Although bodyboarding looks much like surfing, it has some differences that give it an identity of its own. The sport started as a simple alternative to surfing, since it remains much easier to lie on your stomach than to stand on a surfboard. Over the years, however, bodyboarders have pushed the limits and made the sport into an exciting and competitive entity.
History
Although Polynesians have ridden waves in a prone position for centuries, surfboard maker Tom Morey started bodyboarding as we know it in 1971. By 1973, Morey had trademarked the name Morey Boogie and started producing about 80,000 of the items per year. In 1979, the first professional bodyboarding competition took place at Huntington Beach. The affordability of these boards made them popular, but also led to resentment from surfers who did not like the additional people in the water.
Boards
Choosing your board remains important, as taller or heavier people must have larger boards. When you stand in front of your board, it should reach your belly button and it should fit under your arm comfortably when you carry it. The boards come with wide or thin noses and tails. You should choose a board with a wider nose when starting out because the additional surface area provides you with more balance.
Professional Tour
After the success of the first world championships in 1992, organizers introduced a world tour in 1993. Events held on this tour include cash prizes, making it a financially viable competition for riders. By 1995, the tour had prize money of about $200,000 and $335,000 by 1996. In 1999, a rift in the sport materialized, as many of the top bodyboarders in the world refused to join the tour. They believed that many of the venues on the tour had weak waves, which compromised the sport. The reaction changed the sport, as the tour focused on finding more impressive venues to challenge the best riders in the world.
Rules
The International Bodyboarding Association breaks its tour down into regional events and each region must pay an affiliation fee for inclusion. These tours exist in Australia and Asia, Europe, Latin America, Brazil, United States, Hawaii, South Africa and Japan. The events allow the top 24 riders in the world to compete, although others may enter if any of the top 24 does not wish to participate.
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