Skim Jam Competition at Edgewater Beach Resort

You’ve skimmed a long way baby! The 11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam is going down Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, 2009 at Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort, a property of The Resort Collection of Panama City Beach. There have been 10 events before but, this year’s competition might be the best yet.

The first competitive skim event was held behind Pineapple Willy’s in 1998, hosted by Tony Johnson owner of Mr. Surf’s Surf Shop. Back then the event consisted mostly of locals, but boasted nearly 80 competitors. The event proved an instant hit and was later taken over by Skim USA, becoming a full-on tour with Panama City Beach being the tour’s favored destination.

“What’s unique about this event here in Panama City Beach,” Tony Johnson said, “is the city itself. After the first competition, all the Pros showed up and had never seen anything like Panama City Beach. They’d never seen the white sand or experienced an atmosphere like this. Just the same, all the kids who came out, witnessed the guys they saw in magazines shred their beach. The weather was great, the event was competitive and it just blew up from there. They love PCB because its organized, its friendly and we’ve got an awesome beach.”

Nearly 100 competitors are expected to vie for this year’s title. With the weather report projecting sunny skies, the turnout is expected to be high as well. Admission is free. Proceeds from the event will go to various non-profit organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and Skim USA.

Though always a competition, this year’s event intends to expand upon the teaching. The reigning Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam champion, Morgan Just, will come early to the beach and host a skim camp on Friday morning. Everyone is invited to come out and learn how to skim. Global Surf Industries and Surftech’s Surf will host stand-up Paddleboard Demos and Regattas throughout the competition.

There will be cash prizes for the winners, but everyone who enters will get more than just sport. Tony Johnson said, “Every kid will feel like a winner. Grab bags will go to those who enter into the competition. We want it to be competitive, but we want to really create a fun vibe.”

Meet and greet the skimboarding pros at pre-check-in on Friday, April 17. The annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam Contest will begin on Saturday, April 18 at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 4:00 p.m. A treasure hunt in the sand for kids 11 and under called Panama Jack’s Lil’ Sandiggers Treasure Hunt will be held at 1:00 p.m., along with other fun-filled family activities on the beach. Sunday’s events will begin with Church On The Beach, a non-denominational praise and worship service, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. before the Skim Jam Finals begin at 9:00 a.m.

The day will culminate with an awards ceremony for the competition’s winners.

To sign up for Morgan Just’s skim camp, contact him directly at mojust88@yahoo.com