Body boarding is an offshoot of surfing that involves aerial maneuvers such as flips and spins. Compared to the surfboard, the body board features compact dimensions and a squared-off tail. According to "Transworld Surfing" magazine, avid surfer Tom Morey developed the earliest body boards in the early 1970s. The body board features a lightweight design made from polyurethane and high-density foam. It's a great time to practice your body boarding maneuvers when the ocean swell is low.
Bottom Turn
The bottom turn is a basic trick that involves turning the body board as you reach the base of the wave. Keep your hands over the nose of the body board as you drop into the wave. Lean onto your elbow to dig the edge of the body board into the wave. Extend your legs as you turn to prevent your feet from dragging in the water.
Tuck Knee
Practice the tuck knee on a smaller wave to get comfortable with the necessary movements. Lean back slightly as you drop into the ocean wave. Pull yourself forward across the deck of the body board. Lift yourself into a crouched position with your knees pressed against the deck. Bend one knee to a 90-degree angle while placing your foot flat on the board. Release your hands from the nose of the board. Saltwater-Dreaming recommends extending your arms parallel to the water for increased balance.
Flat Spin
The flat spin is an intermediate body boarding maneuver that takes place at the apex of a small wave. Perform a bottom turn to navigate across the flat bottom of the wave. Lean back as you begin to ascend the inclined face of the wave. Insert your arm into the water as you reach the top of the wave. Pull your arm through the water while rotating your shoulders quickly. Spin the board 360 degrees before dropping back into the wave.
Barrel Roll
Novice body boarders are often intimidated by the barrel roll as the trick requires you to flip upside down for a brief moment. Perform a bottom turn to steer across the breaking wave. Keep your elbows bent as you glide up the face of the wave. Professional body boarder Jake Stone recommends lifting the board off the water to launch off the top of the wave. Rotate your shoulders sideways to initiate the barrel roll. Lower the body board to the water as you complete the full rotation.
