Riding a Boogie board, or bodyboard, is a water sport similar to surfing except that you do it lying down on the board. The Boogie board is usually wider than a typical surfboard, and you wear flippers to help you maneuver. One fun aspect of riding a Boogie board is the techniques and tricks that can be performed.
Basic Maneuvers
Basic maneuvers are a great way to start if you are a Boogie boarding beginner. Many of these will prepare you for other techniques you can master with more practice. The "Bottom Turn" is the start to many other basic tricks; it requires you to lean to the side and ride the wave into a turn. A "Cut Back" is another fundamental technique. By turning to your left, you can ride into the curl of the wave and ride for a short distance before turning back to the center. "Drop Knee Riding" is riding your Boogie board while kneeling on your board with one leg, with your other leg upright and bent at the knee.
Basic Combinations
Once you have put in some time on your board in the water and mastered some basic maneuvers, you will quickly find yourself attempting combinations. You will be putting together "Cut Backs" and "Bottom Turns" as your ride the waves. Eventually, you will find yourself doing 360-degree turns and trying to get "Air" as part of your combinations. Getting "Air" is one of the more exciting techniques in Boogie boarding. As you ride into a steep wave, the lip of the wave will throw you into the air, and with practice, you will land back down in front of the wave. "Air" is also the next step toward more difficult tricks and techniques on your bodyboard.
Intermediate Combinations
As you gain experience riding your Boogie board, you will be able to execute more difficult maneuvers on the waves. Take what you have learned and try some harder tricks. "Inverted Air" is similar to "Air" except you turn yourself into the wave, against your momentum. An "Air 360" is when you get "Air" and spin completely around, 360 degrees, before landing on the front of the wave. The "Air 360 Reverse" is another 360-degree turn in the air, but inverted against your momentum. At this point, you may even be creating some tricks and techniques.
Advanced Maneuvers
Advanced maneuvers are for those who have mastered the Boogie board and are able to perform some of the most difficult tricks. A "Back Flip" is when you ride up the wave and do a complete flip around and land facing the wave again. A "Front Flip" is the same premise, except you will be flipping forward and all the way around to land on the wave again. The "Air Hubb" is a complex trick combining three techniques. You have to hit the lip of the wave just right and get lots of "Air." Then you execute a spin and a roll, before landing back on the front of the wave. If you have mastered "Spins," you might be ready for more complicated multiple spins, which can be done forward or inverted, or a combination of both.
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