bodyboarding

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 incorrect 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 (e.g., Bethany Beach, DE, USA) have several beachwear shops that sell amateur grade boards ranging from $10 to $50.

The Radical Revolution

Bodyboarding went through a revolution in the 1990´s. It was mainly led by bodyboarders like Jacob Reeve from Santa Barbara, CA, 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.

A Few Notable Bodyboarders

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
• Mikey Dean (Santa Cruz legend)
• Kainoa McGee
• Paul Roach

New School

• Guilherme Tâmega (six-time world champion and the greatest name in the sport after the revolution)
• Ben Player (Current world champion from Australia, editer of Australias Movement Magazine, co owner of Bodyboard label Grand Flavour)
• Damian King (two times world champion from Australia also has the biggest sponsorship deal with Rheopaipo valued at 1 million dollars)
• 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 (One of the best bodyboarders to come from South Africa, retired)
• Andrew Lester (Local of Shark Island)
• Mitch Rawlins (Australian up and coming, also a contender for the Riptide Peer Poll)
• Matt Lackey (Australian Dropknee King, Riptide Peer Poll Winner)
• Sean Virtue(The Australian equivalent of Jeff Hubbard, pushing aussie higher)
• Alex Walker
• Micheal Epplestun (First ever Australian bodyboard world champion)
• Tim Sheriden (Rammy)

Famous bodyboarding locations

Many surfing spots around the world are famous for their hollow, tube-like waves which are favored by bodyboarders. In general, spots favorable for longboard surfing make for poor bodyboardings, whereas most advanced- and expert-level surf spots are also good for bodyboarding. Some particularly hollow or dangerous waves such as Shark Island, Cronulla Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia and Waimea Shorebreak in Oahu, Hawaii, USA. are ridden almost exclusively by advanced and expert bodyboarders.

USA

• The Wedge (surfing) in Newport Beach, California, USA.
• Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii, USA.
• Waimea Shorebreak in Oahu, Hawaii, USA.

Australia

• Duranbah in NSW/QLD Border, 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 on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia
• Luna Park in Australia
• Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
• Alexandra Headland, Queensland, Australia
• Snapper Rocks, 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

Pacific

• Teahupoo, Tahiti, French Polynesia

External links

• 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
• EC Bodyboarding Large, active bodyboarding community and source for information on the U.S.A. East Coast
• Eppo's Bodyboard Shop Largest Online Bodyboard shop in Australia