Bodyboarding Tips – How to Ride a Bodyboard

Bodyboarding in General

Bodyboarding, like surfing and skating, is all about control, timing and manoeuvres. It might be a simple turn, a 360, a reverse, or getting a little air off the lip. The fun part is that you can start catching waves quickly, but the better moves still take proper practice.

If you are learning, start in smaller beach-break waves before getting too excited on shallow reef breaks. A 360 air reverse sounds good until you land on something sharp. Best to keep the hero stuff for later.

How to Choose a Bodyboard

Bodyboarding is easy to get into, but the wrong size board will make everything harder. A board that is too small will not float you well. A board that is too big can feel slow and hard to control.

As a rough guide, stand the bodyboard on its tail. The nose should come up to about your belly button. Then check your weight and height against a size chart. If you are a beginner, heavier rider, or mostly riding small waves, a little extra volume can help.

The NMD Njoy model is a good example of a first proper bodyboard.

Bodyboard Size Chart

Length – Your board, when standing on its tail, should come up to roughly within 1 inch either side of your belly button.

Width – You should be able to hold the bodyboard under your arm without too much space between your armpit and the rail.

Nose, tail and template – If you are a beginner, do not worry too much about tail shape. As you get more into the sport, bat tails are often popular with prone riders, while crescent tails are common for drop knee riding. If you ride both prone and drop knee, choose the board that suits the way you ride most.

Rails – Many bodyboards use a 60/40 rail, which means 60% of the rail is on the bottom side and 40% is on the deck side. This is common for prone riding and helps with control. A 50/50 rail can feel more stable and hold in the wave face, but it is usually less forgiving for spins and reverse tricks.

Bodyboard Construction and Parts

Understanding the different construction types and parts of a bodyboard will help you choose the right board. Cores, stringers, deck material, slick bottoms and rails all affect how the board feels in the water.

Read more about cores, foam types, bottom skins, bodyboard construction and parts.

How to Insert a Leash Plug

Most new bodyboards now come with a leash plug, but if yours does not, you can install one yourself. Take your time, check where the stringers are, and do not drill straight through the centre if there is a stringer running there.

You can use something strong and at least 4 inches / 10 cm long. A screwdriver works if you heat it carefully and push it through from the bottom of the board through to the deck. Another option is to use an electric drill on slow speed with a 3/8 inch drill bit. Always drill from the bottom.

You do not normally need glue. Just make sure the plug is firmly tightened.

Most riders put the leash plug about 8 inches / 20 cm down from the nose in the centre. Some riders put it about 6 inches / 15 cm in from either side, depending on whether they are regular or goofy footed.

Stringer warning: If your bodyboard has a centre stringer, do not install the leash plug directly in the centre or you may hit it. Install the plug a few inches to either side instead. With double stringer bodyboards, the stringers are usually placed halfway between the centre and the rail, so the centre area may be clear, but always check first.

See also how to care for your bodyboard and stringer placement.

Wax – Is It Necessary to Wax a Bodyboard?

Surfers wax their boards for grip, and bodyboarders do the same. You do not need to wax the entire deck. You still need to move your body around the board, especially when spinning or changing from speed to control.

Wax the nose area of your bodyboard, including the rails, then wax the tail area and the middle rails. For prone riding, you will use the nose and rails a lot for control. For drop knee riding, riders usually wax the side they use most, depending on whether they ride regular or goofy.

Wax for drop knee riding

Wax for prone riding

Bodyboard Wax

A small amount of surf wax in the right places is better than covering the whole thing like a toasted sandwich.

How to Remove Wax

Leave the board in a warm place for a few minutes, then use a wax comb or old plastic card to scrape the wax off gently. You can also use warm water, but do not pour boiling water over the board. Too much heat can damage foam, slicks and deck skins.

Wrist or Bicep Leash?

Many experienced riders prefer a bicep leash, but wrist leashes are still fine for beginners and casual bodyboarding. Choose what feels comfortable and secure.

What About Swimfins?

Bodyboarding without swimfins is hard work. Fins help you paddle out, catch waves earlier, steer the board, and hold your line across the wave. After the bodyboard itself, they are probably the most important piece of gear.

If you are renting bodyboards on Phuket beaches, fins make a big difference. A cheap bodyboard without fins can be frustrating, because most beginners simply cannot get enough speed to catch waves properly.

Churchill Fins

Churchill Makapuu fins have been popular with bodyboarders for a long time. The dolphin-style fin blade gives good power, and the soft foot pocket makes them more comfortable than many stiff swimfins.

Churchill Makapuu Swimfins

General Fin Sizing

Extra Small: 3.5-4.5

Small: 5-6.5

Medium: 7-8.5

Medium/Large: 9-10.5

Large: 11-12.5

Extra Large: 13-14.5

Ally Swimfins

Another popular fin brand is Ally. Ally fins use a soft foot pocket with a stiffer blade for thrust and acceleration. Some models also float in salt water, which is handy if one comes off in the shorebreak.

Bodyboard Swimfins

Ally Swimfin Sizing

S: Men 5-6.5 / Women 6.5-8

M: Men 7-8.5 / Women 8.5-10

ML: Men 9-10.5 / Women 10.5-12

L: Men 11-12.5

XL: Men 13.5-14.5

Fins and Skegs on a Bodyboard

Small skegs on the bottom of a bodyboard can help stop the board sliding out, which might sound useful when starting drop knee. But for most bodyboarding, skegs work against the way the board is meant to be ridden.

A proper bodyboard is designed to turn, spin and release without fixed fins. Bodyboarders moved away from skegs a long time ago, and most modern riders do not use them.

Bodyboard Care Tips

Bodyboard Care

Do not leave your bodyboard in direct sunlight. It can bubble, delaminate, or lose its rocker. The same thing can happen if you leave it inside a hot car. Phuket sun is not gentle on boards, or humans for that matter.

Rinse your board with fresh water after each session if you can. Salt, sand and sun are the main enemies of your bodyboard.

Keep your bodyboard in a board bag when travelling or storing it. A bag helps protect the deck, rails and slick bottom from heat, knocks and general beach damage.

How to Care for Your Bodyboard

How to Catch Waves on a Bodyboard

Paddling Out

1. Wax your bodyboard before you paddle out.
2. Lie on the board so your hips are in contact with the tail of the board.
3. Place your hands on the top corners of the bodyboard.
4. Keep your elbows on the board. It is very hard to control a bodyboard if your elbows are dragging in the water.
5. Arch your back and keep your head up.
6. Keep your fins underwater. Beginners often slap the surface with their fins, which wastes energy and does not move you forward properly.

Catching Your First Wave

1. Pick a wave that is not too big and has a clean face. Try to catch it just before it breaks and turns into whitewater.
2. As the wave approaches, start kicking with your fins underwater. Once you have chosen to go right or left, get into position.
3. If you are going right, move your body to the inside right edge of the board and apply pressure with your right hip to the back edge.
4. Put your right hand on the top right corner, with your right elbow pressing along the right rail. This controls the rail and helps keep the board in the wave face.
5. Your left hand should be around one third down the outside left rail, with your left arm slightly bent and your elbow lifted. Your outside hand helps control direction.
6. If you are going left, reverse all the body, hand and arm positions.
7. To gain speed, slide forward slightly on the board. Do not go too far forward or you will lose hip pressure and start sliding out.
8. Lift your outside foot to reduce drag. On a right hand wave, lift your left foot. On a left hand wave, lift your right foot.

Video: How to Ride a Bodyboard