We got the opportunity to interview one of the best flatland skimboarders in the world: Isaac Thomas. He rides for Dash Skimboards and currently resides in Bellingham, Washington.
Read on…
What’s your name?
Isaac Thomas
Where are you from?
Tacoma, WA (born and raised)
How old are you?
The big 21
How long have you been skimming?
About 5 years
Where do you skim normally?
Bellingham Bay or Chambers Creek (depending where I am)
Who do you skim with?
DB crew, Tony and I, or Mark
How is riding in the northwest?
THE BEST! (no better place for flatland)
Where have you traveled to skimboard?
Utah, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Canada
Where do you want to travel to skim?
CABO! And Australia
What board(s) do you ride?
DB Proto model (for life)
Do you compete?
Yep, as much as I can
If so, what competitions have you competed in?
Virgin River Classic (Utah), DB Annual Skim Comp and Chambers Creek Throwdown (Washington), Stratos Universal Champs (Canada), Skimfest (California)
And what are some of your contest highlights?
Going undefeated in 06 (1st at DB Comp, Virgin River, and Stratos)
Do you have any sponsors? What companies?
DB Skimboards (holla), EOS (extremeoutdoorsupply.com), Northwest Riders (double holla)
What other board sports do you partake in?
Skateboard, Snowboard, Wakeboard (when I can), Longboard, Trampolineboard, Snowskate
What skimboarding goals do you have?
I want to promote the sport and create new tricks.
Where do you see the skimboarding going in the future?
I can’t really tell where the sport is going to go. I talk to my friends about this all the time because I think progression is really interesting and I could see it going either way. On one hand, I could see skimboarding blowing up and becoming the next skateboarding or snowboarding, but on the other hand I could see it dying out or only being seen as a novelty sport and going nowhere.
What riders influenced your skimboarding?
Well, if you mean riders (as in all boarders of all kinds) then I would have to say Mark Gonzales, Louie Barletta, Scotty Arnold, and so many more. If you mean other skimboarders than I would have to say John Minns, Matt Ratoni, and Kyle Lynch because every time I see them they are trying new tricks and they push the sport so much.
What riders are pushing the sport right now?
Besides the ones I just mentioned, I would have to say everyone who is skimboarding all over the world because the sport is still small and everyone who owns a skimboard is helping push the sport by exposing it.
If you were stranded on a desert island that already has a plentiful resource of skimboards what three things would you bring?
My friends (lol I counted that as 1), an unlimited supply of hot dogs, and Lincoln City Skatepark (skateboards included…still 1 lol).
What is the best advice you can give to a skim grom trying to get recognized?
Have fun! My words of wisdom would be that skimboarding shouldn’t be about what’s the biggest trick you can do (catch on film) or what contests you have won, but all about fun. I know this doesn’t sound right coming from me lol, but when it comes down to it, that’s what it’s all about (fun). I’ve seen too many skimboarders get a big head from winning a little contest here or there and then change how they skim, who they skim with, and how they treat others. I mean, if you can have the most fun when you are competing and throwing your bangers for a camera than that’s totally cool, as long as you’re chill about it. Just remember (myself included) that skimboarding is about going out with your friends, taking a break from the everyday routine, gliding across that water, and having as much fun as you can doing it. But that whole shpeal was way too serious for me so I would have to change my first answer in question #20 to a tribe of talking monkeys
