1. A Board by any Other Name
The bodyboard itself is a short surf board with a flat end that's no more than 4 feet long. It has two main parts: the core, or hard material that makes up the inside of the bodyboard, and the foam deck, which can be made from a variety of materials to suit boarder's surfing style. The rider lays flat on his stomach and paddles with his hands. The bodyboard is often informally called a boogie board.
2. A Brief History of Bodyboarding
The bodyboard is thought to have originated when Polynesians rode the waves by lashing together reeds and palm frawns. Hawaiians traditionally used body boards for children too young to surf on their feet with a full-size surf board. Tom Morey created the bodyboard as it's known today when he was seized with the desire to surf one day in July 1971, even though he could find no surfboard. Using some excess polyethylene foam and an old electric carving knife, he crafted a short board for his personal use. It was so successful, it spawned the well-known bodyboard of today.
3. An Easy Ride
Today, bodyboards are popular because they are so very easy to use. Just about anybody can pick up a bodyboard and go, regardless of her surfing abilities. The rider simply carries her board out into the water and hurls herself into the path of a wave, landing on her belly and enjoying the push back to the shore. While it may not be as exciting to watch as surfing, it's a simple way to enjoy the waves. As the rider improves, she can finesse her skills to take longer rides and control where the board travels.
4. We the Bodyboarding People
Bodyboarding soon turned from a way to have fun to a recognized sport. The International Bodyboarding Association was founded in 1988. Over the years, organizers would meet after major competitions to discuss bodyboarding and try to arrive at a uniform set of rules. Eventually these were established, and first used to judge to the World Championships in 1992. The same rules have since been adopted by every major bodyboarding organization, including the United States Bodyboarding Association.
5. Ride the Wave of Success
Riding the waves and performing tricks is a great way to have fun in the water and prepare yourself join a local bodyboarding club, or even compete as an amateur in a bodyboarding competition. Learn to do inverted spins, back flips and the ARS, a combination 360 spin. Riding waves and performing tricks like these should be done under the guidance of a coach to ensure you learn proper form, and to keep you safe as you learn.
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