POD® Handboards Since 1993

Armed with a love for design and a passion for the water, Shane Vassallo spent many years researching and developing his unique handboards before introducing them in the late 1980s.

In 1993, POD Handboards Pty Ltd (now known as POD Ware Pty Ltd) was officially established and has continued to be an industry leader sought after by bodysurfing wave enthusiasts worldwide.

Ironically, when conducting market research, the typical reaction was that bodysurfing handboards, bodysurfing hand-planes or bodysurfing hand-surfers were not popular and that these products would not sell well in stores.

Australia's Oldest Bodysurfing Handboard Brand

Despite the negative feedback, Shane remained positive, driven by his passion for bodysurfing. He continued to manufacture the POD® Handboard's distinctive shape and configuration in a robust, recyclable plastic moulding so strong you could even drive a truck over it. He also continues to hand-finish the classic handcrafted Cedarwood signature model.

It may have taken 20 years, but Shane has proven that this feedback was far from correct.

POD® Handboards have earned their respect on the beach. When people see them for the first time, they are very curious and often ask: 'What is that thing? I cannot believe you can bodysurf across a wave!' or 'Which way do you strap it on.' – They are beautiful to look at and take bodysurfing to a whole new level!

POD Handboard History (1988-2019) Overview

Well before 1988, Shane bodysurfed using the largest foot-size EVA thong (flip-flops). He started experimenting with various materials, shapes, and sizes as time progressed.

Firstly, using recycled surfboard cores and their fins was a fast way to test; once he found the best shape, he took his time shaping boards in Western Red Cedar and Australian Cedar.

Until he could no longer keep up with orders, he invested in his first steel mould, which he uses to produce the classic solid plastic board range to this day.

First Fibreglass Handboard - Circa 1988

Made from recycled surfboard core and fins, who would ever imagine that 30 years later, brands would market themselves as sustainable using old surfboards?

So many shapes were tested, and only this one took us to the bodysurfing competitions. However, fibreglass was not a healthy option, with shin rashes when shaping and glassing, which led Shane to start shaping in wood.

Handcrafted Cedar Handboards - Circa 1990

Wood is fantastic to shape. Cedar is one of many species, so it is easy to work with and craft into form. Sure, there is still the dust factor, but it is so impressive to sand into shape and much easier to seal with a marine-grade finish than fibreglass.

Shane also handmade a Silky Oak fin that is rebated into the board's concave bottom.

In 1994, Australian TV host Tim Bailey interviewed Shane Vassallo on Network Ten Australia about his new cedar POD handboards.

A Different Shape Direction - Circa 1991

This old favourite was a great shape to experiment with. Although the board is made from cedar, it is longer and broader than previous boards.

The new design tail section was an interesting shape. However, there was a lot of water dispersion towards the face. This board also included a handmade Jarrah fin (recycled floorboards) rebated into the board's concave bottom.

Handboard Shape Refined with Fin - Circa 1994

The refined, distinctive shape and configuration have proven to be a winner and best seller, except for the handmade Oak wood fin rebated into the board's concave bottom.

Shane realised the current keel fin provides better direction and control than the surfboard fin shape. He also experimented with shaping a board without the keel fin; when tested, it did not have the same lift, direction, or control.

Signature Shape Cherry Wood and American Walnut Handboard with Knee Fins - Circa 1994

With a love of wood species and their different grain characteristics, densities, and colours, Shane made a limited range, all individually named and numbered, Cherry wood to the left and American Walnut to the right.

Paduk/Silver Ash and Zebrano Wooden Bodysurfing Handboard - Circa 1994

The Paduk and Silver Ash is the only board ever made, and it was also the very first board to be laminated together.

The Zebrano board to the right, also known as Zebrawood, has impressive Zebra stripe characteristics, and only four were made.

Zebrawood is Shane's favourite wood; he was taken by its Zebra stripe grain features to the extent that he also handmade an entry table and draw, length 1400mm x width 400mm x 850mm.

First Full Length Keel Fin Bodysurfing Handboard - Circa 1994

Experimented with a full-length keel fin versus a 3/4-length keel fin, the latter is still shaped to this day.

The board on the left side actually has no keel fin, which, when tested, provided a very different bodysurfing experience.

First Signature Model - Solid Plastic Body Surfing POD Handboard with 3/4 Keel Fin - Circa 1995

Shane was so overwhelmed by the Australian bodysurfing community's desire for the POD Handboard that he went straight to the bank for a loan to build his first steel mould. With the support of his mother, Naomi, and his father, Sam, they mortgaged their family home.

To this day, he has proven a successful venture selling his range of pearl-coloured handboards to the worldwide market.

Hand Body Soul® Cotton Wood Bodysurfing Handboard - Circa 2018

A new direction for POD Ware Pty Ltd, the new laminated cotton Hand Body Soul® Bodysurfing POD Handboard has a concave deck and concave bottom similar to the original POD handboards.

Now, Shane has introduced the new 316-grade stainless steel 50mm webbing hand-strap bridge design.

Now, the bodysurfer has the most significant advantage of choosing which way they prefer to body surf (first in bodysurfing), traditional long handboard position or short handboard position by simply rotating the board 180 degrees and changing the 50mm hand strap and wrist strap to suit.

Cedar and Walnut Wood Bodysurfing Handboards - Circa 2019

EGO POD Handboard perfectly fits in the palm of your hand, usually just past your fingertips.

The tiny EGO was intended for single use and purposely designed to bodysurf with one on either hand. It increases your lifting force and balance and doubles your swimming stroke. The little Ego is sure to boost any bodysurfer's self-confidence.

• "EGO" = Length 225mm/9inch x Width 200mm/7.87inches
• Volume = 485cm^3 or 485millilitres/0.1281 US Liquid gallon
• Lifting Force = up to 70kg/154.324lb per handboard
• Weight = 250 to 280grams or 0.551156 to 0.617294pounds (this will vary due to grain density)

WooHoo! The Woo POD Handboard—the name tells all. Its excellent weight and size will improve your bodysurfing performance wave after wave, and it is also an outstanding competition board.

• "WOO" = Length 300mm/12inch x Width 210mm/8.25inches
• Volume = 705cm^3 or 705millilitres/0.186241 US Liquid gallon
• Lifting Force = up to 90kg/198.416lb
• Weight = 380 to 410grams or 0.837757 to 0.903895pounds (this will vary due to grain density)

FLO POD Handboard

is a wave cruiser with an increased surface area for larger-body surfers. It is 25mm or 1 inch wider than the original model, providing lifting Force, speed, and control even more.

• "FLO" = Length 375mm/15inch x Width 218mm/8.25inches
• Volume = 953cm^3 or 953millilitres/0.2517 US Liquid gallon
• Lifting Force = up to 110kg/242.508lb
• Weight = 460 to 480grams or 1.01413 to 1.05822pounds (this will vary due to grain density)

Let's Look at the Finer Details of the Cedar and Walnut Handboards

For the very first time, Shane has designed ergonomic palm hold and support between the new purposely custom-built hand strap retainer inserts to suit a 50mm/2inch webbing strap (not like other handplanes use of a 25mm/1inch surfboard plug and a thin hand strap).

The palm support relieves the arm muscles from stress (typically from handplanes with flat decks) and, most of all, holds your hand in place, preventing your hand from slipping out from under the padded neoprene strap.

All three bodysurfing POD handboard sizes are CAD computer-aided design, precision CNC machining, laser engravings, hand-finished and hand-assembled.

Without any doubt, the new Sustainable Cedar and Walnut POD Handboards are 100% Custom Built for Bodysurfing, ensuring improved performance in any surf condition, from beginner casual surfer to the elite dedicated bodysurfer looking for a brag-worthy unique product with outstanding performance, whilst offering natural swimming and paddling freedom, improved bodysurfing performance wave after wave, we highly recommend any of the Solid Timber POD Handboards that best suit you.

Full range of POD Bodysurfing Handboards is now available. The original recyclable solid plastic pearl colours are indestructible and withstand any bodysurfing session. The new cottonwood Hand Body Soul® POD Bodysurfing Handboard and our finest handcrafted cedar and walnut wood range are also available.

Off the Self: Photos, Covers and Advertising

A small, proud collection of POD Handboards History, Gowings Department Stores front cover. Photos carving up the new POD bodysurfing handboards, marketing, advertising and fun times.

Front Cover of Gowings Summer Journal 1997 - 1998

Shane Shaping a Pod Handboard on the Drum Sander

Shane at the Post Card Photo Shoot

First POD Handboards Postcard

Brother Damian, Shane's First Handboards

Shane at the Workshop

First Timber Handboard Advertising Tracks Magazine 1995

Wood POD Handboards in a Seed POD

The Future Looks Bright for POD Handboards

Together with designer Shane Vassallo, POD® Handboards fully support bodysurfing innovation. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case.

One brand, in particular, changed from holding/grabbing a handboard to strapping the hand in the natural swimming position. It copied the unique POD® strap bridge design and hand strap construction down to logo placement.

Over time, bodysurfing has gained popularity, and other companies have seen the need to address its challenges.

We are happy that more than twenty years later, new bodysurfing brands are emerging with unique shapes and designs.

To that, we say, "Well done!" This is another giant step forward for the Art of Bodysurfing, and we hope it only continues to improve!