Bodyboarding
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 'bat tail' style tails have recently become more popular). They are designed to be stiff so that speed can be maximised, and board builders tend to be more experimental with materials than with their stand-up relatives. The board is made up of a 'core', made from dow/polyethylene, arcel and more recently polypropylene. These are types of foam, and each gives a bodyboard a different amount of flex and control for the rider. Glued, or more recently, bonded via a hot air lamination technique, to this core is a thick plastic bottom (known as the 'slick') which gives the board strength and speed. Two main types of 'slick' are present in modern day bodyboards, the first and the better performing of the two is surlyn and provides much more strength and projection, another type of slick is known as High Density Polyethylene or HDPE which does not perform to the same standard. The top of the board (the deck) is made from a softer foam to give grip and cushioning to the rider. Unlike a surfboard, there is no fin or skegs but most modern boards are equipped with channels allowing the rider to rotate the board. But, like the surfboard, a bodyboard can be made with a stringer or two (usually consturcted with carbon fibre and graphite in a hollow cylindircal shape) 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', 'boog' 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 bodyboards used to ride larger waves such as Pipeline, Teahupo'o, Shark Island and, more recently, [Cyclops, cost anywhere between $200 and $600 Australian, with custom made bodyboards by companies such as QCD becoming increasingly popular as it gives riders the opportunity to specify their own options, just like the professionals of the sport.
Contents |
[edit] 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 his style is not as refined and his ability not as extreme, he is still considered to be the absolute master of the sport, he is still regarded as the "king", with an unbelievably beautiful and smooth surfing style, managing to bring together the fluidity of the Old School with the extreme tricks of today's bodyboarding.
[edit] 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 Spin) where the bodyboarder connects an ordinary El Rollo with an 360° spinner in the air, and the Backflip. The modern day bodyboarder aims to draw tigther lines and involve a montage of tricks on the one wave. Predominant moves of the modern day include inverts, forward and reverse spins in the air, reverse spins on the face, spins in the barrel and recently achieved by Jeff Hubbard the gorf, which is and ARS in reverse.
[edit] A Few Notable Bodyboarders
[edit] 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
- Jay Reale (The first-ever pro bodyboarder from the US East Coast and the most successful)
- Mikey Dean (Santa Cruz legend)
- Kainoa McGee
- Paul Roach
- Michael Eppelstun
- Tom Prince (T-Street)
[edit] 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, publisher of Australia's Movement Magazine, co-owner of bodyboard clothing label Grand Flavour)
- Damian King (Two times world champion from Australia also had the biggest sponsorship deal with company Rheopaipo valued at 1 million dollars, He is currently void of a board sponsor)
- Jeff Hubbard (the "air man" who sets the standards for aerials today. 2005 US Bodyboarding champion and team rider for ebodyboarding.com)
- Andre Botha (youngest world champion to date, two times world champion at the age of 17 and an incredible 'charger')
- Ryan Hardy(One of Australia's best body boarders, winner of Teahupoo challenge and Riptide Peer Poll 2000,2001,2002,2003 and 2005)
- 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, winner of Riptide Peer Poll 2004)
- Matt Lackey (Australian Dropknee King, Riptide Peer Poll Winner)
- Chris White (Creator of the 'Tension' video series, namely one of the most innovative and popular video series in Australian and International bodyboarding)
- Sean Virtue(The Australian equivalent of Jeff Hubbard, pushing aussie higher with the innovation of Tow-in surfing)
- Micheal Epplestun (First ever Australian bodyboard world champion)
- Robin Cardoza(2nd World Championships at Pipeline 1997,popular American woman bodyboarder). First woman to be professionally sponsored by Morey Bodyboards.
- Kira Lewellyn (Australian world champion female bodyboarder)
- Stephanie Petersen (Longest-rated female bodyboarding world champion)
- Brenden Newton (Noted for his seeming lack of regard for surfing life-threatening waves such as Yellowbird Island and more recent discoveries of the Australian coast)
- Manuel Centeno from Portugal became the 2006 World, European and national champion and won also the portuguese cup.
[edit] 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.
[edit] USA
- The Wedge (surfing) in Newport Beach, California, USA.
- Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii, USA.
- Waimea Shorebreak in Oahu, Hawaii, USA.
- T-Street in San Clemente, California, USA.
- Southside at Indian River Inlet, in Delaware, USA.
[edit] 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
- "Needledicks" Northern New South Wales
marcus potts ((nsw crounulla))
[edit] Brazil
- Itacoatiara, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- São Conrado beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (famous for numerous Rocinha bodyboarders)
[edit] Japan
[edit] Pacific
[edit] External links
- Bodyboarders Surf Co (bodyboarding sponsor of famous world champion riders)
- IBA Tour (the governing body of world bodyboarding)
- Bodyboarding .tv Official Site of the United States Bodyboarding Association
- BodyBoardingBlog.com Popular Bodyboarding Blog
- Bodyboarding Official site of Bodyboarder Magazine
- Fluidzone The longest lasting bodyboard site on the web
- Bodyboarding Directory Large directory of bodyboard sites, submit yours
