OBX SkimJam returns to Jennette’s Pier with $16,000 purse

Top skimboarders are set to compete at Jennette’s Pier July 17-19 as OBX SkimJam returns as the sixth stop of Skim USA’s 2026 season. The event brings professional and amateur riders together in the Outer Banks, with national ranking points and a $16,000 prize purse on the line.

Why it matters: - OBX SkimJam gives professional skimboarders a late-season chance to improve their 2026 Skim USA standings with just two events left on the schedule. - The event also keeps one of the sport’s biggest East Coast gatherings free for spectators. - The $16,000 prize purse is expected to help draw additional top competitors to the Outer Banks.

What happened: - Skim USA will host OBX SkimJam at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina, on July 17-19. - The three-day competition is the sixth stop in Skim USA’s eight-event professional and amateur series. - Professional and amateur skimboarders will compete in the shorebreak at Jennette’s Pier. - The event has become a summer fixture that attracts riders of all ages from across the skimboarding community. - Competitors are expected from Brazil, Mexico, California, Hawaii, Florida and Delaware.

The details: - The professional men’s field includes Gerardo Valencia of Barra de Navidad, Mexico, a three-time Skim USA champion. - Mason Broussard of Gulf Shores, Alabama, enters as the current leader in the 2026 Skim USA standings. - Dane Cameron of Laguna Beach, California, is the runner-up in the 2025 United Skim Tour professional men’s standings. - Leo Freitas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Elian Juarez of Melaque, Mexico, are also confirmed in the men’s division. - Juarez currently sits second in the 2026 Skim USA standings. - Nicole Phillips of Tampa, Florida, leads the professional women’s standings. - Sydney Pizza is 100 points behind Phillips in second place. - Additional top professionals are expected to join the field as the event approaches. - The prize purse is supported by dozens of Outer Banks businesses and skimboarding brands. - Headline sponsors include Surfside Iced Tea, Zap Skimboards, Kona Brewing Co. and Seaside Vacations. - Prize money will be split between the men’s and women’s professional divisions based on competitor turnout. - Amateur divisions range from Minis for riders 8 and under to Legends for riders 50 and older. - Men’s and women’s divisions are offered across multiple age groups. - A semi-professional division will let non-pro riders compete against higher-level talent. - Competition starts daily at 8 a.m. and runs until about 5 p.m. - Professional heats will be scheduled around the best tides and wave conditions, with the daily schedule adjusted as needed.

Between the lines: - The size of the purse and the list of confirmed riders show how OBX SkimJam has become a key stop on the skimboarding calendar. - The event’s mix of pros, amateurs and younger riders underscores Skim USA’s push to grow the sport at multiple levels. - Wendy Caputo, event co-host, said the sponsor support helps the event grow and keeps the professional purse meaningful. - Caputo also said the event stands out because pros and first-time competitors share the same beach for one weekend. - The broader 2026 Skim USA tour includes events in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey and Delaware, plus an international competition in Mexico.

What’s next: - More professional skimboarders are expected to be added before the event begins. - Riders will use the Outer Banks stop to collect points before the season closes. - Spectators can attend free of charge during the July 17-19 competition.

The bottom line: - OBX SkimJam is shaping up as one of the most important skimboarding events of the summer, with prize money, ranking points and a deep field all converging at Jennette’s Pier.