[singlepic id=465 w=320 h=240 mode=watermark float=right]At the United Skim Tour’s final event this weekend in Balboa (Exile & Main Street Skim’s “Octoberfest”), South Laguna Beach’s Sam Stinnett proved  true to the end with another commanding win on this year’s UST. (Click these photos for larger view.)

Through the 7 global skim events prior, Sammy maintained first or second position ranking in 5 of the events. When 2nd-ranked Brad Domke was dropped from this weekend’s Octoberfest semi-finals, the gap between Sammy and his next contender, Blair Conklin, widened ostensibly.

[singlepic id=466 w=320 h=240 mode=watermark float=left]As it turned out, fellow South Laguna Beach peer Blair took 2nd at the Octoberfest Skim Event, thereby clenching his 2nd-place ranking overall in the UST; it was a surprising finish for a first-year pro. Oddly, only one other first-year pro has ranked as highly in his first go-round … Sammy Stinnett, went he went pro at the age of 15.

Together, Sammy, now 19, and Blair, now 16 are the two youngest pros – ever – to dominate the UST rankings. It promises many great years of viewership to those of us who prefer to stay beach-bound.

As I’ve noted before, South Laguna Beach is renowned worldwide for its great skimboarding, particularly at West Street Beach (which I’m overlooking now as I type), 1,000 Steps Beach and Aliso Creek Beach. And, while the UST may be wrapped for yet another season, rarely a day passes when global amateurs and pros alike are NOT practicing their moves at these beaches, so be sure to check out this one-of-a-kind action in Laguna Beach!