What bodyboard should I buy?
If you’re going to be riding big waves primarily, you should choose a shorter bodyboard. A smaller bodyboard will give you more control and agility as more of your body is in the water. If the surf you’re going to be riding are small waves, a longer board will give you more buoyancy and stability in the water. Bodyboarding is also referred to as Boogieboarding due to the invention of the Boogie Board by Tom Morey in 1971. The average bodyboard consists of a short, rectangular piece of hydrodynamic foam. Bodyboarders typically use swim fins for additional propulsion and control while riding a breaking wave.While bodyboarding may offer an easier initial learning curve, both sports have their unique challenges, joys, and intricacies. The surfer vs bodyboard debate is less about which is easier and more about individual preferences.Over time, “boogie board” became a widely used term for all wave-riding boards, especially those designed for casual beachgoers and kids. A bodyboard, on the other hand, is the correct term for the sport and the board itself.Anyone who has been involved in the sport of bodyboarding knows that Tom Morey, an inventor, musician, surfer, entrepreneur, mathematician and engineer originally from Michigan crafted the first modern bodyboard, which he called the Boogie (see our blog post about this) in 1971.While it is not traditional nor typical, to stand on a Boogie Board, if you are experienced enough, you can definitely stand on a bodyboard.
How to choose the correct bodyboard?
To determine what size Bodyboard you need, it is a generally accepted rule of thumb that you should look for a board that, when stood on the floor, reaches your belly button. Another way to size you board is to make sure that when the Bodyboard is held out in front of you it reaches from your knees to your chin. Bodyboard sizing is determined on height & weight. A rough guide is for your board to be from your chin to your knee or about an inch below your belly buttom if it’s next to you standing on the ground.
Which bodyboard should I buy?
If you’re riding is mostly bigger waves, consider a bodyboard on the shorter end of your optimal size range. If you are a more of an advanced rider consider a shorter board for maneuverability. If you are a beginner, aim for a longer board in your size range. The size of your bodyboard affects everything from how easily you catch waves to how stable you feel when riding them. A board that’s too big or too small can make it harder to control your movements, reduce your buoyancy, and even make it more difficult to catch waves.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.
Are bigger bodyboards better?
Bigger bodyboards are not necessarily better; it depends on your size, weight, and skill level. Larger boards offer more buoyancy and stability but can be less manoeuvrable. While bodyboarding may offer an easier initial learning curve, both sports have their unique challenges, joys, and intricacies. The surfer vs bodyboard debate is less about which is easier and more about individual preferences.