Bodysurfing with a POD Handboard
Place your hand on the handplane in the natural swimming position and strap it on firmly. Point your fingers towards the POD logo while keeping your thumb on the outside (as shown in the top middle photo).
For our left-handed enthusiasts, adjusting the wrist cord to the left side of the hand surfer is a breeze. Simply follow these steps to ensure a comfortable and secure fit.
When duck diving under the wave, hold the POD handboard with both hands and the handboard in front or under you (see photo, top right).
Use the same principle when swimming out to the break with a surfboard or a bodyboard. Swim with the top half of your body up out of the water, using the side of the POD handboard to cut the water's surface, and then stroke the handboard towards your chest - not to your side of your body as this will unbalance your swimming stroke.
When catching a wave, skim or glide the handboard across the water and lift your body out of the water as fast as you can.
The principle to remember is Lift, Speed, and Control! This means you should aim to lift your body out of the water quickly to reduce drag, maintain a high speed, and better control your bodysurfing experience.
The quicker you lift your body out of the water, the less drag you will feel, and the faster you will bodysurf across the wave. You can achieve this by pressing down on the handboard in a push-up action, which involves using your upper body strength to push the handboard down and lift your body up and then moving your other hand behind your back for balance handboarding. . (See steps 1-3 in the bottom three photos).
You can be confident in your choice with the entire POD body surfing board range. Each handboard is designed for ease of use and maximum enjoyment of the bodysurfing experience.
You may be interested in reading our blog, Bodysurfing: Mastering the Waves Without or With a Handboard.