For an adult or a rider moving past a first board, pick the skimboard by weight first, then by where you ride. A 40 inch wood board such as the BPS Gator lists riders up to 180 pounds, and the boards whose makers list them for waves are fiberglass, 44 to 52 inches long.
This page is for that second board. If you are buying a first board for a child or a new rider, start with best skimboards for beginners. WaterSportHQ editors compared the boards below on their makers’ published specs and have not ridden them.
Size a skimboard by rider weight
Makers size skimboards by weight, not height. BPS says so on its Gator listing. The charts also change with construction: BPS puts a 130 to 160 pound rider on its 40 inch wood board or on its 48 inch fiberglass board.
| Board | Length | Rider weight |
|---|---|---|
| BPS Gator (wood) | 35 in | 60 to 130 lb |
| BPS Gator (wood) | 40 in | 130 to 180 lb |
| BPS Gator Black (fiberglass) | 44 in | 50 to 130 lb |
| BPS Gator Black (fiberglass) | 48 in | 130 to 160 lb |
| BPS Gator Black (fiberglass) | 52 in | 160 to 220 lb |
| Slapfish 48 in (fiberglass, PVC core) | 48 in | up to 200 lb |
Sources: the BPS Gator, BPS Gator Black and Slapfish 48 inch Amazon listings, checked on 2026-10-21. Slapfish adds a length check: the board should reach the top of the rider’s rib cage, within an inch or two. For more on fit, see the skimboard size chart.
Between two sizes, BPS says the smaller board is easier to control and the larger one is more stable.
Wood or fiberglass: what changes
| Construction | What the makers list | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Wood (poplar plywood) | Seven-ply poplar with a waterproof coat; 40 in board weighs 2.09 kg (BPS Gator) | Learning and tricks; no wave use listed |
| Fiberglass over a foam core | PVC foam core, fiberglass, carbon at nose and tail; 3 to 4 lb at 48 in (Slapfish) | Waves and flat water |
- None of the wood board listings WaterSportHQ editors checked names wave riding. BPS sells its wood Gator for a first ride and “quick, controlled pivots”, and Sandfish sells its 35 inch poplar Traction Cruiser for “all beginner tricks”.
- Slapfish lists its 48 inch fiberglass board at 3 to 4 pounds, “floaty enough to support a wide range of riders”, for “sand sliding and wave riding”. BPS lists the Gator Black for “flat water or waves”. For comparison, BPS lists its 40 inch wood Gator at 2.09 kg, about 4.6 pounds.
- On foam boards, the core type matters. Slapfish uses a PVC foam core and says an EPS core can “gas out and delaminate over time”. That is the maker’s claim about its rivals, so check which foam any board uses.
Flatland or wave skimming
- In flatland skimming you drop the board on the thin film of water left by a receding wave and ride it along the sand. The wood listings above describe this kind of riding: first slides, tricks and pivots.
- In wave skimming you run out, slide to meet a breaking wave and ride it back to shore. Of the boards on this page, only the fiberglass ones are listed for waves.
Three current skimboards, compared on their specs
| Board | Lengths | Build | Grip | Rider weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPS Gator wooden 40 in | 30, 35, 40 in | Seven-ply poplar, waterproof coat | All-over EVA pad | 130 to 180 lb |
| BPS Gator Black | 44, 48, 52 in | Fiberglass, carbon at nose and tail | Nose and tail EVA pads | 50 to 220 lb |
| Slapfish 48 in | 48 in | PVC foam core, fiberglass, carbon | Installed EVA pad | up to 200 lb |
BPS Gator wooden skimboard, 40 inch
BPS lists the 40 inch Gator at 40.9 by 20.5 inches, seven layers of poplar plywood with a waterproof coat, an all-over EVA grip pad so no wax is needed, a nose rocker, and a 180 pound maximum. It carries a 12 month BPS guarantee.
BPS does not list it for wave riding. It says the nose rocker means “longer rides and fewer wipeouts while you’re learning, and quick, controlled pivots once you’ve got the hang of it”. Riders over 180 pounds are past its listed limit.
See the BPS Gator wooden 40 inch on Amazon
BPS Gator Black fiberglass skimboard
BPS lists the Gator Black in 44, 48 and 52 inch sizes, with a rigid core, fiberglass and a carbon fiber layer at the nose and tail, a pin tail and hard rails. It comes with diamond-cut EVA pads on the nose and tail, including a tail kick and a raised center arch, plus a padded carry bag. BPS rates it for beginner to intermediate riders on flat water or waves, with a one year guarantee.
It is not a board for a small child: the shortest size is 44 inches. BPS does not name the core material, so ask before you buy if you care about EPS versus PVC.
See the BPS Gator Black 48 inch on Amazon or the 52 inch for riders from 160 to 220 pounds.
Slapfish 48 inch fiberglass and carbon skimboard
Slapfish lists its 48 inch board as made in the USA, with a PVC foam core, fiberglass, carbon at the nose and tail, double-reinforced rails, a 2 inch nose rocker and a 7/8 inch tail rocker. The deck is 21 inches wide, the board weighs 3 to 4 pounds, and the EVA traction pad comes installed. The listed limit is 200 pounds, for riders 5 ft 2 and taller.
It is not for riders over 200 pounds or children under 5 ft 2.
See the Slapfish 48 inch on Amazon
Is a fiberglass board worth it if you skim flat?
Not if flatland is all you do. The BPS Gator wood board lists a 180 pound limit at 40 inches, and none of the wood listings above mention waves. Move to fiberglass when you want to ride waves, or when you weigh more than a wood board’s chart allows.
All three boards above come with a traction pad, so none needs wax out of the box. If you add wax to a bare deck later, see how to wax a skimboard.