Surfing Waves

I don't know about anybody else here, but why is it, when I say to people that I bodyboard as well as surf, people see me as someone who is "lower" than them, just because I bodyboard too. People really should take bodyboarding a lot more seriously than they do, as I think down in the sout-west now, there are probably equal amounts of surfers and bodyboarders. Bodyboarders have just as much right to be in the surf as surfers do and it may have been a minority sport and being renowned for tourists just getting in the way, but if you see any bodyboarder out the back with all the surfers, they must be good/determined if they managed to get there in the first place!!

I think what I'm trying to say is, don't you think surfers should just chill out about bodyboarders?

Let me know your views!!

I think that body boarders are always gonna be tarnished with the "tourist who has just bought the £5 board from the shop that sells buckets and spades aswell."

The other day these two larger ladies were at tynemouth, they looked similar to the fat slags from Viz. Can you guess what they had under their arms going into the water?

for me personally, this goes for goatboaters aswell, is that both types of wave riding seem to be so much easier than surfing. Its easier to get out and you catch more waves. Fins and paddles have got to beat bare hands any day.
I think that its this that get on surfers nerves the most.

It also seems to me that if you body board the only advantage to not surfing is in small barreling waves where you can really get inside, if you dont have these conditions why not just get on a board.

Enlighten me, what is better about bodyboarding than surfing?

well i think that bodyboarders have a bigger advantage by the fact that you are able to do more tricks (no, not just 360's) without having to be at the beach everyday, compared to surfing where you have to be there a lot more do be able to do simple cutbacks for example. Another thing is that in shallow reef breaks where its impossible to surf, bodyboarders can surf them, as well as vertical drop take offs that are difficult for surfers are a lot more accessible for bodyboarders. Bodyboarding is versatile to any condition as you have two disciplines, drop knee and prone so it opens up a lot more options on different sections of a wave.

I admit that it is easier to pick up, but I feel that if you bodyboard and surf, it just broadens your horizons a little and you really can transfer parts of one sport to the other.

I surf too, so don't get me wrong in thinking that bodyboarding is the be-all and end-all, i just think that surfers can easily identify which spongers are kooks and which are experienced wave riders so the tourists shouldn't give full-on bodyboarders a bad name. They should just be respected, thats the point I'm trying to put across.

i think bodyboarding is cool as that got me into surfing, still got my bodyboard a good old manta hustler not great but its ok, think your right in saying about the different breaks, i think every surfer should have a bodyboard to mess around on, ive also found there great when the waves are small or mush to an alternative to your stick, i dont look at bodyboarders in a nasty way probably cos i was one, i just see them as surfers who can do some pretty amazing airs and land them and stay alive somehow!!!!!! i think its just the same differrence as someone riding a shortboard and someone riding a long board!!?

chris : )

Bodyboarding, Boogieboarding, riding a teabag, foundering about with fins on & a bit of plastic tied to your wrist is NOT surfing. It's making a fool of yourself.

Leave teabags to to the 6 years olds.

Drop in on me & I go straight over the top....

"foundering about with fins on & a bit of plastic tied to your wrist is NOT surfing."

Yeah well exactly, its not surfing, its bodyboarding. If you call having the ability to pull off a back flip off of a wave "foundering about with fins on" then fair enough. All i'm saying is that people really must respect bodyboarders that do follow the rules and do absolutely rip. I share your frustration with those who just get in the way with their polystyrene boards, but you have to understand that those of us in the bodyboarding community who do follow the rules are fed up with being slated by surfers for doing nothing wrong. And besides, i am a surfer too and i love both sports just as much. Your narrow-minded approach to what's supposed to be a chilled out lifestyle is disappointing and a contradiction to what wave-riding is all about. Bodyboarders and surfers should have no reason to give each other aggro as we're both after the same rush.

Have fun! Life's too short not too!!

i have no problem with bodyboarders, ive got a bodyboard but i usually always surf, as i said befor i think its just the same gap as longboarders and shortboarders, ive never had a proper bodyboarder drop in on me only the local townies out for a tan, did get kicked with a flipper though but i just laughed! im probably just mello about it cos there just beat me up..... i just wanna watch bodyboarders surf the cribber in a 20ft swell be really good to watch, there get so high aerials to!!

I find it impossible not to think of bodyboarding as a children play, cause i do bodyboard at the beach since i can remember getting into the water. The thing is, I never realy bodyboarded seriously, i just take a board and bo into the see and take whitewater to the beach. I started surfing this year, and still bodyboarded some, but just a bit more seriously. I like it. It´s fun to get a wave to the beach so close to the water. It feels faster then surf for me, and as said before, you can do it on almost any conditions, so if there is no surf, you can still catch some waves somehow.

My opinion about the whole discussion is: screw people who dont like bodyboarders. People shouldn't give a damn about what other people think. Of course having tourists all around the waves bothering everyone sucks, just go explain nicely the rules and it should be allright. People have the right to catch waves however they want and the diversity only adds up. If you want to take and inflatable hello Kitty to the beach and catch waves with it, good for you, at least you are happy and not bothering other people!

I agree with what you guys say, it has so many different levels that its great for people to learn on, just as long as they follow the rules.....As for gnarly pyscho bodyboard tricks, check this guy's site out...http://www.jhubb.com. Hubb is an international bodyboard legend. just look at the photos and you'll know what i mean![/img]

I have nothing against boadyboarders really. I just have never seen any good ones at my local break, just the noobs who dont have clue what they are doing. Mind you there are plenty of surfers like that aswell.

At last somthing I can really rant about but damm it I don't have the time!!

I'll be back I tell you!

barrelled2perfection wrote:well i think that bodyboarders have a bigger advantage by the fact that you are able to do more tricks (no, not just 360's) without having to be at the beach everyday, compared to surfing where you have to be there a lot more do be able to do simple cutbacks for example. Another thing is that in shallow reef breaks where its impossible to surf, bodyboarders can surf them, as well as vertical drop take offs that are difficult for surfers are a lot more accessible for bodyboarders. Bodyboarding is versatile to any condition as you have two disciplines, drop knee and prone so it opens up a lot more options on different sections of a wave.

I admit that it is easier to pick up, but I feel that if you bodyboard and surf, it just broadens your horizons a little and you really can transfer parts of one sport to the other.

I surf too, so don't get me wrong in thinking that bodyboarding is the be-all and end-all, i just think that surfers can easily identify which spongers are kooks and which are experienced wave riders so the tourists shouldn't give full-on bodyboarders a bad name. They should just be respected, thats the point I'm trying to put across.

Kneelos you can ride 2 stances too, standup and kneeling. Works much better than prone and dropknee.

Well... what a hooharr this is...

I've been surfing now for 5 years, went out last month and bought a decnt pair of churchills and a Rheapaipo (correct me if i spelt it wrong) bodyboard.
Fantastic!! Brings you closer to sea level and therefore can really feel the speed on those bigger waves... can pull of some neat little tricks aswell :) (could never dream of pulling off the equivalent on my shortboard).

I think that most surfers will invariably own a bodyboard and even occasionally use it!!.. Those surfers who do have a problem.. have they had an exceptionatley bad time with the tourists?? I think everybody who is out in the water seriously should respect other water users.. whether they be goat boaters, surfers or bodyboarders.. as its been said.. we're all out there for the same reason..

can you get a custom bodyboard? i was just asking because i don't know anything about body boarding and i'm bored.
surf mello

i think it's just stupid that body boarders are looked down on! are they not featured in endless summer 2 with just as much respect as the surfers?! maybe all the pissed of surfers should just go on a surf holiday when tourist season arrives (we have no problem with them here) that way they'll find new spots and avoid needing anger management sessions...

Loke a lot of surfers I started of Body boarding and then moved on to a shortboard. My best friend still rides a bodyboard and we surf togerther without any hassles. I think the problem is that BB has made wave riding more accessible to the general public and has created more crowds. This has obviously stepped on more than a few toes but serious BB (not tourists on bendy bits of foam, common summer fun here is dodge the tourists or for those with a more voilent nature it is see how many you can run over.) have every right to be out back with the rest of the boys.
Anyone who goes out into big surf (e.g. Mike stewart towing in) has my respect, doesn't matter if they want to ride a Mcdonalds tray.

Ozzie.

I saw those two larger ladies last week......

Wasn`t sure which way to turn........

personally it's the fact that it takes nowhere near the time effort and patience to get to a reasonable level of skill on a lid compared to stand up. good and safe way to learn about the ocean, but as you evolve learn to standup its the next step. or be content gettin the dregs
that being said, if the lid in question is charging he deserves a go. sometimes

:wink: