Skimboarding for a 12 year old?

Question

Hi, I’m a grandma taking 3 grandsons to Santa Barbara in March for 2 days. We will stay near the Wharf area and will Uber where we need to go. I’d never heard of skimboarding until the 12 year old says he wants to do it. Is there a place that rents skimboards or gives lessons? I think he’ll need a wetsuit?? Advice?

Answer

Great question! It’s wonderful that your 12-year-old is interested in skimboarding — it’s a fun shore sport, though a little different from surfing. Here’s some advice on whether it’s realistic in Santa Barbara, plus alternatives and safety tips.

1. Is skimboarding big in Santa Barbara?

From what local skimming / surf-community sources suggest, skimboarding in Santa Barbara is pretty limited. Several skimmers note that there “just aren’t many skimmers” in Santa Barbara. One Reddit thread specifically mentions that Santa Barbara Point (Leadbetter area) and Campus Point are sometimes used, but the conditions are “fickle.”

Leadbetter Beach, which is near the Wharf area, is known for light surf and is more traditional for beginner surfers rather than skimmers.

2. Are there local shops that rent skimboards or teach skimboarding?

We found no well-documented local shops in Santa Barbara that clearly advertise skimboard rentals or skimboarding lessons. Here’s what we *did* find, and how that impacts your options:

A-Frame Surf Shop (in Carpinteria): They rent surfboards, wetsuits, body boards, etc., but do not list skimboards in their publicly available rental inventory.
Santa Barbara Surf School: They offer surf lessons (not skim lessons), and their rental program includes surfboards + wetsuits.
GeerGarage gear-lending: This is a platform that connects you to local gear owners, including surfboards and wetsuits in Santa Barbara. However, their inventory seems to be focused on surfboards — not specifically skimboards.

3. What about going elsewhere for skimboarding?

If having an *actual skimboarding experience* is really the goal, you might need to travel outside Santa Barbara or consider other beach activities instead. For instance:

Skimboard rentals in other areas: We found a well-known surf rental business, Mission Surf, that does list skimboard rentals. Their skim-board “same-day” rate is $20 for 2 hours, $25 for 4 hours, and $40 for all day. However, this shop is *not actually in Santa Barbara* (Mission Surf would pick a location; check how far from you).

4. Do you need a wetsuit for skimboarding?

Yes — since the water off the California coast can be pretty chilly even in March, a wetsuit is a smart idea for a 12-year-old. If you were able to rent skim-type gear somewhere (or even do surf lessons), getting a wetsuit (probably 3/2 mm or 4/3 mm depending on local temp) would make things much more comfortable.

Since surf-lesson providers like Santa Barbara Surf School include wetsuits in their lessons and rental packages, that could be a fallback plan if pure skimboarding isn’t available.

5. Safety and practical advice for your trip:

Because skimboarding is less common in Santa Barbara, consider calling a few local surf shops (or GeerGarage lenders) *before* your trip to ask if they have any skimboards or foam-style boards that might work similarly.
If you can’t find skimboards, doing a surf lesson might be a more reliable and still super fun alternative for your grandson. The Santa Barbara Surf School offers group lessons and provides wetsuits.
Pick a beach with gentler waves for beginners: Leadbetter is more beginner-friendly for surfing, though not ideal for skimming according to some skimmers.
Always check tide and wave conditions the day of: Skimming works best when there is a thin layer of water on wet sand or very small breaking waves, so the timing matters.
Make sure your grandson is comfortable in the water, and supervise him closely. Even though skimboarding is done close to shore, things can go wrong, especially if waves pick up.

6. My bottom line recommendation:

Realistically, Santa Barbara may not be the best spot for a dedicated skimboarding lesson or rental, because the local shops don’t seem to emphasize skimboarding gear, and skimming isn’t super common in the area. A safer / more reliable bet is to do a surf lesson (which your grandson may also love) — those are readily available, include wetsuits, and will give him a fun ocean-experience. If you're really committed to skimboarding, you could look into renting from a shop outside Santa Barbara (if you’re OK with a short drive) or contacting gear-lending platforms in advance.

Skimboarding for a 12 year old?

More Santa Barbara Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions