Bodysurfing: Mastering the Waves Without or With a Handboard

Based on the excellent response to our earlier blog post How to Body Surf Like A Pro," we wanted to explore the topic of body surfing further.

Have you ever experienced the exhilarating thrill of riding a wave with just your body? Body surfing is all about that pure, raw connection with the ocean. It's the purest form of wave riding, offering a unique and thrilling experience. And the best part? You don't need a handboard to ride the waves. Body surfing, with or without a board, is a thrilling way to feel one with the sea, making it a minimalist's dream.

Whether you're gliding smoothly, embracing simplicity with just your body, or using a handboard for extra speed and control, body surfing is perfect for those looking to tackle larger waves and hone their skills. It offers a unique adventure that's hard to beat and caters to purists and those seeking more control.

With nothing but the waves beneath you, bodysurfing gives a raw, intimate experience that's hard to match. You'll naturally feel and respond to every wave, making it a unique way to enjoy the ocean. On the other hand, a board can provide stability and speed, opening up new possibilities for improved tricks and manoeuvres.

Whether you're after the purest wave or looking for assistance, body surfing has something for everyone. It's a sport that's accessible and fun, whether you're with family or connecting with friends. It's about enjoying what the ocean offers in its most natural form, and the best part is that you can do it anywhere, anytime.

Are you ready to explore the beach and bodysurf waves like never before?

Join us as we discover the world of body surfing. Explore the key differences between body surfing with and without a board, highlighting the unique challenges of each style.

Hopefully, by the end of this blog article, you'll understand why so many bodysurfers are passionate about this water sport and how you can also get started.

Understanding What is Body Surfing

Body surfing is one's connection with the ocean and the pure form of riding a wave. It's just the ocean and your motion gliding through the water. This raw form of wave riding allows you to feel the exhilarating experience.

History and Evolution

The oldest known form of bodysurfing was the ancient Polynesian connection with the ocean waves. By the 1950s, body surfing began to evolve, and bodysurfers developed new techniques and the invention of body surfing-assisted boards.

Today, body surfing simplicity and the pure joy it brings a dedicated community. Although it may not be as commercialised as other water sports, its authentic charm attracts new fans yearly.

The Basics of Body Surfing

Body surfing is pretty straightforward. You swim to where the waves start to break, position yourself correctly with the wave, and let the wave carry you back towards the shoreline. If you are new to bodysurfing? With practice timing the wave moving towards you and swimming in unison, it will soon become second nature.

Importantly, here's what you need to know:

1. Positioning: To catch a wave, position yourself where it's breaking. You want to match the speed of the wave by fast swimming and flutter kicks or dolphin kicks.
2. Timing: Timing is everything in body surfing. Start paddling just as the wave begins to crest.
3. Technique: Once you're on the wave, keep your body streamlined. Arms should be outstretched in front to cut through the water, and your torso should be slightly arched.

Body surfing is all about feeling the wave and responding to its movements. It's a skill that improves with every wave you catch, a learning experience. Whether using a board or just your body, the thrill of bodysurfing the wave is unmatched. It's a journey of learning and improvement that keeps you engaged and motivated.

Popularity of Body Surfing

Body surfing has surged in popularity today. It's accessible and requires minimal equipment, and it's a great, fun way to get your daily workout. A pair of natural rubber swim fins will help you catch the wave faster if necessary.

Think of body surfing as swimming meets; you get the best of both worlds: the cardio exercise and strength benefits of swimming while enjoying catching waves.

• Body surfing is for Everyone: You need a good pair of swim fins and are good to go. It doesn't require an expensive board or other gear. It's a sport that welcomes everyone, making you feel included and part of the community.
• Connection with Nature: Something primal about feeling the power of the ocean all around you without feeling the barriers of life.
• Fitness Benefits:A full-body surfing workout of aerobic and anaerobic exercise improves your overall stamina and strength.
• Thrill: The rush of catching a wave is unbeatable fun that never gets old. It is a pure and exhilarating experience.

Why People Love to Body Surf

People are drawn to body surfing for various reasons:

• Simplicity: No need for equipment means less hassle. Swim out and start surfing just you and the ocean, a minimalist's dream.
• Connection to Nature: Body surfing lets you connect with the ocean on a deeper level. You feel every wave, current, and sea breeze.
• Adaptability: You can body surf in different wave conditions anywhere, anytime. Travelling light without a board or swim fins and enjoying waves in various locations is easier.

Beginners - Four Bodysurfing Tips to Get You Started

1. Start on Small Waves: Begin with smaller, less powerful waves until you get the hang of it to build your confidence.
2. Practice Swimming: Good swimming skills are essential. Practice swimming in different ocean conditions to also build up your confidence.
3. Use Swim Fins: A good pair of rubber fins will help propel and paddle faster to catch waves.  
4. Stay Safe: Never body surf alone until you are confident and inexperienced. Avoid areas with strong rips and currents.

Hopefully, these tips will encourage you to try body surfing, enjoy the ocean, and meet other surfers. Body surfing is about feeling the wave and responding to its movements. Your skills will improve with practice, making every session a learning experience. Whether using a board and swim fins or just your body, the thrill of catching waves will make you ride the waves like a pro in no time

Body Surfing Without a Board

Body surfing without a board is a liberating and thrilling experience. It's about you, the ocean, and the waves. To master this art, you must know the basic techniques and the best conditions. It's a journey of freedom and thrill waiting for you to explore.

Let us explore this minimalist approach's essential techniques, advantages, and challenges, which will help you maximise your experience.

Techniques and Skills

Mastering the art of bodysurfing requires knowing specific techniques and skills. These techniques help you catch waves, stay safe, and have more fun. Here are the 10 key essentials:

1. Positioning: The first step is finding the right spot in the ocean where waves break consistently. Being in the right place at the break makes a huge difference. When a wave is approaching, position yourself to face the shore. You should be where the wave starts to break. Practice finding the "sweet spot" where the wave energy is most potent.
2. Swimming Out: You must first swim past the break zone to catch a wave. Strong swimming skills, slow breathing, and comfort in the ocean are crucial.
3. Wave Selection: Choose a wave that suits your skill level. Beginners should start by selecting smaller waves, carefully observing and choosing those that match their skill level. Watch from the shoreline how the waveforms and breaks; timing is crucial.
4. Timing: It is everything in body surfing. Start paddling as the wave begins to crest with flutter kicking and swimming strokes when you feel the wave lifting you. Use strong, steady strokes to stay ahead of the wave. If you start too early, you might miss it; too late, and it will pass beneath you.
5. Paddling: Use a firm swimming stroke to catch the wave. You can swim freestyle or a mix of arms and legs. Align yourself with the wave motion for the best results.
6. Kicking: Use your legs to propel yourself forward. Maintain a steady, flutter kick to maximise your speed..
7. Catching a Wave: Find the right spot where waves break consistently in the water. Position yourself on an incoming wave and use a fast swimming stroke to catch the wave. You want to match the speed of the wave by kicking hard and using your swimming stroke to propel yourself forward.
8. Body Alignment:The key is to align your body with the wave's motion. When you feel the wave moving you, maintain a straight and firm posture, which helps you gain speed and maintain better control. Arms should be outstretched in front to cut through the water, and your torso should be slightly arched to reduce drag. It helps to gain speed and maintain control. Your head should be slightly up, and your arms can be at your sides or slightly out for balance. In another style, one arm should be slightly behind your back for balance, while the other arm and hand should be directly in front of you, leading the movement.
9. Riding the Wave: Once you catch the wave, aim to stay in the pocket—the area with the most power. Adjust your body position to keep from wiping out, dumped, or over the falls. The best way out is cutting into the wall of the wave back into deeper water behind the wave. Think of it like a dolphin pushing up and out through the water. This part is more about instinct and practice than anything else
10. Duck Diving: This is used to get through oncoming waves. To duck dive, push your upper body under the wave down towards the seabed, using your arms to guide you. Kick your legs up to create downward momentum. This will allow the wave to pass over you, enabling you to get back to the break quickly.

Advantages

Body surfing without a board has unique benefits that can enhance and improve your natural surfing experience.

Choosing the Right Conditions

Picking the perfect conditions for bodysurfing is just as important as technique. The right surf conditions can make your bodysurfing experience much more enjoyable.

• Wave Size: Smaller waves – around waist to chest high – are ideal for beginners. They're easier to manage and safer. More experienced bodysurfers might enjoy shoulder-high waves for more challenge and excitement.
• Beach Type: Sandy beaches are the best for bodysurfing, with a gently moving slope that gradually gets deeper.
• Wave Period: Aim for waves with a more extended period (the time between waves). This usually means the waves are more powerful and have a stronger push, perfect for bodysurfing.
• Wind Conditions: Light offshore winds are favourable. They help to form cleaner, more structured waves. Onshore winds are less predictable and choppy.

Challenges

While body surfing without a board is breathtaking, it comes with challenges. Here's why:

• Physical Demands: This style requires more strength and stamina. You need strong swimming skills and endurance to catch and ride waves effectively.
• Safety Concerns: You're more exposed to the elements without a board or swim fins. There's a higher chance of injury from hitting the ocean floor, rocks, or other surfers.
• Learning Curve:Mastering the techniques takes time. Unlike board surfing, you don't have the extra swim stoke, buoyancy and control, so you rely entirely on your body's movements.
• Limited Wave Size: Smaller waves are more challenging to catch and ride without a board and swim fins. You might stick to smaller waves until your skills improve.

Understanding these basics is an art in itself. It can help you bodysurf without a board and swim fins. With a genuine feel for the ocean and continual practice, you'll ride waves better than before. Unparalleled connection to the coastline, the community and a sense of freedom that's hard to find anywhere else.

Always respect other swimmers and surfers, be mindful of safety rules, and enjoy the ride!

Handboard vs Handplane Terminology

A woodworking craftsperson knows a "hand plane" has a specific and distinct meaning related to a woodworking tool. Its sole purpose is to shave the wood surface. When discussing bodysurfing boards, often referred to as handplanes in that context, to avoid confusion or conflation with woodworking tools, the term "handboard" is preferred in this article instead of "handplane" when referring to bodysurfing boards.

Body Surfing with a Board

Bodysurfing with a handboard can take your wave-riding experience literally to a new level. A handboard, or hand surfer, also known in recent times as a handplane, is a small, lightweight board you strap on your preferred hand while riding waves that enhances your speed, lift, and control, making the waves even more thrilling.
We will explore the benefits and techniques of how a board can enhance your bodysurfing.

Benefits of Using a Handboard

Using a handboard elevates your performance, while bodysurfing offers several key benefits.

• Increased Speed: A handboard helps you cut through the water more efficiently, allowing you to catch waves faster. The hydrodynamic shape of the handboard reduces drag, giving you a significant speed boost.
• Enhanced Lift: Using a handboard will give you more lift, allowing you to stay on top of the wave and perform more moves without getting dragged down.
• Greater Control: With a handboard, you have better control over your direction and positioning on the wave. You can steer the handboard more precisely, making it easier to ride waves exactly as you intend.

These benefits make handboarding excellent for any bodysurfer looking to take their skills to the next level.

Techniques for Handboarding

Body surfing with a handboard requires specific techniques and skills. Mastering the correct method is crucial to making the most out of your handboarding experience. Here are five handboarding tips:

1. Position and Strap On: Place your hand on the handboard in your natural swimming position. Securely strap it on, ensuring your fingers point towards the front of the board.
2. Paddling to Catch Waves: Use a strong, even paddle to move out to the waves. Your hand with the handboard should be outstretched before you, slicing through the water.
3. Catching the Wave: When a wave approaches, kick hard and push your arm with the handboard forward. Feel the wave lift you up and start riding it.
4. Riding Left and Right: Use your body and the handboard to turn left or right. Lean and press down on the board in the direction you want to go. The sharper the turn, like steering a bike, the better.
5. Body Positioning: Keep your body streamlined. Your other hand can help balance and steer, while your legs should be close together to reduce drag.

These techniques are essential for getting the most out of your handboarding experience. It is all about feeling the wave and reacting quickly. Regular practice, you will glide across the wave with grace and speed.

Using a handboard

is not just a tool in bodysurfing; it's an extension of your arm. Integrating a handboard into your sessions will elevate your surfing performance.

Safety Considerations in Body Surfing

Safety is key when you're out in the ocean bodysurfing. What to look out for and how to prepare makes all the difference, regardless of your bodysurf with or without a board and swim fins.

Review some important safety considerations to keep you secure while having fun.

Understanding Ocean Conditions

Before you even think about jumping into the water, it's just as important to understand the ocean's behaviour. Reading the waves and currents is a fundamental skill for any body surfer.

• Waves:Look for consistent patterns. Are the waves breaking predictably? This helps you anticipate where and when to catch a wave. Avoid places where waves break too close to shore.
• Rip Currents:These powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving, draining water will drag swimmers away from the shore. Spot them by looking for discoloured water or areas where waves aren't breaking. If caught in one, never panic. To get out of the rip, swim adjacent to the shoreline until you can safely swim back to shore.
• Other Hazards: Submerged rocks, reefs, strong undertows and bluebottles can pose serious dangers. Always ask local surfers or lifeguards about the conditions and any potential risks.

Warm Up Stretches Watching The Surf Conditions

Warming up is just as crucial as understanding ocean conditions. While you observe the surf, stretch and warm up. This can help prevent injuries and prepare your body for the workout that bodysurfing can be.

Try these stretches:

• Warm-Up Rolls: Gently roll your neck and shoulders to release any tension.
• Arm Rotations:Extend your arms to the sides and make small and more significant circles to warm up your shoulder joints for paddling.
• Leg Stretches: Stretch your hamstrings and calves since you'll kick a lot. Simple lunges or toe touches can make a big difference.
• Back Stretches: Twist your torso gently to both sides; this helps with flexibility and reduces muscle injury.

By watching the waves while warming up, you're not only preparing your body, you will be ready to take on the surf conditions.

Gear Recommendations

Whether bodysurfing without a board or using a handboard, having the right equipment can enhance your safety and performance. Here are some recommendations:

For Bodysurfing without a Board:

• Swim Fins: These provide the extra thrust needed to catch waves more efficiently and control your direction.
• Wetsuit or Rash Guard: Protects against cold water, sunburn, and abrasions from sand.
• Neoprene Socks: Helps to avoid blisters and provides extra comfort with fins.

For Bodysurfing with a Handboard:

• Handboard: Offers better lift speed and control. Opt for a comfortable, well-balanced model.
• Leash: Keep your handboard attached to you, preventing loss in big waves.
• Fins Savers: Reduce drag and lose fins.

All the above gear includes swim fins, wetsuits, fin socks, and savers. Using quality gear boosts your performance and adds an extra layer of safety.

By understanding ocean conditions, warming up correctly, and using the right gear, you'll have a safer and more enjoyable bodysurfing experience.

Remember, the ocean is unpredictable; taking these precautions can significantly improve your safety.

Bodysurfing Community and Culture

Bodysurfing isn't just about wave riding; it's a lifestyle that brings us together. The community and culture surrounding this excellent water sport are deeply connected to the ocean. It is vibrant and welcoming. The culture is rich and varied, with famous locations and local meet-ups. There's always a place for you in the bodysurfing family.

Our Last Words

Body surfing, with or without a board, offers an exhilarating connection to the ocean. Using a board allows you to achieve increased speed, lift, and control, making it ideal for taking on any waves.
Without a board, you have an unmatched sense of pure freedom and agility, allowing you to become one with the wave without limitation.

Regardless of your preference, both approaches offer distinct thrills, making it worthwhile to try each method. Body surfing caters to all skill levels and provides an incredible workout.

And always remember – stay safe, know your limits, and respect the ocean.

Dive in and let your body ride the waves!

Stay tuned for more tips on mastering this incredible sport.