Switching from Bodyboarding to Surfing

[TXV12]

Hi, I've been body boarding now for about 11 years on the Isle of Wight and have always thought to 'convert' to surfing in the future but have never really got round to it until now. I just though i'd ask if any one has any tips on what type of board would be suitable and what make. I've heard of makes like Bic and 7s but don't know if they would be any good. I know I sound like another annoying body boarder but any help would be really appreciated.

[dtc]

Here is what bodyboarding teaches you (and I was a bodyboarder before a surfer as well):
- how to read waves
- what it feels like when the wave catches you
- how to understand the water eg rips and feel reasonably confident in the water

Here is what bodyboarding doesnt teach you
- everything else

Here is what is bad about bodyboarding
- controlling a bodyboard in big waves is pretty easy. When you have a 9ft board strapped to your ankle, you feel much less in control (and more aware of the board) than people who havent bodyboarded. And sometimes get frustrated at how much harder it can be to paddle out with a surfboard over a bodyboard.
- catching a wave with a surfboard is harder than with a bodyboard and causes extra frustration because you know you can do it on a bodyboard
- standing up on a surfboard is much harder than laying there on a bodyboard and causes extra frustration because you know you wont be falling off your bodyboard in that wave

Here is why you should learn to surf
- its much better than bodyboarding...

So, in summary: you are a beginner surfer. You will pick up something more quickly than non bodyboarders, in particular things like identifying takeoff points and not getting caught out by a wave. But otherwise treat yourself as a beginner, the actual activity is ver different - therefore get a board recommended for beginners (if you do a search around these forums there are heaps of suggestions). Depending on your weight and age, you will probably be looking for an 8-9ft board in a longboard (rounded nose) shape, pretty thick (close to 3 inches) and pretty wide (22 inches or so). The 7S boards, I think, are not longboard style.

There are heaps of manufacturers; for your first board almost all of them will be fine so long as its the right length and other dimensions. You will probably want to trade up to a more refined (and/or shorter) board after a year or two of regular surfing, but you need to learn first.

Hope that helps. Have a read around the board advice and other threads and you will get an idea of what is a good board and why.

Oh - highly recommend getting at least one or two surf lessons at the start. Not compulsory but worth the cost.

[TXV12]

Thanks for your help.

[507]

Hi all, first post!

DTC is right on, mostly

Also:

- refine your swim stroke, and when you get tired, just switch to using only your legs
- balance on your board when paddling (prone) and sitting
- weight distribution/trimming, keeping your edges from catching, nose from pearling
- popping up if you drop knee or stand on your bodyboard
- grabbing a rail when going back side drop knee
- duck diving and timing it for the incoming wave
- bottom turns and angled take offs, making sure your back rail/ tail is set into the wave


I gotta respectfully disagree with DTC's opinion about surfing being much better than bodyboarding, it's just a different form of wave riding.

I work over seas and I'm home about one or two months a year. The first week or two I'm home I bodyboard as a sort of refresher course, then jump to surfboards, sore arms and all. DTC is spot on about wave size, when it's bigger and dumping, I'm more confident on a bodyboard. So I always have my BB in my truck wherever I go. Actually, I have another set of bodyboarding gear on the ship I work on, just in case! Used to have a longboard on here , but it's a hassle to lug it on/off the ship and getting to a surf spot. The BB is waaaay more convenient for me!

[oldmansurfer]

Body boarding and body surfing are easier than surfing however the advantage that surfing has is greater mobility and ability to use your leg strength to gain speed and position on a wave. When you make a bottom turn surfing your legs compress and force the board down so that coming out of the turn you can release that energy and jump to the top of the wave yet keep your center of gravity low so that you can go back down the wave quickly, much different from turning body surfing or body boarding. You can't really alter your center of gravity much or use your weight to move around lying down. Yeah you can surf standing up on a body board, my cousin does that but then why? Maybe it's easier than surfing?

You can store your body board in the trunk of your car........well I bet some of the boards guys use these days can be put in the trunk too.

I think body boarding if you have the right body board can allow you to make insane waves that perhaps surfers would have trouble making due to the fact that you can ride higher on the wave than a surfer if your board will hold on a wall well enough. The higher you get on a wave the faster you will go.

[507]

You can store your body board in the trunk of your car........well I bet some of the boards guys use these days can be put in the trunk too.

Of course, surf boards can be transported inside a car, especially if the seats fold down and there's a pass through from the trunk, it's very common. When you're in the parking lot at the beach you'll see a lot of people with surfboards bisecting the interior of their cars.

I don't have a car, I have a truck. The shortest surfboard that will safely fit (without hindering my driving) in my truck has to be under about 6'6". Now, being 220 pounds , the search is under way to find that sub 6'6" board!

I've never been able to stand up on a BB. Seen it done in Waikiki, and looked cool, but I'd rather have fins if I have a BB. I'm not that young, svelte, and limber

I like to BB and surf a LB/FB, there's no need to stick to one thing

Now, skateboarding........ I'd give it a try but I'm allergic to face planting on concrete.


TVX12, any update on your switch?

[jaffa1949]

Hard call 507, at 220lbs and wanting a 6'6" to fit in your truck and hoping it will be suitable to learn on.
Two things roof racks soft or hard , and a suitable board of a larger size.
Other option remain on a body board. STILL SURFING

[oldmansurfer]

Or get an inflatable board.....

[507]

yeah, it's gonna be a long search!

Jaffa, I'm about a low intermediate/intermediate, so I don't want something to learn on, I want something to grow with.

Right now I have a 9' and a 6'10"walden mega magic, step deck and extra floaty! Fun boards, but the Thais were skimpy on the epoxy. Pressure dents where my heavy ass rests. Those are my boards for now. Awesome Craigslist finds in great condition less than halff price of retail!!

Picked up a 6'8"x22"x3" single fin before I had to go back over seas, got to ride it twice. Head high close outs and knee high mush. short rides, but it paddled better than I was expecting, considering my weight. It felt thinner than three inches, maybe because the concave was pretty pronounced, or because I'm used to boards with a step deck.

My current boards are too big to fit inside my truck so I have a "steel core" locking tailgate straps. I'll bring the walden's to the beach and break out the board I'm in the mood for.

I' ve played with the idea of an inflatable, for when I'm over seas.
It's ironic because I work on a ship, but the chance to get wet is so rare. But I just picked up a BB instead.

I know you guys have way more experience than I, so I wanted to hear what your opinions are on Greg paustch shaped mccoy nuggets? I've discovered it's horrendously cost prohibitive to get one from Australia, and I can't find reviews on GP nuggets or the surf techs. I'm gonna be reading the lengthy mccoy threads here and on other forums for more research. The loaded dome really fascinates me, and I'd like to give it a go. Can you guys give me your impressions if you've surfed them or something similar?

Thanks! And if you're ever in the San Diego area when I am, let's go surf, after, we can go to Hooter's and get fried pickles and hot wings! Man, I miss those!! Cheers

[jaffa1949]

A possibility to look at at is a 9'6" or 10" Pope Bisect surfboard, they are expensive but have a number of pluses in my opinion for your situation.
They come apart into two sections at half the size of the full length. Will fit your truck easily. Would also be no problem on board ship.
They are not burdened with lots of fiddly bits , just a couple of assembly steps.
They come in a neat travel bag and on planes you can call them personal sports equipment (Rather than surf boards) and often dodge the hefty surfboard price to ship!
They are good standard boards the construction has not let me down in 5 years of having mine. Have had mine in pretty beefy double overhead surf and seemed good..
This is the Australian site http://www.bisectaustralia.com.au/ .
There are other Pope Bisects that use the bisect technique on various brand name boards in the States, but I'm not familiar with them.
Mine is the 9ft Wayne Rich Model on the Australian site

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOF8cjnXq1w

There have been some poor reviews of the Carbon stealth model ( I don't know if it is still made) and some of the back up service for it in the States, so consider carefully.
There are also some Bisects on Craigs list

Since you have a Walden, this article ( it's current 2013) might be of some interest http://www.waldensurfboards.com/blogs/n ... e-tri-fold

[507]

I've heard of the pope bisect before, but the trifold is new, thanks! There was another blog where the guy had a home made trifold Catchsurf Beater and took it on as a carry on.

Will check those sites out after work, thanks!