A rider-controllable skimboard includes a planar board having a top surface and a connection mechanism mounted to the top surface and proximate a nose of the planar board. The connection mechanism has a vertical pivoting mechanism and a lateral pivoting mechanism. The skimboard further includes a handle mechanism connected with the vertical pivoting mechanism and the lateral pivoting mechanism of the connection mechanism for respective limited vertical pivoting and lateral pivoting of the handle relative to the planar board. The handle mechanism has a length of 80 to 120 percent of a length of the board, such that in a non-pivoted position a handgrip connected with the handle mechanism is positioned within 20 percent of the length of the board from the tail, and such that the limited vertical pivoting of the handle by the rider positions the upper stem portion substantially horizontal and proximate the rider's waist.