Bodyboard
The bodyboard is a shortened form of a surfboard (see surfing ) and, in contrast to the surfing, is mainly driven lying down. More experienced riders also kneel on the board, so-called drop knee riding. The bodyboard is rarely used standing.
history
On July 7, 1971, the bodyboard was invented by surfer Tom Morey . When Tom Morey was out without his surfboard that day, he found promising surf. So Morey borrowed 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 SNAKE - side, navel, arm, knee, elbow. It was not until 1973 that he protected the name Morey Boogie and built professional bodyboards under this label. The demand increased and so he built around 80,000 boards per year until 1977. The label was sold to many companies over the years and is still one of the leading bodyboard brands today.
materials
Today's bodyboard consists of the rigid foam polyethylene (short PE) or polypropylene (short PP). PE is more suitable for colder waters and is therefore more suitable for European waters. PP is a denser material and more suitable for warmer waters. The stiffness of the PP board increases in cold water, which means that the necessary flexibility can be lost. Due to its density, PP is less sensitive to water penetration and more durable than PE. There are many other names invented by manufacturers to denote their materials, but basically these are the two materials mentioned. Last but not least, there are the cheap supermarket boards made of expanded polystyrene . These inexpensive replicas are conditionally suitable for bodyboarding. Due to their processing, they are relatively prone to breakage, especially with heavier bodyboarders, and are not suitable for larger waves. Higher quality bodyboards are covered with a high-density polyethylene layer (HDPE) to reduce water resistance and for better planing on the wave.
Designs
The biggest difference in the design lies in the end piece, the so-called tail. A distinction is mainly made between the crescent and the bat tail. The crescent tail has the shape of a flat half moon and gives the board a little less flexibility when riding than the bat tail. This also makes it quieter and is more suitable for beginners or for steep waves, as the bodyboard reacts less strongly to shifting the center of gravity and is therefore more forgiving of mistakes. The bat tail has the shape of a bat wing and gives the board much more flexibility and maneuverability, which is particularly useful when doing tricks. In order to positively influence the driving behavior of boards with a bat tail, so-called channels (depressions) were introduced on the underside of the board. These should stabilize the board. There are now many designs of the tails with the most varied of names, but all are based on the two mentioned.
equipment
The following utensils are required for bodyboarding:
1. The leash : This indispensable accessory is a leash that connects the bodyboard to the bodyboarder's wrist or upper arm. It ensures that the surfer does not lose the board in the event of a fall. Ideally, the Velcro fastening is padded with neoprene to prevent blood from being constricted and to increase wearing comfort.
2. Fins : They are a much shorter form of diving fins, which are equipped with torsion stiffeners on the shaft to increase the efficiency of the leg kick. They are needed to be able to move faster in the water and to get enough speed when paddling the wave. To protect against rubbing by the hard plastic, you can wear neoprene or lycra socks. These also offer the bodyboarder protection against the cold. Since the fins can be easily detached from the foot, especially in strong surf, you can protect them with a special leash.
3. Wetsuit and Lycra : They serve as protection against the cold in the water and as protection against sunburn . When bodyboarding with a bare upper body, you can get abrasions and bruises without the clothing mentioned.
4. Wax : Contrary to popular belief that is common in skiing, the hard wax for bodyboarding is not applied to the underside of the bodyboard to increase its gliding ability, but rather on the upper side, as is the case with surfing: this is supposed to increase the slip resistance. Normally only the area where the stomach and forearms rest on the board are waxed. The wax is usually offered in 3 different types - each for use in cold / normal / warm waters.
Distribution in Germany
Compared to other surfing sports, the sport is still a niche sport in Germany, but one that is enjoying a growing fan base. Since the bodyboard can be used in most wave conditions from 0.5 m, the waves on the North and Baltic Seas are also suitable for sport. The French Atlantic coast as well as Portugal and the Canary Islands are also very popular spots .
Individual evidence
literature
- Ben Severson, Jake Grubb: Bodyboard Handbook , Grubb Stake Media Ltd., Newport Beach 1986
- Finn Mersen: Textbook Surfing Baltic Sea, North Sea, Surfing and Bodyboard http://www.educatium.de/wellenreiten/
Web links
- IBA - International Bodyboarding Association , (English)