How do you belly board?
Stand In thigh deep water Ideally you need to be in thigh deep water, this allows you to get a strong push off the bottom. Push the tail of the board into your hips, while holding the board as close to the nose as possible. You may have to stick your bum out a little! Try the “Belly Button Method”: Stand the board upright next to you—the nose should reach your belly button. For personalized advice, contact us or use our Bodyboard Quiz.
Do bodyboards need wax?
Do all bodyboards need waxing? Not every bodyboard demands wax. Typically, those with sleek, glossy surfaces or boards featuring pe (polyethylene) cores can use a bit of waxing for an extra grip. The addition of wax helps keep the rider securely in place, particularly in warmer water scenarios. Without waxing the board, there is no real traction, and performance will suffer greatly. On an unwaxed fiberglass board, studies have shown that a surfer’s ability to maintain balance decreases by 50%, especially during specific maneuvers like turning or pumping to generate speed.Without surf wax, even the most skilled surfer would struggle to stay on their board, especially in challenging conditions. The wax creates a sticky surface that prevents slipping, allowing surfers to focus on riding the wave rather than worrying about losing their balance.
What if I don’t wax my board?
If you don’t wax your snowboard regularly, the base of the board can become dry and damaged, reducing its glide and overall performance. The sandboard base is much harder than a snowboard, and is built mostly out of formica or laminex with special base materials now being made, that will slide on wet and dry sand. To glide in the sand, the board bottom is often waxed, usually with a paraffin-based sandboard wax, before a run.
Do you need to wax a bellyboard?
It isn’t essential for wave riding but can help if you find yourself slipping when sliding! You only need to wax the topside of your board, where your belly lies. When it’s no longer sticky or grippy, just rub some more on. Easier to Catch Waves. Surfing requires you to position yourself just right, paddle hard, pop up at exactly the right moment, and hope the wave doesn’t leave you in the dust (or tumble you into a reef). Bodyboards are smaller, lighter, and more buoyant—plus, you get to kick with fins, which gives you a head start.Many bodyboarding incidents involve people getting caught in rip currents. Taking some simple steps to stay safe will reduce your chances of getting into trouble and help you get the most out of the sport you love. Always bodyboard between the red-and-yellow flags. It’s easy to be caught out in the sea.Size / Weight If you don’t float enough, it means that your bodyboard is too small and it will be very difficult to catch waves. But if your board is too big, it may be easy to catch wave, but it’s going to be very hard to control it on the face of the wave, especially in powerful waves.As I mentioned before, the learning curve for bodyboarding is much less steep, so you can excel in bodyboarding in the same size waves much faster and have the adrenaline high quicker with it, than with surfing. After my first full summer bodyboarding, I was riding bigger waves into the fall and throughout the year.