Bodyboarding

The bodyboard is a shortened form of a surfboard (see surfing ) and is driven as opposed to surfers mainly lying down. Experienced skaters kneel on the board, the so- called drop -knee riding. But rarely the bodyboard is used standing.

History

On 7 July 1971 the bodyboard was invented by the surfer Tom Morey. When Tom Morey was on this day without his surfboard on the road, he found a promising surf. So Morey asked to borrow an electric carving knife and an iron, wrapped some foam rubber in a small rectangular mat and covered it with newspaper. He called his invention S.N.A.K.E. - Page, navel, arm, knee, elbow. Only in 1973 he protected the name Morey Boogie and built under this label professional body boards. The demand grew and so he built until 1977 about 80,000 boards per year. The label was sold in the course of time, many companies continue to this day and is one of the leading bodyboard brands in the market.

Materials

Today's bodyboard consists of the rigid foam polyethylene ( PE for short ) or polypropylene ( PP for short ). PE is more suitable for colder waters and is therefore better suited for European waters. PP is a denser material and more for warmer waters suitable. In cold water, the stiffness of the PP Boardes increases, thereby the flexibility may be lost. PP by its density, however, is less susceptible to the penetration of water and more durable than PE. There are many more names that were invented by manufacturers to describe their materials, but basically it is about the two mentioned materials. There are the cheap supermarket boards made ​​of foam polystyrene Finally. These favorable replicas are due for bodyboarding. Through their processing, they are suitable only very limited shelf life and not for larger waves.

Designs

The biggest difference in design is at the tail end, the so-called tail. It differs mainly from the Crescent and the Bat Tail. The Crescent Tail has the shape of a flat half moon and granted the Board a little less flexibility when driving as the Bat Tail. This, however, driving is also quieter and more suitable for the beginner or for steep waves. The Bat Tail is in the shape of a bat swing and gives the board a much higher flexibility, which particularly stands out when driving tricks. In order to influence the driving behavior motherboard with Bat Tail positive, so-called Channels ( wells) were introduced on the underside of the board. This will stabilize the board. There are now many types of tails with different names, but all are based on the two mentioned.

Accessories

For Bodyboarding you need the following utensils:

1 The Leash, here is a catch line, one end of the board and the other end at the wrist or upper arm, the driver is attached. It ensures that in a crash, the driver does not lose the board.

2 fins, the fins are a much verkürztere shape of the flippers and the shaft also pronounced harder. You will be required to move around in the water faster and to get enough speed when paddling the shaft. To protect against the reaming through the hard plastic you can wear neoprene or Lycra socks. This offer also a protection against cold.

3 wetsuit and lycra, they serve as protection from the cold in the water and to protect against the sun's rays and are often unavoidable. When bodyboarding shirtless else does one have to pull scrapes and bruises.

4 Wax, such a hard wax is applied to the grip on the top of the board and intended to prevent you from sliding down. Normally, only the bearing surface of the abdomen and forearms are waxed on the board. It is offered mostly in 3 different varieties - for use in cold / normal / warm waters.

Distribution in Germany

The sport is compared to other surf sports still a niche sport in Germany, but is enjoying a growing fan base. Because the bodyboarding is to be used in most wave conditions from 0.5 m to the waves on the North and Baltic Seas are suitable for the sport. But are also very popular, the French Atlantic coast, as well as Portugal and the Canary Islands.