~~~ Skimboarders Hit the Waves for the VBLA ~~~ Vero Vine ~~~ Vero Beach, FL

Ethan Gumpel Vero Beach is becoming quite the skimboarding scene. This past Saturday, Central Beach was a scene as pro and amateur skimboarders and hoards of spectators crowded the beach by Mulligan’s for the ShoreLB Throw Down! Sunshine and sparkling seas greeted competitors, sponsors, spectators and families gathered to perform and witness amazing tricks, cheer or simply to soak up the fun and sun.

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Skimboard competition came to Vero Beach in 2007 when Russell King, Jr. decided to combine skimboarding with fundraising for St. Jude’s; seven years later, the event has grown. Aaron Hager, father of Roman Vike Hagar, considers the ShoreLB event to be “one of the best; better organized than most Pro events”. Chris Ellison, the emcee “does a great job keeping the vibe happy and the contest moving along”. This year, skimboarders hit the waves to benefit the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association.

ET Baker, of Vero Beach, began skimming around 14 in 2004 on the beach by Mulligan’s. He has gained notoriety and sponsorships from ShoreLB, Skim City and Grape Skimboards over the last ten years. ET has seen an epic rise in skimboarding’s popularity. He attributes the rise to the increase in sponsorship and the “instant access to photos and videos of waves and skimboarders”.

Family fun was evident on Saturday. I observed nothing but smiles and was awed by the numbers of skimboarders politely waiting their next skim. Two of my neighbors, Ethan (10) and Cali Gumpel (17) were competing. Ethan finished first in his first set and third in his second. His sister, Cali, came in first in the All Gals and third overall.

Roman Vike Hagar (9) came from Ft. Lauderdale with his family. Roman has three years experience and loves the sport. Hoping to turn pro someday, Roman says “The ShoreLB guys make it fun and it doesn’t matter if the waves or weather are good or bad”. Speaking of conditions, ET Baker says Vero is one of “the most consistent beaches on the East Coast for skimboarding. Pretty much anywhere on the Treasure Coast is skimable at any time”.

By the way, ET’s favorite skimming spot happens to be South of the boardwalk on Jaycee Beach. View Photo Album on Facebook.

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Sherry Nist

Sherry Nist joined VeroVine.com as a writer, strategizer and promoter of Vero Beach's first and only digital grapevine in August 2014.In 2011 she founded eMedia Connections, a social media marketing & public relations consultancy while living in Charlottesville, Virginia.She is a "serial" entrepreneur who grew up outside Washington, DC, surrounded by technology and mainframe punch cards as the daughter of an IBM Systems Engineer.

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Sherry lived in Mexico City for two of her elementary school years; this began her love for language, culture, Spanish and the adventures of living abroad.Sherry graduated with a BA from the University of South Carolina Honors College in Columbia, South Carolina with a double-major in Economics & International Studies.After graduation, her wanderlust took her to Steamboat, CO;San Francisco, CA; Beijing, China; Washington, DC; Nyack, NY and both Fredericksburg & Charlottesville, VA for the last 15 years.She moved to Vero Beach to stick her toes, permanently in the sand in early 2014.

Sherry's professional work experience has been in the Finance & Wireless Telecom worlds.Her skills include training/teaching, writing/editing/publishing, strategic planning, regulatory affairs, technical & consumer marketing and foreign languages.Spanish and Mandarin Chinese are her specialties.

When not creating, writing and roaming online, Sherry enjoys her two teen daughters:Josephine, 21 & Camille, 18; surf fishing for the "big one"; greens & beach golf; walking Vero's beaches; biking & swimming; shooting photos on her smart phone; hanging at Waldo's & Dario's and socializing/exploring all over Central & South Beach.