BODY SURFING
I know, it’s not really a board sport, however where else am I going to put it?
Getting wet
Body surfing is one of the easiest sports to get into because the only thing you need is a good ability to swim and a bathing suit.
Other items can include swim fins (there is a wide variety of them out there now), a wetsuit, if needed, and maybe something for your hand to “surf” with (this is totally optional and some people even use a plastic food tray from McDonalds, which actually works pretty good).
How to Body Surf
It doesn’t come easily for some people and if you do it wrong, you can get seriously hurt. Follow these basics steps, and everything learned here is by no means a substitution for good judgement. Tropixman.com assumes no liability or responsibility for any injuries, or if your shorts get ripped off from the waves.
Always check out the surf for about five minutes before you jump in. There may be a rip current, rocky bottom, obstacles in the water, stingray’s or more. Always ensure it’s a good sandy bottom and you feel comfortable in your surroundings.
Enter the surf in between sets and swim out a little bit. If you have fins, swim out with them in your hands and put them on in the open water. The fins will help propel you when catching a wave and also help when swimming out to the lineup.
Most of the best body surfing wave are found close to the beach (shore pounders) which makes for a lot of excitement, but also a lot of sand in all sorts of body parts.
When you see a wave approaching, keep an eye on the wave and see if it’s going to break right or left. A right, means that as you are going down the wave (towards the beach) you will be going right and you will be going towards the shoulder of the wave. A left means the same, just going left.
Knowing which way the wave breaks is a huge advantage if you are trying to get tubed. You should be catching the wave before it breaks.
As the wave is about 10 feet from you, start swimming towards shore using your legs only, keeping your eyes on the wave and judging how fast it is coming. You want to get your speed almost the same speed as the wave.
You should start feeling the wave pushing you. When this happens flatten your body as much as possible (like a surfboard) and angle left or right down the wave. Do not arch your back, which will slow or stop you and do not go straight towards the beach, as this is how most injuries happen.
If you are going right, put out your right arm and use your arm and body as an edge, in which you are surfing with. The wave’s power should do most of the work from this point on. You can still kick to keep up with the wave, however, it shouldn’t be necessary.
Angle down the wave to the right to keep forward momentum and if it’s a good day, look for the tube.
Being angled with the wave going right or left helps in a variety of ways. Number one, is it’s the only way to get tubed and it’s much safer if the wave picks you up and slams you down. This is called going “over the falls”. If this happens, stay angled and roll with the wave, rather that going head first into the sand. Always body surf with at least one are extended. This will brace your fall or you will hit your hand on something and not your head/neck.
Going through the “backdoor” is almost a certain way to get a tube. If you know that the wave is breaking right, you simply start going right and change left when you feel the wave starting to tube. It’s pretty easy. just change from extending your right arm to your left and lean your body to the left.
You can also pop out the back of the wave if you see it’s going to close out and you don’t want to get rolled. Simply, take a good breath and angle your body towards the back of the wave. You should penetrate the wave and pop out the back.
It’s all about practice. Remember, your body is the board, so keep it flat. Get out there, be careful and have some fun.
I know, it’s not really a board sport, however where else am I going to put it?
Getting wet
Body surfing is one of the easiest sports to get into because the only thing you need is a good ability to swim and a bathing suit.
Other items can include swim fins (there is a wide variety of them out there now), a wetsuit, if needed, and maybe something for your hand to “surf” with (this is totally optional and some people even use a plastic food tray from McDonalds, which actually works pretty good).
How to Body Surf
It doesn’t come easily for some people and if you do it wrong, you can get seriously hurt. Follow these basics steps, and everything learned here is by no means a substitution for good judgement. Tropixman.com assumes no liability or responsibility for any injuries, or if your shorts get ripped off from the waves.
Always check out the surf for about five minutes before you jump in. There may be a rip current, rocky bottom, obstacles in the water, stingray’s or more. Always ensure it’s a good sandy bottom and you feel comfortable in your surroundings.
Enter the surf in between sets and swim out a little bit. If you have fins, swim out with them in your hands and put them on in the open water. The fins will help propel you when catching a wave and also help when swimming out to the lineup.
Most of the best body surfing wave are found close to the beach (shore pounders) which makes for a lot of excitement, but also a lot of sand in all sorts of body parts.
When you see a wave approaching, keep an eye on the wave and see if it’s going to break right or left. A right, means that as you are going down the wave (towards the beach) you will be going right and you will be going towards the shoulder of the wave. A left means the same, just going left.
Knowing which way the wave breaks is a huge advantage if you are trying to get tubed. You should be catching the wave before it breaks.
As the wave is about 10 feet from you, start swimming towards shore using your legs only, keeping your eyes on the wave and judging how fast it is coming. You want to get your speed almost the same speed as the wave.
You should start feeling the wave pushing you. When this happens flatten your body as much as possible (like a surfboard) and angle left or right down the wave. Do not arch your back, which will slow or stop you and do not go straight towards the beach, as this is how most injuries happen.
If you are going right, put out your right arm and use your arm and body as an edge, in which you are surfing with. The wave’s power should do most of the work from this point on. You can still kick to keep up with the wave, however, it shouldn’t be necessary.
Angle down the wave to the right to keep forward momentum and if it’s a good day, look for the tube.
Being angled with the wave going right or left helps in a variety of ways. Number one, is it’s the only way to get tubed and it’s much safer if the wave picks you up and slams you down. This is called going “over the falls”. If this happens, stay angled and roll with the wave, rather that going head first into the sand. Always body surf with at least one are extended. This will brace your fall or you will hit your hand on something and not your head/neck.
Going through the “backdoor” is almost a certain way to get a tube. If you know that the wave is breaking right, you simply start going right and change left when you feel the wave starting to tube. It’s pretty easy. just change from extending your right arm to your left and lean your body to the left.
You can also pop out the back of the wave if you see it’s going to close out and you don’t want to get rolled. Simply, take a good breath and angle your body towards the back of the wave. You should penetrate the wave and pop out the back.
It’s all about practice. Remember, your body is the board, so keep it flat. Get out there, be careful and have some fun.
