Bodyboarding is a fun water sport where you surf along the ocean’s surface using a longboard. The idea is simple: you lie horizontally on the board and paddle forward with your feet.
Bodyboarding is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise simultaneously. If you want to try out this sport, here’s how to use a bodyboard.
Instead of depending on your legs, you ride on your stomach or chest on the bodyboard. This makes it easier to balance yourself while surfing because your center of gravity isn’t as high as if you were standing up.
If you’re just getting started in bodyboarding, make sure you have some experience paddling before trying out the surf. You’ll also need to practice balancing on your board until you feel comfortable doing so.
As you start bodyboarding, you’ll first need to learn how to place your body correctly to perform the basic maneuvers correctly. Once you’ve mastered these skills, you can begin practicing more advanced tricks.
Stand Up On Your Board
You could always stand on one end of your board when you’re bodyboarding. Stand with your left leg in front of your right foot and your right behind your left foot.
Place Each Foot In A Different Position
When standing up on your board, put each foot in a different position. For example, place your left foot in front of your right and your right foot behind your left.
It will help your balance by keeping both ends of your board from moving too far away from your feet.
Use Both Hands To Balance Yourself
Move your arms forward, backward, and side to side as you stand up on your board. That helps your balance and gives you something else to focus on besides controlling your speed.
Holding Onto Something
When you start bodyboarding, it might take a little practice to get used to being supported by only your hands and feet. But once you master that skill, you’ll find that your balance improves dramatically.
To ensure that you don’t fall off your board, hold onto something solid on land, like a railing, tree branch, or another object (such as a boat).
Paddle Forward With Your Feet
Once you have mastered standing up on your board and holding onto something, you can practice paddling forward on your stomach.
How To Choose A Bodyboard
To choose the best bodyboard for you, think about what type of activity you plan to engage in. For example, are you spending a lot of time paddling, or are you mainly interested in relaxing on the bodyboard?
How much windsurfing and surfing do you already know how to do? These questions will give you a good idea of which board will work well in your specific situation.
The following tips can help you pick out the perfect bodyboard.
Choose A Bodyboard Size Based On Pool Width
Choosing the right-size bodyboard depends on what kind of activities you plan on engaging in. Consider choosing a board between 48″ and 60″ for swimming pools.
Swimming boards that measure 24″ wide or less won’t provide enough support for longer swimmers. Choose a larger-sized board if you swim regularly.
If you prefer to ride waves, then consider choosing a smaller board. Boards less than 28″ wide tend to rock back and forth excessively due to their small size.
This is not ideal for riding waves without losing control.
Choose A Bodyboard With The Right Shape
Bodyboards come in many shapes and sizes. Common shapes include rectangle, diamond, and round. Consider the shape of the board as part of its overall design.
Rectangle bodyboards are popular because they have an easy way to grasp them. They’re made with a flat bottom to easily rest on the sand, rocks, or any hard surface.
A Diamond-shaped board grips better when using both hands, but it’s harder to grip while balancing yourself alone. If you plan on doing some advanced maneuvers while bodyboarding, such as flipping over, this may not be the best choice.
Round bodyboards are excellent platforms for learning basic tricks. Their smooth sides make it easier to perform flips or spins. Plus, you always have a stable base from which to learn.
Rounder boards are also great for beginners who want to develop solid wrists and elbows. One of the best ways to determine whether you should buy a particular model is to visit your local surf shop.
You could try one out during a demonstration at the store. Or talk to the staff about what models work best for different situations.
Another option is to check out the company’s website. Many companies sell demo versions of their products online. By checking the manufacturer’s website, you’ll get a chance to see how well the product performs before buying it.
Consider Your Age And Physical Condition Before Buying
Buying a bodyboard isn’t like purchasing a bike or skateboard.
While it’s true that you don’t need professional training to ride a bicycle or rollerblade, you do require more effort and skill to operate a bodyboard.
When you’re starting out, choose a bodyboard with a smaller deck area.
For example, a 20″ wide board might be better suited for someone just beginning to ride a bodyboard. Then, as your skill level improves, you can progress to a more giant board.
Most manufacturers recommend that you start out with a narrower board. If you prefer to ride waves, then consider choosing a smaller board.
Boards less than 28″ wide tend to rock back and forth excessively due to their small size. This is not ideal for riding waves without losing control.
Another option is to check out the company’s website. Many companies sell demo versions of their products online. By checking the manufacturer’s website, you’ll get a chance to see how well the product performs before buying it.
Consider Your Age And Physical Condition Before Buying
Buying a bodyboard isn’t like purchasing a bike or skateboard.
While it’s true that you don’t need professional training to ride a bicycle or rollerblade, you do require more training to operate a bodyboard safely in the sea.
When you’re starting out, choose a bodyboard with a smaller deck area.
For example, a 20″ wide board might be better suited for someone just beginning to ride a bodyboard. Then, as your skill level improves, you can progress to a more giant board.
Most manufacturers recommend that you start out with a narrower board.
Also, if you suffer from arthritis or other joint problems, find a smaller-sized model. Otherwise, you should be okay with any type of bodyboard.
Conclusion
To conclude, we would say that bodyboarding is definitely a fun and challenging sport. Choose a bodyboard according to your needs and preferences. The key to success with bodyboarding is practice.
Start by practicing at the beach and gradually increase your speed and distance until you master the art of bodyboarding.
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