Complete beginner

[Steviexo]

I've been interested in bodyboarding for quite a few years but i've never actually got round to doing anything about it.

I need all the advice i can get on what i should do first, do i buy a cheap bodyboard and see where that gets me or should i get lessons first?

What sort of excercise will help me become a good bodyboarder etc?

thanks in advance

[Hoof]

Maybe get some fins first and wetsuit and experience swimming in the sea and maybe bodysurfing to get used to waves and how they break. It'll improve your fitness levels relating to bodyboarding, wave awareness and get you used to using fins which from experience beginners find quite an alien experience and initial barrier to enjoyment. With this base which should be achieved with 3-4 goes I'd plump for a good intermediate board suited to your weight and height. The investment of the extra 30-40 notes over a basic board will go a long way as far as durability and capability which will take you further as you get more experienced than a really basic board. Once you've got the board try and get in the water as much as possible as practice/experience will be the only thing that makes you a better bodyboarder in general terms. Even if you feel a fool at first and I think I can say most of us did and still do, once you get the buzz of catching a few waves there's no going back and you'll only get better. Some lessons with Rob would be a good idea but I'd get the ball rolling with the other stuff first as once your in the water and having a bit of fun I'm sure Rob will be able to move your boarding on pretty rapidly. I'd also recommend watching a fair few vids as you can learn a fair bit of theory, you just then have to attempt to put it into practice.
Hope you find the pointers usefull.

[stackpipe]

Welcome to the buzz mate.
I found that I replaced every bit of kit i bought within 3 months of starting. It came at a cost of over a hundred notes, which, had I gone for good stuff from the outset I'd have saved buying twice.
My reasoning at the time was I wasn't wasting too much if I didn't like it or got bored!
Daft reasoning, but quite normal.
The advice about fins is good tho. Get some that fit and practice, either with or without a board. the rest will come as you get the stoke

[Steviexo]

thanks that's helped a lot

[Dicer]

try paddling around in the shallows at first getting used to the feel of the board and fins. don't go hell for leather until your confidence is matching your ability. it will take a while but as you get used to it try duckdiving in flat conditions or very small surf. both hands either side of the nose of your board and raising one of your knees onto the tail to push you and the board under the water. timing is critical so spend time watching the way the waves break before you go in the water, sets of waves can stack up and then have a lull so I usually start paddling out as the last few waves of the set are breaking. good luck and ENJOY IT

[Plugus Maximus]

Buy kit second hand ... that way you can sell it at virtually no loss if you don't get on with it.

Lessons are a luxury you don't need - just jump in and you'll learn some basics (watch the vid clips on Video Jug for bodyboarding ), having said that if you do have lessons you'll learn so much more in such a short space of time! So in short lessons are not necessary but are definitely worth considering.

Most importantly chat with the other spongers out back and they'll be willign to share tips. Just bve careful not to get out of your depth (metophorically not physcially).

Welcome to the worlds second best sport.

[CymruGirl]

Stevie - Rob Barber is doing a 2 day BB course in Wales on 11/12 September. Basing themselves in Swansea and driving out each day to the best spots. www.robbarber.com will have all the details/prices etc.

Rob --- if you are reading this I want commission

[dhand62362]

ThreeSixty Bodyboard Manual about £3.50 ish tells you all you need to know.

Dave Heard at BBHQ is great for information on kit, check out his website and see what he sells you can't go far wrong.

happy to answer any questions if you PM me regarding kit etc or stick em on here

I too spent money on stuff I ended up replacing

forgot to ask where is your nearest break ?

[Spongedup]

Stevie , best advice I can give you is

1. Make sure you get a decent wetsuit Alder do pretty reasonable winter wetties for £125 , you can use them all year round and are as flexible as a summer suit nowadays , I strongly urge you to get fitted at a shop by someone that knows what they are talking about , no slack material has to fit tight especially lower back arch where are you based in the uk >? if your near Newquay head to boardwalk good guys in there.

2.Socks are a must fins dig in without , rash vest also a must.

3.Do your research if you fancy getting a decent board speak to Dave at bbhq , boards need to be sized to match your height and frame , if not eye up a second hander and im sure the guys n girls on here can help you out.

4. Fins are a must also they help you gain speed to catch waves even if the waves are small and ideally you want to be learning in the smaller 2ft surf till you get your bearings.

5.Videojug is your friend type in bodyboarding tricks or something similar it will teach you everything from surf line to positioning to advanced moves.

6.Most of all enjoy , some days you will get minced and your confidence will be knocked but nine times out of 10 the conditions probably were not great.

[spongebob]

once you catch a wave, look at your hand placement. inside hand (wave side) on nose and beach-side hand halfway down opp side - this is essential to "trim" along a wave. Both hand on nose of board = straight-lining into the beach in white water and is BAD!!!!!!!

yeah I know this is obvious to most, but not all, I suggested this to someone at the beach and he came back to me 15 minutes later thanking me coz he'd actually trimmed along the wave for the first time and couldn't stop raving about how fast he was going! A boogie-boarder was on his way to becoming a bodyboarder...