We often describe bodyboarding as a less complicated alternative to surfing. The main difference is that bodyboarding is that we can ride the board horizontally to surf the waves.
We must glue the torso to the board, hence the name bodyboard, although this is not always the case.
There are other bodyboarding techniques, and in this article, we will clarify whether it is possible to bodyboard standing up.
Of course, it is possible to bodyboard standing up. Although its inventor created this board to ride waves in a horizontal position, we can also do it standing up. This position is one of the maneuvers that we can do in this sport. However, it is often the professionals who master this technique.
The funny thing is that people play a lot with their bodyboards, and this game consists of trying to stand up on the board. It is as if they want to do the same as with a traditional surfboard.
The process of standing up is similar. But unlike the surfboard, the bodyboard is not as stable.
The shape of the board makes it only possible to stand for a few moments. That’s why the game consists of standing and balancing for as long as possible.
Bodyboard Surfing-A Definition
Some currents define bodyboarding as a less complicated alternative to surfing. This definition is justified because we can practice this sport in a horizontal position, with the torso glued to the board.
This position gives us more stability on the board. Therefore, we do not fall so much into the water with the passing of the waves.
The Origin Of Bodyboarding
We can’t find a specific date of when this sport emerged. But what we do have are hypotheses, and apparently, it appeared as an initial form of surfing several centuries ago.
The indigenous Polynesians used to ride wooden boards on their bellies as a way of surfing the waves.
Then, it was in the early 1970s, in Southern California, that we get historical information about this sport.
Tom Morey was the one who modernized bodyboarding and invented the “boogie board” or simply “boogie.” At that time, companies made them out of polyethylene foam.
In today’s era, most bodyboards are much shorter than surfboards. They are boards made from foam and rectangular, making them a bit more challenging to transport.
You also have to know who the bodyboarders are. The bodyboarders are the people who practice this sport. These users of bodyboards wear swim fins to propel themselves better to catch the waves.
What Equipment Do I Need To Practice Bodyboarding?
If you are just starting this beautiful sport, you should know what accessories you will need to get started. You will need a bodyboard.
But excluding this indispensable element, there are other accessories that you must have from the beginning.
The Leash
You should get a leash that fulfills the function of holding the board with your upper arm. The importance of the leash is that it allows us not to lose the bodyboards when we fall into the water.
The Neoprene Or Lycra Wetsuit
When we practice bodyboarding, we expose our skin to extreme environments. For safety reasons, we must wear this body protection clothing.
The neoprene or lycra wetsuits protect us from the sun and help reduce irritation from contact with the bodyboard.
In addition to all these advantages, the suit will keep us warm when we practice in cold waters.
The Fins
Those bodyboarders who have a more advanced level wear fins on their feet. The purpose of this accessory is to achieve excellent propulsion when catching waves.
Experts also recommend wearing special socks under the fins to be more comfortable.
Bodyboarding Styles
As we have already seen, the bodyboard’s purpose is to ride the waves in a horizontal position. However, this does not mean that this is the only position we can adopt on these boards.
Standing up on a bodyboard is not only possible, but it is one of the styles practiced with this type of board.
The point is that it is a pretty advanced style that professionals mainly practice. It is a position evaluated in the competitions that take place in this sport.
We will now review the three basic ways of bodyboarding.
The Prone Style
The prone style is the position in which we rest our stomachs on the bodyboard. We use our hands and arms to choose the direction we want the board to move with this style.
One of the essential bodyboarders of the prone style is Mike Stewart. He is the pioneer and creator of most of the basic maneuvers of this style.
Drop Knee Style
The drop knee or DK style consists of placing one foot/leg on the front of the board and the other leg’s knee on the bottom of the board. It is a position where only one knee is resting on the board.
The pioneer of this technique was Hawaiian Jack “The Ripper” Lindholm in the late 1970s. The DK continued to gain popularity during the 80s and early 90s.
During these years, many bodyboarders such as Paul Roch, Kainoa McGee, and Keith Sasaki helped push the style forward.
The Stand-up Style
The stand-up style consists of standing on the board and doing tricks on the wall and in the air. It is not as known as the other two styles, and the reason for this is that it is the most complex of them all.
The foremost exponents of this style are Danny Kim, Cavin Yap, and Chris Won Taloa.
How To Stand Up On A Bodyboard?
Now that we know that it is possible to bodyboard while standing up, it is the right time to
Paddle hard until you get a wave
- As soon as we get a wave, we must arch our back.
- When we see the wave, we should stretch our arms and then lift our upper torso.
- Keep your head upright
- Put both feet on the bodyboard at the same time
- We must move our feet slightly to distribute our weight and get the position that gives us more stability.
- It is essential to keep a low position; this will give us more speed
- Finally, we must raise the body to ride the wave
The trick to standing bodyboarding is to achieve balance.
Some Aspects To Consider When Doing Stand-up Bodyboarding
It is essential to know certain aspects that will help us to improve our stand-up bodyboarding practice.
- If we want to practice the stand-up bodyboarding technique, we must know that we will not use fins.
- When summer arrives on the international coasts, lifeguards likely put warning flags on the beaches. This sign means that specific beaches will not allow the use of hardboards or surfboards. When this happens, surfers choose bodyboards to ride upright.
- Stand-up bodyboarding requires surfing and bodyboarding techniques at the same time.
- Stand-up bodyboarding is easier to learn and practice if the person is slim. Men and women who are slimmer achieve more excellent stability when standing on the board.
- Stand-up bodyboards are narrower and larger, much like surfboards. They have three strings to maintain the rigidity of the board.
- Do not attempt to use this technique when there are huge waves
A Final Thought On Stand-up Bodyboarding
Bodyboarders have a lot of experience and tricks for riding the waves. It’s these pros that you’ll see the most in stand-up bodyboarding. But for someone just starting, it might be best to take it easy.
Every beginner in the sport should start with the primary position. This technique is the position where your stomach is resting on the board. If you want to get more speed, push down a little on the back of the board. And to slow down, straighten it up again.
Once you catch your first wave, this sport becomes addictive. You have to be disciplined, practice, practice, practice, and practice, and you will see how soon you will be able to try the stand-up bodyboarding technique.