United Skim Tour ends with competition at Balboa Pier

Professional and amateur skimboarders will compete this weekend in the third annual Oktoberfest Skimboard Contest sponsored by Exile Skimboards and Main Street Surf Shop.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on the south side of the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.

The contest marks the final stop on the United Skim Tour, which features professional riders from across the country competing for a spot in the tour’s rankings.

Skimboarding has become more popular in this area over the years, and locals account for the majority of entrants in the amateur division.

The Balboa peninsula offers excellent skimboarding conditions most of the year from the Wedge to the pier, and the public is invited to come out and watch.

Spectators can set up chairs, stand on the shore, or get a bird’s-eye view from the pier.

The entry fee for amateurs is $35; professionals are $100. To register, go to www.exileskimboards.com.

For more information, contact Steve at (949) 492-0284 or e-mail [email protected].

— Sue Thoensen