Bodyboarding
A
bodyboard is an instrument of wave riding consisting of a small roughly rectangular piece of foam, shaped to a hydrodynamic form. The bodyboard is ridden predominantly lying down, (or 'prone'). It can also be ridden in a half-standing stance (known as 'dropknee') or can even be ridden standing up. The vast majority of bodyboarders usually wear
swimfins on both feet to aid in paddling out and taking off.
The bodyboard differs from a
surfboard in that it is much shorter, and made of lighter material. A bodyboard typically ranges in length from 40 to 42 inches for men, and from 38 to 40 inches for women, with a squared-off nose, angular rails and a tail which is usually crescent-shaped (however 'batwing' style tails have recently become more popular). They are designed to be flexible, and board builders tend to be more experimental with materials than with their stand-up cousins. The board is made up of a 'core', made from dow/
polyethylene,
arcel and more recently
polypropylene. These are types of
plastic, and each gives a bodyboard a different amount of flex and control for the rider. Glued, or more currently, heat-bonded, to this core is a thick plastic bottom (known as the 'slick') which gives the board strength and speed. The top of the board (the deck) is made from softer plastic to give grip and cushioning to the rider. Unlike a
surfboard, there is no fin or
skegs allowing the rider to rotate the board. But, like the surfboard, a bodyboard can be made with a
stringer (or two) to further increase its stiffness. If one so desires, a skeg can be purchased and installed in about 1 minute. A skeg can minimize the looseness that is required for many tricks. This has led to a large decrease in the presence of skegs. It is bad to call a bodyboard a boogie board unless the bodyboard is actually a Boogie brand bodyboard. 'Sponge' or '
Esky lid' are derogatory terms used to describe bodyboards.
Although bodyboarding is often mistakenly considered
surfing's easier cousin, watermen, knowledgeable in both disciplines, hold that beyond the beginner level they are equal in the time, dedication, and skill required to become proficient.
Bodyboarding is arguably the earliest form of surfing, and is ultimately derived from the ancient Hawaiian
Paipo board, which was ridden lying down. The modern invention of the bodyboard is credited to
Tom Morey, who sold very basic bodyboards, (known then as
Boogie Boards) by mail order. They were very crude by today's standard, but were easy to ride and became popular.
Bodyboarding is also popular as an amateur activity among travelers. Many towns along coastal areas (i.e. Myrtle Beach, SC) have several beachwear shops that sell amateur grade boards ranging from $10 to $50.
Bodyboarding went through a revolution in the 1990´s. It was mainly led by bodyboarders like
Michael Eppelstun (AKA: Eppo) from Australia, with its innovative tricks breaking all the established rules, and the new generation of Australian, Brazilian and Portuguese bodyboarders.
It must be acknowledged that the big names of the sport faced the new standards with an open mind, embracing the revolution rather than denying it. It was men like
Mike Stewart (
Hawaii)and
Guilherme Tâmega (
Brazil) that helped establishing the revolution set forth by the newcomers.
Most top bodyboarders from the first age fell to the radical revolution but are still praised today as heroes from the old school. Men like
Ben Severson,
Pat Caldwell,
Kainoa McGee,
Fabio Aquino,
Xandinho, Jay Reale, Keith Sasaki and many others will always remains respected as pioneers of the bodyboarding we know today. Mike Stewart is the only bodyboarder from the old school who is still considered a world class top bodyboarder today; although not anymore the absolute master of the sport, he is still regarded as the "king", with an unbelievably beautiful surfing style, managing to bring together the fluidity of the Old School with the extreme tricks of today's bodyboarding.
Aspects of the Revolution
Old school bodyboarding praised a more fluid and easy going style of surfing. The standard tricks were spinners (360° spin) on the wave face either in normal or reverse direction, cut backs and the bodyboarding trademark
El Rollo.
Today bodyboarding, while still praising huge attention to style, is mainly focused on aerial critical maneuvers heavier and bigger waves. The wave is a ramp! Spinners are now aerial, some bodyboarders managing to execute complete reverse 720° in the air (
Jeff Hubbard and
José Otávio are good examples). El Rollos are mostly aerial too, and this basic trick evolved into critical variations, like the
ARS (Air Roll Spinner) where the bodyboarder connects an ordinary El Rollo with an 360° spinner in the air, and the
Backflip.
There was only one thing the revolution didn´t change. It is the thing that makes bodyboarding such great surfing sport. It's the thing bodyboarding is all about: Tube riding!
Since the earlier ages it was recognized that a bodyboard is the ultimate barrelling machine. And bodyboarders from the past still rival today's top bodyboarders in this aspect of the sport.
Riptide, Movement, Three Sixty, Vert and Rot Bodyboarding Magazine are now documenting this revolution.
Old School
*
Mike Stewart (considered unanimously to be the king of the sport)
*
Ben Severson (a pioneer of the sport, second to none but Stewart in his time)
*
Pat Caldwell*
Kainoa McGee*
Ross HawkeNew School
*
Guilherme Tâmega (six-time world champion and the greatest name in the sport after the revolution)
*
Ben Player (Current world champion from Australia also the editer of Australias Movement Magazine)
*
Damian King (two times world champion from Australia)
*
Jeff Hubbard (the "air man" who sets the standards for aerials today)
*
Andre Botha (youngest world champion to date, two times world champion at the age of 17)
*
Ryan Hardy(One of Australia's best body boarders, winner of Teahupoo challenge)
*
Alistair Taylor*
Andrew Lester*
Mitch Rawlins*
Sean Virtue*
Alex WalkerMany surfing spots around the world are famous for their hollow, tube-like waves which are favored by bodyboarders.
USA
*
The Wedge (surfing) in
Newport Beach, California, USA.
*
Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii, USA.
Australia
*Duranbah in NSW,
Australia*"The Box", WA, Australia
*"North Point",
Margaret River, WA, Australia
*
Shark Island, Cronulla Beach,
Sydney, NSW, Australia - site of the prestigious
Shark Island Challenge*
Shipstern in
Tasmania, Australia
*
The Zone in
Central Coast, NSW, Australia
*
Luna Park in Australia
*
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
*
Alexandra Headland, Queensland, Australia
Brazil
*
Itacoatiara,
Niterói,
Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil*
São Conrado beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (famous for numerous
Rocinha bodyboarders)
Japan
*
Kugenuma,
Kanagawa,
Japan*
Chigasaki,Kanagawa, Japan
*
Kamogawa,
Chiba,Japan
*
Kujukuri,Chiba, Japan
*
IBA Tour (the governing body of world bodyboarding)
*
Fluidzone (the world's premiere bodyboarding site)
*
Bodyboards Bodyboard Manufacturer review site
*
Guide to Surfing in Cornwall*
Waves Bodyboard Brazilian bodyboarding site (Portuguese only)
*
Bodyboarding Directory Directory of all bodyboard websites world wide
*
Bodyboarding Community Large bodyboarding community with 10,000 plus members
*
Inverted Bodyboarding Dominant bodyboarding store servicing South-East Queensland, Australia and run by local, national and international bodyboarders.
*
Bodyboarding Magazine Movement International Bodyboarding magazine
*
Bodyboarding .tv Official Site of the United States Bodyboarding Association
