GUILLERMO GARCÍA RODRÍGUEZ
BodyBoard A GUIDEBOOK FOR BODYBOARD BEGINNERS
Table of Contents
1. What is the BodyBoarding? 1.1. BodyBoard History
2. Rules 3. Equipments 3.1. Board 3.2. Fins 3.3. Wax 3.4. Neoprene
How to do BodyBoard? Bodyboard Dictionary
Bodyboard definition... It´s a water sport, which is based on sliding on the surface of the wave with a board called "BodyBoard board" of polyethylene or polypropylene
1.1. BodyBoard History Since 1780 it is said that the Hawaiians took waves on wooden boards of a tree of the islands, those boards were called alaia. Tom Morey is the first to use a bodyboard when his surfboard was split in half surfing in Hawaii, he used a part of the board to catch a wave that would take him to shore. In the 90s, thanks to some riders, the acrobatics were announced. Even developing very complex maneuvers, such as the Air Roll Spin ...
Rules
WAIT YOUR TURN: IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN WAITING LONGER THAN YOU, HE OR SHE HAS PRIORITY IN THE NEXT WAVE. THE SURFER WHO IS PADDLING CLOSER TO THE PEAK HAS THE PRIORITY TO TAKE IT. ONCE THE WAVE IS TAKEN, IT IS ONLY OF HIM OR HER. ALSO, LEAVING A WAVE TO SOMEONE EVERY DAY OF SURFING IS THE BEST WAY TO MAKE FRIENDS AND BECOME LITTLE BY LITTLE LOCAL.
DO NOT TAKE THE WAVE OF ANOTHER: IT IS VERY DANGEROUS THAT THERE IS MORE THAN ONE SURFER PER WAVE. WHEN YOU TAKE A WAVE, ALWAYS LOOK INWARD BEFORE PICKING IT UP. CATCHING ANOTHER'S WAVE IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE IN THE BODYBOARD AND SURF.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF ANOTHER RIDER: SHARE THE WAVES: IF TWO SURFERS ARE ROWING A WAVE THAT WILL BREAK FOR BOTH SIDES, TRY TO SHARE IT. IF POSSIBLE, SHOUT "I'M GOING TO THE LEFT, YOU'RE TO THE RIGHT." IF YOU ROW A WAVE AND YOU REALIZE THAT YOU DO NOT ARRIVE, SHOUT TO THE NEXT SURFER IN FRONT OF YOU, HE OR SHE REMEMBERS IT. THIS WILL CREATE A VERY GOOD FEEELING.
WHEN YOU ARE ENTERING THE WATER, ROW AWAY FROM THE AREA WHERE THEY ARE CATCHING WAVES. IF YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO RUN INTO A RIDER WHO IS CATCHING THE WAVE, DO NOT GO TO THE UNBROKEN PART OF THE WAVE BECAUSE YOU CAN GET HIT. ROW BEHIND HIM AND DO THE DUCK BY THE BROKEN PART OF THE WAVE. WHEN YOU COME SURFING THE WAVE AND YOU SEE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HIT SOMEONE WHO IS PADDLING, TRY TO AVOID IT OR GET OUT OF THE WAVE.
TEACH THE NOVICES:
DO NOT BE PREJUDICE:
IF YOU SEE A NOVICES TEACH HIM OR HER AND GIVE A COUPLE OF TIPS. YOU CAN SHOW WHICH IS THE SAFEST PLACE TO LEARN, OR EXPLAIN THE MOST IMPORTANT RULES. ENCOURAGE HIM OR HER TO ENJOY BEING IN THE WATER. THEN LET IT CATCH A WAVE, IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL HAPPY TOO.
DO NOT PREJUDGE ANYONE BY LOOKING AT THEIR SEX, APPEARANCE, THEIR WAY OF SURFING, THEIR COLOR, RACE OR RELIGION.
DO NOT VIOLENT:
KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS:
NEVER GET ANGRY WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS GOTTEN INTO YOUR WAVE, IT MAY HAVE FAILED. IT IS BETTER TO TEACH THE SURFER WHAT HE DID WRONG. THE REST OF THE SURFERS WILL SUPPORT YOU. IF THE OFFENDER CONTINUES WITH HIS ATTITUDE, JUST ROW AWAY TO A PLACE THAT YOU CAN SURF IN PEACE.
IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER, NEVER SURF A LOT OF PEOPLE (NOWADAYS IT IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN BEFORE). YOU CAN GO TO SCHOOL ONE SEASON. IF YOU ARE AN INTERMEDIATE SURFER, THINK IF YOU CAN CATCH WAVES ONE DAY THAT IS VERY BIG. AND VERY IMPORTANT, DO NOT LET ANYONE CONVINCE YOU TO GET INTO BIG WAVES IF YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOT
EQUIPMENTS
The board is fundamental to been able to make BodyBoard, it is what will allow us to slide on the wall of the wave.
The fins are another fundamental part of this sport, these will help us to chop the wave, to paddle faster, and be more agile in the water.
The wax is very important, this when put on the board, will allow us to be more clinging to the board and not fall off this. It has to be placed in specific areas of the board.
The neoprene does not matter much, you will put it in function of the cold or heat that you pass. But in winter, it is better to wear one.
How to do BodyBoard? To get started... 1º Safety is first. If you want to be able to do bodyboarding, then you should already be a good swimmer. You will need to use many of the swimming techniques to propel your board, plus you will need to be a good swimmer without your board if you fall. Additionally, you should only attempt bodyboarding if you know that maritime conditions are safe. You should try bodyboarding with a friend or instructor instead of doing it on your own. Once you've got used to it, you can do it alone. 2º Get a leash. You will need to attach the strap to your arm. This will prevent you from losing the board when you fall. Hold the strap firmly to your arm, but loose enough so that your arm is still comfortable. The belt will keep your arm and the table together. 3º Get a neoprene suit or a lycra shirt. If you are swimming in colder water, you will need a wetsuit to keep your body warm. A lycra shirt will also serve, preventing your body from getting irritated while you are practicing bodyboarding and protecting yourself from the sun. 4ºC obtains fins. Get some fins with ropes and attach them firmly to your ankles. You will need fins to help you kick faster, making it easier for you to catch a wave. T 5ºThe size of the table varies depending on your weight and height, but the most common is: - If you are a beginner that the board will pass you by two fingers, this will achieve greater buoyancy and lower speed. - You already have a medium level, your board can reach the height of the navel having a midpoint between speed and buoyancy. - Finally, when you have an advanced level, and can be considered professional, you can obtar for a table that reaches two fingers below the navel, having more speed and less buoyancy, which will help you perform maneuvers and tricks. 6ºWalk toward the water. Walk to the water with your board until it reaches your knees. Lift your feet with each step so you do not get stuck. You should start looking for waves of fast water that go straight to the beach.
Catch a wave... 1ยบ Row. Once the water reaches your knees, climb to the board in the correct position and start paddling towards the waves. Use the rowing motion with your hands and kick with both feet just below the surface of the water for more propulsion. 2ยบ Find your wave. If you are just beginning, you should avoid any wave that is too high and fast. Choose waves that go directly to the beach and that do not make you go too much inside or too fast. Once you have found your wave, you should turn to the beach and start kicking towards it, waiting for the current of the wave to push you forward. The wave should be steep enough to move forward, but it does not have to be broken yet. To improve your chances of finding a good wave, look at the place where most of the waves break. 3ยบ Go to the wave. Once the wave is about one and a half meters behind you, you should start kicking as hard as you can while you paddle. You can also lean forward to gain some extra speed and make sure you really catch the wave. Some people prefer not to row with both hands, but keep one hand on the board and row with the other to maintain more control. If you want to move to the right, you can hold the nose of the board with your right hand and row with the left; if you want to move to the left, then you can hold the nose of the board with your left hand and row with the right. 4ยบ Descend on the face of the wave. You should feel that you are going faster as the wave approaches you. Keep kicking while descending the face of the wave if you see that it does not have much force. You can also lean slightly towards the wave to improve your speed. Here you can also decide to go to the right or to the left. To go to the left, lean your hips to the left side of the board and place your left elbow on the left side of the board deck, while holding onto the top right edge of your board with your free hand. To go to the right, do the opposite. 5ยบ Mount the wave until you reach the shallow part of the sea. While riding the wave, remember that your objective should be to reach a "trim" (cut), which means the point at which your board is advancing flat on the surface with the highest possible speed. You will need to lean forward enough to take momentum, but not so much so that your board does not submerge. This will reduce your resistance and give you more space.
And now... 1ยบ Learn the terminology of the wave. Understanding the different parts of a wave will help you improve and learn maneuvers. These are some of the parts of a wave that you should know: -Lip: the part of the wave that breaks and moves up and down. The tilt of the wave determines the shape of the lip. - Foam: this is the part of the wave that has already been broken. -Cara: the part of the wave without breaking and shaped like a wall. -Brazo: the part of the wave that is outside the section of the break in the face of the wave. -Low zone: the flat water that you see in front of the breaking wave. -Tube: the gap between the fall of the lip and the wall of the wave.
And now... 2ยบ Learn the parts of the board. You will need to know what the different parts of the table are so that you can learn maneuvers. -Deck: the part of the table on which you throw yourself. -Background: the base of the table that has a smooth or slippery surface. -Nose: the front of the board that you hold. -Nose bumps those are the small bulges in each corner of the table that you will hold with your hands. -Bumpers: the extra layer of foam that passes through the nose and tail, helping to prevent the slippery bottom from peeling. -Rail: the side of the bodyboard. -Tail: the back of the table. -Channels: the areas at the base of the board that reduce resistance and give speed. -Stringer: the rod that holds the board rigid. - Template: the shape of the board. -Rocker: the plain level of the bodyboard table.
And now... 3ยบ Learn to do the duck. This is a skill, which allows you to take your board under a breaking wave. This is what you have to do: Row to the wave to gain more speed. When the wave is about 1 or 2 meters away from you, slide forward and grab the rails of the board, push the nose of the board under the surface by arching your back and pushing the nose down with your hands. Go as deep under the water as you can. Use your knees on the deck, near the tail, to keep going down and forward. Immerse yourself under the wave, bringing your body close to your board. As the wave passes over you, pull the nose of your board up and out behind the wave.
BodyBoard Dictionary A
Aero spinner or aerial reverse: aerial maneuver in which the trunk is rotated as if a roll was started, but which returns to its initial position, made in the air.
D
Drop Knee: Maneuver consisting of placing one knee and one foot on the board.
G
Glassy: smooth sea. Gnarly: A wave that scares and impresses.
Dropd: A very hollow descent from Going Off: A peak working the crest of the wave to the bottom. perfectly. Goofy: Facing the wave on the left. Aerial inverted: aerial maneuver in Dropping In: Take a wave that is which the trunk is rotated as if a roll already occupied, take the take off Green Room: The inside of the barrel. started, but that returns to its initial at the same time as another wave position. that is in the inner part of the wave. Ground Swells: Waves formed at a great distance, well formed and ARS: "Air Roll Spinner" Air Duck dive: Basic maneuver that powerful. maneuver mix of the roll and the consists of passing the wave below. Glassy: When the face of a wave is spinner. without wrinkle, either by wind Dune: A very large wave in the from the coast or without wind. shape of a peak.
B
E
Backflip: aerial very inverted, which consists of a kind of looping, whose fall is made with the legs above the Booties: Neoprene socks that prevent blisters when using fins, or head and facing the wall of the that cool your feet. wave... Barrel: The lip of the wave covering you. Beach Break: Breaking with the sandy bottom. Bodyboarder: This is you if you practice this sport Bottom turn: maniobra básica que consiste en hacer un viraje en la parte inferior de la ola, permitiendo remontarla con una velocidad máxima, óptima para la realización de maniobras aereas. Bolt: Wave that the wall ends closing.
C Choppy: scrambled sea, difficult driving on the wave.
F Fan: The water that comes out of the edges of the table when we are turning, that looks so beautiful in the photos. Fetch: Meteorological term that determines the size of the wave. Wind speed x Wind blowing time x Distance over which the wind blows. Fetch: Meteorological term that determines the size of the wave. Wind speed x Wind blowing time x Distance over which the wind blows. Fo Ward Spin: is basically a 360 or spin.
H Hot local: Type of aggressive location, which should not be pissed off a lot because it can throw you out of the peak or worse.
I IBA: It is the International Bodyboarding Association, world bodyboard organization, which organizes the world championship. Inside: Where the waves are breaking, remaking and breaking again if they are large enough.
J
Jump a wave: Catch a wave previously taken by another rider. (always preferred by the one closest to the peak). Jag: Get out of the water after a romp on the wave.
Cut back: Maniobra consistente en un giro sobre la parte superior de la Fetch: Meteorological term that ola para volver a entrar de nuevo en determines the size of the wave. ésta. Wind speed x Wind blowing time x Lip: Water curtain that the wave Distance over which the wind throws forward when it breaks, blows. especially when the wave is hollow.
L
Fins: indispensable to catch the wave more easily and to move forward.
Leash: strap that links the rider to the board. Local: A local surfer of a spot, that spot is the one that most visits or lives nearby.
M
S
Mike Stewart: BodyBoarder, World Bodyboard Champion, one of the pioneers of the sport. He currently has his own bodyboard company, called Science BodyBoards
Scab: A rock or reef.
N
Secret spot: Spot rarely frequented by riders. (there are fewer) Series: Succession of chained waves. Shape: Shape of the table.
Natural: Facing the wave on the right. Like regular
Shore-Break: Breaking of shore waves, on very little background.
Nose: Front part of the Bodyboard.
Shred: Ability to execute fast and repeated turns.
O Off the lip: any type of maneuver that is performed on the lip of the wave. Off-Shore: Earth wind towards the wave. Over the falls: It occurs when the wave drags you down the tube and pulls you down.
P
Slick: Sliding surface of the table. Spinner: 360 degree rotation on the wave. Also known as 360. Spot: Place of waves conducive to bodyboarding, surfing. Stand up: practice the standing bodyboard. Stringers: Carbon bar that goes inside the bodyboard that gives strength and hardness.
Period: Time between two waves.
T
Peak: Wave that rises perfectly, forming a triangle and that breaks regularly to both sides.
Take off: Initial vertical descent of the wave.
Pipeline: Hawaiian wave of the north shore perfect for the BodyBoard practice. Point Breaks: The wave is formed as a reaction to a geographical feature. Prone: practicing the recumbent bodyboard, is the standard way of bodyboarding Pumping: Great Swell.
R
Tail: Back of the BodyBoard.
Top turn: Turn at the top of the wave. Town in: Take waves with a jet ski, instead of having to row them. It's done when you're going to catch huge waves like NazarĂŠ in Portugal Thruster: Body with three channels. Twin fin: Body with two channels.
W
Rail: BodyBoard side.
Wind "offshore": Wind facing the wave.
Reef-Break: Boulder with rock bottom.
Wind "onshore": Wind with your back to the wave.
Regular: Facing the wave on the right. Like natural
Wax: Substance that is applied to the bodyboard and that allows a better adhesion of the body to the board.
Reverse: A spinner in the opposite direction. Rider: Person who practices some sport on board. Roll: Maneuver that consists of doing a somersault around the wave. This maneuver can be aerial, around the lip, inside the tube, etc. It is the basic maneuver that has been evolving to the ARS's, backflips ...
Wedge: A peak in which the wave joins with another coming from another direction Wetsuit: Literally "wet suit". It can be a neoprene or a lycra. Wind Swells: Waves formed near the coast by local winds.