Skimboarding, also known as skimming, is a boardsport in which a skimboard is used to glide across wet sand and the water's surface to meet an incoming breaking wave and ride it back to shore. Unlike surfing, skimboarding begins on the beach by dropping the board onto the thin wash of previous waves. Skimboarders use their momentum to skim out to breaking waves which they then catch and ride back to shore in a manner similar to surfing.