Skimboarding back at Aliso

The 32nd annual Victoria Skimboards World Championships of Skimboarding will take place Saturday and Sunday — and it’s back at Aliso Beach.

After a sewage spill last year contaminated the skimboarding hot spot, the 2007 contest was moved to West Street — a location not nearly as conducive to skimming.

Trigg Garner, manager of Victoria Skimboards, said he is excited about this year’s conditions.

“Professional and amateur riders from all over the globe will compete,” he said. “We’ve picked only the best, so it should be pretty exciting and intense.”

“They’re also calling for 4 to 5-foot swells.”

The competition will begin at 8 a.m. both days, and will run all day. Eighty amateurs and 60 professionals will be divided into 11 divisions, and will compete in rounds consisting of 10 to 12-minute heats. The best of those heats will compete in the final round, which will conclude each category.

Amateurs are grouped according to age, 8-and-under being the youngest division, 40-and-up — or “the legends category” — being the oldest.

Females of all ages will compete against each other in one division. Pros will take on pros.

Garner said six judges — consisting of new to old-school boarders — will look at overall ability this year, requiring front side and back side maneuvers by all riders.

“This is pretty unique to our competition,” Garner said. “But pros should be able to go any way, not just to their strong side.”

About four riders will compete at one time, and will be judged on their best five waves — three more than what’s required in surf competitions, making this competition a real challenge.

Prize bags will be awarded to the top four boarders in each amateur division. Between $100 and $200 worth of goods — like skateboards, sunglasses and T-shirts — are included. A $6,000 to $8,000 prize purse will be awarded to the top professional rider.

Garner predicts some heat between pro competitors Brandon Rothe and Brandon Sears — two Laguna Beach natives who have torn it up in recent competitions.

“They’ve both got some fluid styles,” he said. “And with Morgan Just [last year’s second-place rider] out of the running due to an injured hamstring, these are the two to watch.”

Pro skimmer Paulo Prietto, who is competing for the 13th consecutive year and took fourth place last year, said he’s eager to compete this weekend.

“I’ve been in the top four a few times, but haven’t placed higher than third,” he said. “I’m hoping this will be my year to take it.”

“A lot of the same people from last year are back and it’s very tight — it should be exciting and challenging,” he said.

Laguna resident and seasoned skimboarder Pamela Simpson, 33, who is the oldest competitor in women’s division, said she is anticipating a great turnout of females this year.

“I’m happy to see girls from places like Hawaii and Japan competing this year,” she said. “It’s great to see more women entering contests on a competitive level.”

She added: “Hopefully one day, we’ll have a pro level for women.”

Simpson hasn’t been able to compete in The Vic for the past two years due to gymnastics injuries.

“I’ve been putting in eight to 10 hours a week at Thalia,” she said. “I’m pretty excited [for this weekend] and I think I’ll do well.”

An awards ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Seven Degrees, and will include cash bars, a slide show and live music by local band Soulag Vibrations. The public is invited to participate.

The Vic began as an impromptu, informal competition between 12-20 skimboarding “buddies” at Victoria Beach. It wasn’t until Tay Haines, sister of Victoria Skimboards founder Tex Haines, suggested they move down the street to Aliso Beach and host a real contest that the event expanded.