Swellone Skimboard Classic Slides Back into Grayland
If you’ve ever slid across a wood floor in your socks, you already understand the thrill of skimboarding, at least according to Michael Lick, the Westport resident behind the Swellone Skimboard Classic. The annual contest, now in its third year, brings pros, beginners, and curious spectators together on July 19th for a day of side-sliding fun on the beaches of Grayland, Washington.
The Swell One Skimboard Contest in Grayland will feature flatwater skimming with ramps and rails. Photo: Lick
Created in 2023, the Swellone Skimboard Classic is more than just a competition; it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and coastal life. “We have some of the best flatland skim beaches anywhere in the United States,” says Michael. “People don’t take advantage of them.” He hopes the event will change that.
What is Skimboarding?
A skimboarder at the Swellone Classic. Photo: Lick
Skimboarding is a board sport that combines elements of surfing and skateboarding. Riders run toward the water, toss down a flat, finless board, and jump onto it to glide across the shallow waters of the shoreline. Some stick to flatwater and focus on tricks and rails, while others catch shore break waves and ride them like surfers. It’s easier to learn than surfing, accessible to all ages, and a bonus, it doesn’t require waiting for the perfect swell.
The International Surfing Association governs professional skimboarding and includes a United Skim Tour circuit, but the Swellone Classic keeps things approachable for even those just curious about skimboarding.
A DIY Brand with a Punk Edge
Michael is also the founder of Swellone, a surf-punk-inspired clothing brand he launched in 2016. The brand reflects his ethos: small, limited batch run designs, made in the USA, and printed on eco-conscious materials like 100% organic ring-spun cotton or fabric made from recycled bottles. He screenprints, embroiders, and sews everything himself from his shop in Grayland (1628 SR 105, Suite A), although he plans to relocate the shop to Westport later this summer.
Swellone shirts are printed in runs of 36 to 72, and once they're gone, they’re gone for good. “I’m not making throwaway clothes,” he says. “I’m making something with substance. I'm not trying to be your whole closet, just a little slice of wearable art with soul.”
The Event: Ramps, Rides & Radical Vibes
This year’s Swellone Classic will feature pro riders from DB Skimboards, a flatland skimboard company based in Fife, Washington. They’ll bring ramps and rails and show off tricks like 360s, pop shove-its, and kickflips. Think skatepark meets the shoreline.
Event poster for the Swellone Classic.
But you don’t need to know what a kickflip is to participate. The event offers free entry, demo boards, and everyone from pros to first-timers will have a chance to not only win a prize but also be a judge. You can sign up online or on the beach the day of the competition. The contest starts at noon at the Grayland beach approach.
“The biggest challenger is yourself,” says Michael. “This is for everyone.”
Michael Lick at Swellone Skimboard Classic.
Community Roots and Future Plans
Michael’s ties to the area started in the waves and have only grown stronger over time. He has lived in Westport for nearly a decade and has surfed the local beaches for over 25 years. Alongside running his clothing brand, he serves as the Program Coordinator for TRIO Upward Bound at Grays Harbor College. This federally funded program supports low-income and first-generation college-bound students.
“I went back to college at 43 and got my business degree,” he says. “Now I help others figure out how to get past barriers, find scholarships, and grant money.” But his time with TRIO may be coming to an end as the current administration has proposed cutting the program entirely. He’s now applying to work with the Second Chance Pell Program at Stafford Creek Correctional Center, where he will help incarcerated individuals and their families access education and funding. “I’ve always been drawn to the underdog,” he says. “It’s kind of scary, the idea of working in a prison. But it’s also important work.”
Sliding Forward
Despite the unknown career challenges, Michael remains grounded and looks forward to the contest and then his shop relocation. “The ocean always humbles me,” he says. “Right when you’re feeling small, it lifts you up and says, ‘You’re the most important thing to me.’”
For Michael, it’s that paradoxical power and play that fuels both Swellone and the Swellone Skimboard Classic.
Look for Michael’s shop’s reopening in Westport by late summer or fall, and head down to Grayland on July 19th to see what skimboarding is all about.