the map
The Global Athlete Map will visually demonstrate skimboarding's true international reach: headshots, countries, disciplines and bios from every community that writes in.
Global Athlete MapNational affiliation
National federations and skimboarding organizations can contact GSF about recognition and affiliation, joining the pathway from local to national to continental to world.
National OrganizationsPrograms and Events
What is coming next
Twenty-eight Federation programs are in active development, from the Mobile Skim Academy and school programs to the California Winter Skimboarding Tour and an international competition tour. Program launches and event announcements will be published on this page as they go live.
GSF at Oktoberfest, Balboa Pier
The Exile Skimboards Oktoberfest, final stop of the United Skim Tour season. Booth, banner, step-and-repeat and event photography for the Global Athlete Map.
Unified Rules and Competition Standards
A comprehensive rules, judging, format and qualification framework, built in collaboration with athletes, judges, organizers and industry. Development Underway
California Winter Skimboarding Tour
Winter events planned for Seal Beach, Malibu, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, with permits, sponsors, production and athlete compensation. In Development
International Competition Tour
A tour built roughly half in the United States and half internationally, adding new international destinations each year. In Development
Partners and Supporters
The people making it possible
Sponsors, donors, skim industry brands and donated-services supporters are helping GSF build the future of the sport. Partnership news and supporter recognition are published on the Partners and Supporters page.
- 2026-2027 Partnership Prospectus available on request
- Corporate sponsorship of events, athletes and youth programs
- Donated services and in-kind recognition
Be Part of the Story
The next announcement could include you.
Join the Federation, share your story from your home beach, or subscribe for news as skimboarding takes its next step onto the world stage.