Every year since 2008, Skim USA has chosen four athletes to be on their All-Star Team. This year, sophomore Willow Huellemeier and senior Tristan Barnes were both picked.

Skim USA directors can nominate one skimboarder each for the trip based on style, attitude, and performance. Athletes must apply to be nominated in the first place, and the final four are the best of the best. 

“The Skim USA All-Star Team is an elite group, and an athlete must be at the top of their game both in and out of the water to make the cut,” the All-Star Team website states. 

Skimboarding is similar to surfing, according to Huellemeier. A skimboard is lighter and smaller than a surfboard, and the athletes start on the sand and then skim smaller waves than surfboarders do. 

“You can either go sideways, against the water, on flat water, or go out and then turn on waves and come in,” Huellemeier said. 

Huellemeier has been skimboarding seriously since she was 12, and has met several new people through the sport, although competitions are technically individual. 

“I’ve made so many friends with everybody,” Huellemeier said. “You’re doing it by yourself, but you also have the community.”

The team has met online a couple of times, since the other two athletes competing are from Florida. The group connected quickly and will continue to develop their friendships throughout the preparation process for the trip. 

“It would be different if everyone was kind of shy and held back and didn’t want to talk, but no one is really like that in the group, so it’s good,” Barnes said. 

In order to apply for nomination, athletes have to come up with a plan to fundraise for the trip and write an essay about their personal experience with skimboarding. 

“I just wrote about my experience and what it’s taught me. Like any other sport, you learn to be determined and to get back up and try,” Barnes said. 

While the lack of knowledge surrounding the competition’s time and place makes it more interesting, it can also be frustrating. 

“[Skimboarding] is very disorganized,” Barnes said. “I love the sport a lot, and the team and everything. It’s just that nothing has gotten any better with how they run the sport.”

Even though there are negative sides, it’s a huge honor to be selected for the All-Star Team. 

“I’m very surprised,” Barnes said. “So many other people were [applying]. I’m very happy that I got in and I get to experience this with other people.” 

Huellemeier feels the same as Barnes. Being on the team is a unique experience that not many people have. 

“It’s just a really fun opportunity,” Huellemier said. “I’m really excited.”