By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

Sam Sayward, of Wells, runs, throws down his skim board and jumps on for the ride. As the board glides over a thin layer of water at the ocean’s edge, Sayward crouches down and spins. The crowd that has gathered cheers him on.  

After dismounting, he concentrates on the timing of the waves, looking for the best spot to go for his next run, but he can’t wait too long because he only has five minutes to show off.

Sayward, 10, participated in Sunday’s skim boarding competition sponsored by Aquaholics of Kennebunk  and for his efforts, took home the overall 15 and under title. 

This year marked the second summer 19-year-old Sheldon Pope of Biddeford has organized and judged skim board competitions. The contest at Gooch’s Beach drew 15 skim boarders for the final competition of the summer. For some of the younger competitors, their boards are as long as they are tall, but everyone got to show their stuff and compete for prizes.

Pope said he wanted to skim board competitively, but when he couldn’t find a competition in Maine, he went to Aquaholics to see if they had any information about the sport. Pope said owner Nanci Boutet of Saco told him she didn’t know of any competitions, but said if he wanted to organize something Aquaholics could sponsor the prizes. Pope started with one competition last summer and has increased the number of competitions to four this year.

 “I hate judging. It is tough, especially with the little kids it is hard because they are just starting out,” Pope said.

As he watched skim boarders attentively during their five-minute runs, Pope, the only judge, said he was looking for tricks like spins, getting “air” off waves and a move called “pop shuv-it.” When one of the competitors fell off their board, he said it also matters if they “landed” the trick. 

The competition was divided into two groups by age. The 15 and younger group had 10 competitors and the 16 and older group had five. 

Sydnie Sayward, 8, of Wells, tried skim boarding last year on her brother’s board. Now she has her own board and said she participated in three of the four competitions this year. 

“I just like doing it,” she said. 

Kristen Hurley, 15, of Kennebunk, works for Aquaholics and said she was disappointed at the previous competition because she came in second. 

While she won second place overall, receiving $40, she took first place for Sunday’s heat in the 15 and under group and won Smith brand sunglasses. She said she started skim boarding six years ago.

“I saw people doing it on the beach, and I thought it would be fun,” Hurley said. 

Hurley did a lot of the tricks Pope was looking for and got air off a wave as she rode the skim board away from the beach and into oncoming surf. 

After the “little kids” were done, the 16 and older took to the surf. The “older kids” had some more advanced moves, riding their boards into the waves for air. Nate Bilodeau was the first competitor with some fancy moves, including a headstand on his board in motion. 

Brian Matthews, 20, of Wells shared neoprene booties with his friend Sam Eufemia, instead of having grip tracks on his board. 

“We start [skim boarding] when we get out of school in May, so we get used to it [wearing the booties]. And the spin tricks hit my ankles, so its protection,” Matthews said. 

Matthews took first place in all four competitions, winning $90, a new epoxy skim board and grip tracks. 

“I started skim boarding in the middle of last summer. I just like water sports, and my favorite trick is a big spin,” he said. 

Boutet said this was the first skim boarding competition she’s had time to attend. She has noticed more kids skim boarding and coming into the shop with questions or for gear. 

“I notice after competitions, people come in and want fiberglass boards because they were using a wood board,” she said. 

Boutet said she wants to sponsor more competitions next summer.