Does skimboarding and bodyboarding improve your surfing?

[0wnerer]

Well I just got back into surfing and I'm mainly just catching whitewash and some small waves here and there.
It seems that skimboarding is somewhat like surfing without the paddling and bodyboarding is like surfing without standing up, just wondering if they help with your surfing?

[jaytee]

body boarding for sure will help you with your paddling, wave selection and where you should be on the wave.
skim boarding, well i guess its another balance sport.

[IB_Surfer]

Indirectly, skimboarding and boogieboarding will improve your knowlege of waves and the ocean, which will improve your learning

[isaluteyou]

body boarding is a big pluss - i started off by boarding so when it came to surfing i already knew how to read waves and surf conditions pluss i could paddle pretty good as well. At least those are the things that really transfered over well

[parrysurf]

^ agree with all above.
even body surfing, or using a tray or Frisbee to body surf shacking beach break, will help your surfing.

Time in the water is the key..any time chasing waves is time well spent.