The history of Zap skimboards

Zap skimboards has become a powerful force in the world of skimboarding. The founder of the zap skimboards is Bob Smetts. Bob is from Venice Florida. He created his first skimboard in his backyard in 1983. At the time, Smetts was building custom surfboards and sailboards. Having grown up in Venice, it was here that he started skimboarding at the age of 7 on some homemade plywood slabs. And right at the young age of 15, Bob made his first surfboard. Then, in 1975, he moved to the north shore of Oahu so he could hone his surfing and board building skills. He later returned to Florida in 1981 and married Karla Smetts and started a family. Bob said, “We had five children and made a lot of good memories.” He was still building surfboards and sailboards under the name “Smetts” and “Windflight”.

Here’s a quote from Bob: “The first Zaps were built to supplement my income from building surfboards. At first it was just cheap, but over time the skimboard design and build process began to develop and mature. Skimboards became our only business, I call it Zapology.” The manufacturing process for Zap skimboards included many of the tools, molds and equipment they use today and was designed on the spot and Zap grew to become the nationally famous brand it is today. And in the early 1990s, Zap found its way onto beaches and into the hands of skimboarders in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and the Caribbean.

What started out as a side income building board for the beginner and entry level consumer market has grown into one of the biggest and most respected names in the skimboarding industry. Zap was simply struggling to fill a product gap in a sprawling sport on a shoestring budget. Now every skimboarder in the world knows Zap. They have also become a major force in Asia and continue to expand their directories around the world. Their boards are also proudly made in the USA.

If you go skimboarding this summer and run into other skimboarders, I can almost bet the farm you’ll see one of their skimboards hitting the waves. If you get the chance, I urge all skimmers to grab a Zap board and hit the waves. Once you do, you’ll never go back.

Stay safe and have fun.