How to paddle for a wave in bodyboarding

 

Unlike surfers, bodyboarders are able to combine the power of arms, legs and feet to paddle in salted water. But you have to do it rhythmically and in cooperative mode.

"When you're paddling through flat water, use your arms; when you're paddling through turbulent water use your legs, and when you need to get somewhere quickly, use both your arms and legs," explains Rob Barber, author of "The Bodyboard Manual."

If you're simply arm paddling, move your body forward and keep your legs straight and together behind you. You face should almost be in line with the nose of your board.

Arch your back and keep your head up, watching where you're going. Use the front crawl style stroke - alternate arms - reaching as far forward as you can and diving your arm as ...more

$4 million whitewater playboating park below Holtwood Dam tested, about to open to public

 

By remote control, a metal gate opens on the York County side of the Holtwood Dam and impounded Susquehanna river water gushes down a 100-year-old stone fish ladder at 755 cubic feet per second.
Soon, a newly constructed channel is transformed into churning, splashing whitewater reminiscent of a Western river.

The scene last Wednesday morning is just what Matt Samms, a 40-year-old kayaker from Safe Harbor, had been dreaming about for eight years now.

Samms, in a wetsuit, protective helmet  and ear plugs, eases himself into a short, snub-nosed Pyranha kayak that weighs a mere 45 pounds.

Over the next several hours, he and eight other devotees of the whitewater freestyle kayaking sport of playboating spin, surf — even ...more

60/40 versus 50/50: the bodyboard rail equation

 

Rails are one of the most important features in a bodyboard.

 Bodyboard shapers know how rails can make the difference in a bodyboard. Basically, there are two different types of rails: the 60/40 and the 50/50.

The numbers represent a rail/chine ratio. The 60/40 means that 40% is chine - the top part around the deck - and 60% is the lower proportion in direct contact with the wave.

The 60/40 ratio is the most popular bodyboard rail format in the industry. If you're riding bigger waves, with steep faces, you'll be needing more control from your board. That is exactly what the 60/40 set offers.

The 50/50 rails - equally divided on the upper and lower parts of ...more

The Glossary of Bodyboarding Terms

 

The sport of bodyboarding has its own lingo. 

The invention of the bodyboard by Tom Morey brought new terms, words, 

expressions and tricks to the world of wave sports.

The bodyboarding glossary of terms used in the waves is useful to all levels of bodyboarders. 

Discover the vocabulary of bodyboarding and learn new words:

Air Forward 360 - a trick in which the bodyboarder launches into the air off the top of a wave and completes a 360-degree spin out of the water.

Air Reverse 360 - a trick in which the bodyboarder launches into the air off the top of a wave and completes a 360-degree spin out of the water, in reverse mode.

Air Reverse 720 - a trick in which the bodyboarder launches into the air off the top of a wave and completes a 720-degree spin out of the water.

Air Roll Spinner (ARS) - a trick that combines the El Rollo with a 360-degree spin.

Backflip - an acrobatic aerial maneuver, in which the bodyboarder hits the lip of a wave and rotates his body backwards up in the air.

Bat Tail - a style of bodyboard tail that combines the clipped crescent tail and the square tail.
Booger - slang for bodyboarder.

Boogie Board - alternative name for a bodyboard.

Bumpers - nose and tail bumpers are applied to the core of the board to help protect delicate areas, repel water and maximize seam strength.

Channels - the contour of the bottom side of ...more

Martin ready to take on the best in the world at Sintra Portugal Pro

 

2014 Irish National Bodyboarding champion, Martin ‘TK’ Kelly will travel to Portugal this week to compete in the World Professional BodyboardTour.

Martin flew out at the weekend to represent the north coast surfing fraternityin the eighth stop of the world tour.

The Sintra Portugal Pro will see 140 of the world’s top pro bodyboarders converge on the coast of Praia Grande, just north of Lisbon.

The contest will almost certainly decide the world champion, which is between three riders, one French, one Brazillian and one Australian.

TK will be travelling with his good friend and Irish number two Shane Meehan from Sligo.

“I could not have made this competition if it wasn’t for the continued excellent help from all my sponsors,” he told Times Sport.

“Portrush Yacht Club in particular have once again been fantastic.

“As always sponsorship in Northern Ireland surfing is difficult so I feel it is important to make the effort to represent us independently to ...more

If you have 10 hours of your time and you want you can watch the
3rd day of the Sintra Pro 2014 at Praia Grande, Sintra, Portugal.

 

National Bodyboarding Champion Martin 'TK' Kelly is representing Ireland this week at the Portuguese stop on the APB World Tour for bodyboarding, as the Coleraine Times reports.

Regarded as the most decorated Irish surfer of all time, Kelly is flying the flag for the North Coast's dedicated surfing community among 140 of the world's best at Praia Grande.

And he's joined at the Sintra Pro by ...more

Girls hit the waves of the 2014 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival

 

The 2014 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival is in the water, in Chile.

The Women's division is up and running. In Round 2, and despite the small wave conditions, 14-year-old Anais Velis and Giselle Caselli started the day by defeating seeded riders Juliana Freitas and Valentina Diaz.

Two-time world champion Soraia Rocha pulled a roll-to-spin-to-roll combination to win her heat, and score the highest two-wave total of the day. Ayaka Suzuki, from Japan, advanced as well. Lumar Guittard, Paloma Freyggang, Joselane Amorim and Andrea Carvalho also ...more

Cameron's still riding out the crisis

 

David Cameron faced a barrage of criticism last week after going ahead with a surfing holiday as Iraq descended into turmoil.

But it seems the Islamic State's murderous rampage across the Middle East is still not enough to tempt him back to Number 10. 

For just four days later, he's back on the board despite MPs' calls for an emergency recall as the news is dominated by fears of radicalised Britons. 

It comes as task forces across the world race to track down the brutal murderers that assassinated US photojournalist James Foley and posted footage of the killing online. 

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay today called on the international community to treat as a priority the 'appalling, widespread' crimes being ...more

Venezuela to host 10th World Bodyboard Championship

Caracas, Aug. 7 (Xinhua)

Venezuela's resort of Isla Margarita will host the 10th World Bodyboard Championship from Oct. 20-25, according to the state communication and information agency Sibci. 

Around 250 surfers from some 20 countries and regions are expected to compete in the event on Playa Parguito, one of the many beaches on Margarita Island, which is located in the state of Nueva Espana.

Australia, Japan, United States, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Portugal, Spain, France, England, Italy, Morocco, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Mexico and host Venezuela will compete in the tournament. 

This year's event marks the third year in a row that 

Venezuela' s Isla Margarita has been chosen to host the ...more

Hubboards (The Movie)

The online world premiere is coming to Riptide on August 5! We chatted to Jeff Hubbard about the film.

 

Above: Hubb punts an Indonesian ARS while his bro, Dubb, watches on from the channel. Photo: Ray Collins (from the pages of Riptide #200)
That's right, your favourite world title-collecting Kauaian brothers Jeff and Dave Hubbard have made a Hubboards board brand film, and you can see it right here exclusively on the Riptide site with the online world premiere on Tuesday, August 5. Click here for the movie's mini site, where you'll get to watch the film and find out more details. But for now we'll bring you a chat with had with Jeff last week about the film. Get excited!

Riptide: OK, so we’re just as in the dark as the rest of our readers at the moment – what’s the name of the film and what can we expect from it?
Jeff: [Laughs] Yeah, we've been keeping it as low-key as possible on purpose. As is the case with films and art, too many expectations can turn out negative. It's better to just let people form their own opinions of it, as their reactions and impressions are more authentic that way. We didn't give it a fancy name, it's just clean and simple "Hubboards" (The Movie).
Where did the idea to make a film come about and why did you decide to invest in it?
I was in the Canaries last year, training for the final event of the World Tour since I had a good chance to win another World Title, and it seemed as though the turmoil of the tour might lead to a need to explore different marketing options. So I made the decision to pour our marketing resources in to this film. It also goes along with our brand's core values - having fun, benefiting the bodyboard community, giving back, and inspiring future generations. Having been a part of the No Friends generation, I know how ...more

Bodyboarders get their days in the sun at Surf Festival

 

When the the Australian Surf Festival starts in Coffs Harbour this weekend, bodyboarders will be itching to be part of the action.
The Wahu Australian Bodyboard Titles are going to be held for the first time in Coffs Harbour.
While the opening ceremony is today and the Surfmasters Titles and Single Fin Titles start tomorrow, the bodyboarders will have to wait until August 14 for their five days of competition to begin.
"The Australian Surf Festival is now complete with all surfing disciplines being contested over all three Surfing Australia national title events," contest director Glen Elliott said.
"The best bodyboarders in Australia will be competing for right to represent Australia at the ISA World Titles and to be crowned Australian champion, this will ensure a high performance level from all competitors."
The main base for the Australian Surf Festival will ...more

Iquique will host the 2014 ISA World Bodyboard Championship

 

Bodyboarding is living the worst year in the history of the sport founded by Tom Morey. After crowning a champion based on the previous year's results, the world governing body canceled the 2014 season, and even suspended its official website.
Meanwhile, the newly formed Association of Professional Bodyboarders (APB) has managed to keep the planetary circuit running with dignity, despite the absence of events in mainland USA and Australia.
Fortunately, the International Surfing Association (ISA) has kept the spirit of bodyboarding alive, and the world's best riders will certainly have increased reasons to compete in Chile, in December 2014.
Punta 1, a spot located in Iquique, offers a world-class reef break that ...more

Guilherme Tâmega won his first world title 20 years ago

 

In 20 years, bodyboarding has changed a lot. Back in 1994, the winner of the International Morey Boogie Bodyboard Pro Championships, at Pipeline, was considered the world champion.Guilherme Tâmega conquered the first world championship of his career, in 1994. It was also the first title ever for a Brazilian bodyboarder. In those days, the grand champion was crowned during the International Morey Boogie Bodyboard Pro Championships, at ...more