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<< Previous   of   Next >> Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Jason Henne of Bothell does a headstand on his board during the recent Puget Sound Throw Down at Everett's Howarth Park. (click to enlarge) Blake Zimmerman of Federal Way does a jump in the middle of a rail during the Puget Sound Throw Down. Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) A board skims across the water at Howarth Park. Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Tyler West of Everett splashes down hard after trying unsuccessfully to do a head stand on his board at Howarth Park.  Photo Gallery: Skimboarding   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, August 16, 2008 Everett's next big wave Skimboarders gather at Howarth Park to show off skills By Eric Stevick Herald Writer EVERETT -- On any given summer day, when the tide and wind conditions are right off Everett's shorelines, more than 100 kiteboarders can be seen on stubby surfboards, climbing atop waves and being hurtled skyward by colorful parachute-like canopies. In their shadows, another smaller group of boarders has been turning up in increasing numbers along the waterfront. They're skimboarders, who stay closer to the ground, skitter bugging swiftly and lightly along the shoals. "It's like a combination of snowboarding and skateboarding on water," said Marty Ferguson, a University of Washington political science student from Monroe. Ferguson, 22, and some of his friends started skimboarding at Martha Lake near Lynnwood while still in high school. "You can ride in lakes and rivers and with anything with shallow water and soft sand," he said. These days, he prefers the sandy shores of Howarth Park and Jetty Island. While some skimboarders like to take on saltwater waves, others, like Ferguson, prefer the flat lands with an inch or two of water. Earlier his month, Ferguson and two dozen other hard-core flatland skimboarders gathered for the Puget Sound Throw Down at Howarth Park, demonstrating assorted skills they have developed over the years. The event drew more than 50 spectators. Tricks that seemed difficult just a year or two ago have become basic today as more boarders invest more time honing their craft, Ferguson said. Take the "Shuv-it 360," for instance. It's a maneuver where riders jump, rotate their board a full 360-degree rotation and the rider and board land together. "That one is standard now," Ferguson said. "You've got to be able to do it." Then there's the "Hippie Jump," in which riders hurdle an obstacle and land back on their moving boards. With ramps and rails, skimboarders use some of the tools commonly seen in skateboarding, but with different surfaces. The Puget Sound Throw Down was the first such organized event for skimboarders in Everett, but Ferguson said he can imagine it becoming an annual occurrence. "It's not so mainstream as skateboarding, but it's grown fast," he said. "I want to try to keep the good vibes going. People are saying they want to be a part of the next one. You want to spread the stoke." The City of Everett has noticed the increase in skimboarders as well as kiteboarders, said Kate Reardon, a city spokeswoman. Five years ago, kiteboarders were a rare site off Jetty Island, but as more people discovered the low tides and favorable wind, it has become a popular draw for riders from Seattle and beyond, she said. It's common for more than 100 kiteboarders to show up at Jetty, Reardon said. City parks officials are starting to notice the same trend with skimboarders. It's not uncommon to see more than 20 on a given day. The city wants to accommodate both groups and might start putting tide charts on its Web site, she said. Ferguson predicts the skimboard community will only increase. "I used to skateboard. It was my hobby," he said. "But (skimboarding) is a more fun way to beat the heat. You stay cooler. You get a tan. You can hang out with your friends at the beach. You just get a good vibe." Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com.

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