Taking OffYour first step is to choose an appropriate wave and paddle towards it. Once you are in a position to be able to catch it, turn around to face shore and begin to kick hard as the wave starts to push you along.
While you are kicking you may want to paddle with either two arms or one arm while the other holds the nose of your board. Often it's easier just to paddle with one hand and use the other hand to steady the board and place some downward pressure on the nose of the board. If you choose to paddle with one arm, choosing which arm does what depends on the direction intend to be travelling. If you are going right, your right hand should be on the nose while your left arm paddles. If you are going left, the reverse applies.
Once you start to feel the wave pushing you down its face, stop paddling and put your paddling arm onto the outside rail about a third of the board length back from the nose. If you feel that you might not have the necessary speed to stay on the wave then you can place both hands on the front of the board, applying your weight to the front of the board and causing the front of the board to be pushed down the wave. Now slide back slightly and angle your board in the direction you have chosen. If it is a steep drop, it may be necessary to pull up on the nose to prevent the board from pearling. Once you have made it to the bottom you are ready to set up for the bottom turn or trim line.
Bottom Turn
The bottom turn is an essential part of riding a bodyboard. A good bottom turn can set you up with plenty of speed and projection for the rest of your ride. To set up a solid bottom turn you must get into the wave early. As you gain momentum down the face of the wave, lean to the inside rail gradually. This in turn will cause you to pull up on your outside rail. You should be careful not go too far into the flats before you make your turn because this will cause your board to bog and cause you to struggle to make the wave. At this point you can project across and up setting up for a barrel or gaining down the line speed for a move.
Trimming
Angling your board across a wave is known as trimming. If you are angling right, your right arm should be placed on the front of your board while your left hand should be on your outside rail, about midway down the board. Once you are trimming, your main aim is to pick up speed so you can keep up with the wave and make it to the next section. Try moving your weight up and down the board until you find the position that gives you the most speed. Pulling your legs up just out of the water reduces your drag and greatly increases speed.
The Cutback
This is one of the most fundamental manoeuvres in bodyboarding but if performed correctly, it can also be one of the most radical. Follow these key points to get yourself on the right track to cutting back:
To gain speed, do a hard bottom turn and project yourself out of it by moving up to the middle of your board. If you are already in trim, you can maintain your momentum by simply staying on the upper half of the wave. You should make sure your stomach and hips are on the deck and that both legs out of the water so you are gaining maximum speed. Now you have the speed, the next step is your positioning on the board. The cutback is just like a bottom turn.
If you're going right on the wave, set yourself up like you would for a left bottom-turn. Slide your left hand up to the front corner of the rail. Move back a little on your board so that your stomach and left hip are on the back left corner of the board. Go into your cutback gradually to stop your board skiping out of the water. When you're going right, apply pressure on your left rail and smoothly lift your outside rail out of the water until you are turning almost completely on the back left corner of the board.
To add some carve to your cutback, throw your weight into it. Remember to start your turn gradually, but then throw your hips up and out towards where the lip should be. This will cause the back corner of your board to dig in and make the carve. You want your centre of gravity directly above the back corner on which you are turning. When you're doing your cutback you are going to feel a decrease in speed. So, as your speed decreases, increase the depth and severity of your turn until you finally feel yourself being propelled back into the wave in the opposite direction. Slide up to the middle of your board so as to release the inside rail and gain some speed.
Back to Bodyboarding Basics
