IWS and Ramp 48 are stoked to announce the first ever Fort Lauderdale Skatefest. To celebrate Tony Hawk's exhibit on the science behind skateboarding we are hosting a 2 day skate festival in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. MODS is one of the few locations to receive the Tony Hawk Rad Science exhibit and we are amping that it's right in our backyard. Fore more info on the exhibit, please visit the Museum of Discovery and Science.

 DOWNTOWN DEMOLITION – Skate Contest

* CASH PRIZES * PRO JUDGES * HUGE SPONSORS * 

with guest judges, Pro skater Mark Lake and "Ollie" inventor Alan "Ollie" Gelfand.

This will be a huge skate contest that will be hosted over the two days with divisions in street with a mini ramp jam. 

Saturday 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Qualifiers
Sunday 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Finals

Visit the Facebook event to learn more about the skate contest: https://www.facebook.com/events/667363556622855/#

Professor Paul Schmidt of Schmidt sticks will have his whole Create A Skate workshop set up for anyone to participate and build their own skate board start to finish. 

Registation here http://www.mods.org/events/createAskate.htm

If your a local skateboard brand and want to be apart of this event please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Island Water Sports has teamed up with Quiksilver Waterman and the City of Deerfield Beach to bring you the first ever, Stand Up Paddle series to hit Southeast, FL. IWS is dedicated to delivering a world-class series consisting of 3 events in the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2013. Now featuring the second event in the series, July 13th will be even better than the first. Island's goal with this series is to not only cater to the professional SUP community but to demonstrate different applications in stand up paddling. At each race event we will be offering clinics and demonstration in SUP fishing, yoga and SUP surfing. In addition to our elite 10k and recreational 5k races we will be offering kid and beginner friendly races so the whole family can participate in the fun.

Date: Saturday, July 13th
Location: Deerfield Beach, FL – North side of the pier

For full details, visit:  Quiksilver Waterman Southeastern SUP

Looking to get out of sticky South Florida for the summer? Travel with the IWS sur team and some of South Florida's top up and coming surfers with a 7 day surf adventure.

Our El Salvador Surf Trip Includes:

• Professional and seasoned surf hosts.
• Round trip transportation from Fort Lauderdale Intl. Airport
• Round trip airfare to/from El Salvador
• Daily excursions
• Accommodation at a beautiful oceanfront resort
• Daily breakfast

Dates: July 15- 23
Cost: $1,200*

For full details, visit: http://islandcamps.com/camps/el-salvador-surf-trip

Come stay with us for a 5 day surf trip to Flagler Beach Florida. We stay at an exclusive beach bungalow where you can surf, stand up paddle, skate in the backyard bowl and hang out with the pros. It's open to anyone who wants to learn to surf or improve their surfing skills.

Two sessions to choose from:
June 17th – 21st
June 24th – 28th

Camp Features:

• Professional and seasoned surf instructors
• Round trip transportation from IWS, Deerfield Beach, FL
• Handpicked accommodation in beautiful locations
• Daily transportation, meals, and equipment
• Supervised activities in and out of the water

For full details, visit: http://islandcamps.com/camps/flagler-beach-surf-camp

Summer's almost here and that means surf camp on Deerfield Beach! We've got extended dates, more fun, and adventures planned for summer 2013. Registration is open and if you sign up by May 4th, you can save $50!! This year surf camp will feature:

• Surf, Skim, and Stand Up Paddle instruction
• Guest apperances by Pro surfers
• Tubing on our new jetski
• Beach games like Tug of War, Relay Races, and more
• Snorkeling lessons with our friends from Dixie Divers
• Fun Day Friday's – pizza party & fun surf contest

We've also updated our registration process to make it easy to sign up with expended days & hours. For full details on dates and registration, visit: http://islandcamps.com/camps/deerfield-beach-surf-camps

Summer's almost here and that means Boca Surf School is back!  We've got extended dates, more fun, and adventures planned for summer 2013. Registration is open. This year surf camp will feature:

• Surf, Skim, and Stand Up Paddle instruction
• Guest apperances by Pro surfers
• Tubing on our jetski
• Beach games like Tug of War, Relay Races, and more
• Snorkeling lessons with our friends from Dixie Divers
• Fun Day Friday's – pizza party & fun surf contest

Dates:     June 3 – August 16    11 one-week camps
Time:      9am – 3pm
Ages:      6 – 14 years
We've also updated our registration process to make it easy to sign up with expended sessions. For full details on dates and registration, visit: www.bocasurfschool.com

This past Saturday Island Water Sports in Deerfield Beach, FL hosted their annual Fiesta De Skim contest. The morning started off a bit slow with the low tide but by the afternoon the waves got really fun. The wind was offshore and we had a nice 1-2 foot swell right on the beach. Check out some pics and pro results from the event below.

Pro Results:

1: Alex Hood
2: Dave Scott –  ZAP
3: Colton Wallace
4: Garrett Wolff

Photo Credit: Thais Racy/Angie Hager
Blog Content Credit: Zap Skimboards

Years ago, a hundred yards north of the pier, an event like no other was born. It was called Fiesta de Skim. I was so very blessed to be at this event. It was my first skim contest ever. I arrived at the beach early on that Saturday morning, with my Zap Axe and beach towel to watch the best kids I had ever seen compete for prizes and bragging rights. As I sat there intimidated and amazed, I dreamed of being as good as those guys one day, maybe I could even have an IWS sticker on my skimboard too.  I was only a grom, but what I saw that day impacted my life forever, that day I decided I am a Skimboarder.

This morning, so many years later, I drive over the bridge for yet another skimboarding competition. I am really tired, kind of aggie on not having any coffee, and dreading the setup process and all of those heavy things that have to make their way down to the beach. As the day progressed, I sit back and watch as Fiesta de Skim 2013 is in full effect, kids are smiling, people are cheering, my friends are shredding, and I think, “I am Here, I can’t believe I get to do this.” What an amazing experience this has been year in and year out, from a wide eyed grom, to becoming a bearded kook in a sombrero, I am so very blessed.

So maybe you missed the Fiesta (lame), this is what you missed. As we started running heats, the tide was dropping fast, we took about a 45 minute break at dead low. Paddled in on some low tide fun, got tan and ate pizza. As the tide began to push back in, the party, I mean the Fiesta, was back on. Running heats one after another, trying to get all of these 63 competitors in the water and shredding, we were on a role. Then we ran the first pro heats. Game changers, the pros were ripping, grabbing lines than no one else saw, and airing out some pretty nice waves. This immediately changed the level of competition across the board. The Conquistadors were up next and their level of riding was certainly above par as well. As the tide pushed in, the conditions improved, and Fiesta de Skim 2013 had waves. Yes waves, in Deerfield, I have pictures to prove it. Wave by wave, heat by heat, we found ourselves in the finals and the real show began. Arguably one of the best set of final heats we have ever had at Fiesta de Skim. In the Conquistadors division, Eddie Dixon had one of the nicest liners of the day. The only waves that came close, were the same lefts taken by Dave Scott and Alex Hood during the Pro final. The results reflect who had the best of rides of the day. The winners, if you will, are all the competitors and volunteers that make this event possible every year. So save your sombreros, keep in touch with all your amigos, because Fiesta de Skim 2014 is only a year away.

The O-List is a section in the Oprah Magazine that features cool products that spark her interest. 

Recently featured in The Oprah Magazine, OluKai’s Paniolo (translation: Hawaiian-Cowgirl) women’s flip flops feature high quality leather with a saddle-inspired stitch detail. The comfort benefits come from the anatomically designed foot-bed which provides cushioning as well as arch support. With 6 colors to choose from, it is easy to find a pair to match any outfit! The absolute perfect gift for any girl! Available at Island Water Sports!

With the stylish details and comfort of the OluKai Paniolo sandal it is sure to be on the top of your list when choosing a sandal to wear!

The sombrero wearing, maraca shaking, pinata bursting, mustache rocking event is back! FIESTA DE SKIM will have some of the best skim boarders in Florida! Now not only will skim boarders get to flash your stuff for the senoritas and senors in the contests, but there will be a Best Trick Contest! And for those El Profesionales there will be CASH PRIZES!

Divisions:
Luchadores (groms and first timers)
Federales (can hold there own on a good day)
Conquistadors (you know who you are)
Senoritas (girls)
El Profesionales (pros)

Date: Saturday, May 4th
Time: Registration starts at 8:00am
Cost: $20 preregistered online, $50 for pro division – $10 late fee on the beach
Location: Deerfield Beach, North side of the pier