In the last few months surf movies such as Riding Giants and the Billabong Odissey have grabbed all our imaginations. Big Wave surfing is at the frontier of extreme sports, but recently there has been another break through. Bodyboarding XT. Bodyboarders are now taking on huge waves that surfers simply can not ride.
As Bodyboarders are physically holding their boards (giving them a lower centre of gravity and better balance) and they can paddle into dangerous wave conditions more efficiently (as they use swim fins), a whole realm of waves that have previously been too difficult and dangerous for stand up surfers to tackle are now being challenged on a regular basis.
Extreme Bodyboarding is taking surfing to a new level !!
How and when was bodyboarding invented ?
It was developed by an inventor named Tom Morey in the early seventies in California. The sport of Paipo boarding (the riding of wooden bodyboards) has been around since the history of surfing began in the eighteenth century.
What's the difference between bodyboarding and Bodyboarding XT ?
Bodyboarding XT describes the ultimate practice of the sport in the most extreme conditions around the world. Bodyboardingis simply the umbrella name for the whole sport from entry level riding of broken waves on the Cornish coast all the way to the top World Tour events that are held through out the year at venues in Australia, Tahiti, Portugal and Hawaii.
Where can you learn to Bodyboard ?
Britain's only Bodyboarding coaching facility is Rob Barber's Bodyboarding School in Newquay, Cornwall. Lessons cost £25 for a two hour lesson and are held all year round. Rob's the British Team Coach.
Check the links page...
How do Brits fair on the World Stage ?
Top British riders such as Danny Wall, Jack Johns, Stef & Dan Skajarowski are right up there with the best in the world, taking some of the most challenging conditions on the planet. Danny even broke a vertebrae in Tahiti during a particularly hardcore session a couple of years ago !
Where are the best Bodyboarding spots in the UK ?
-Tolcarne Wedge in Newquay, is widely renowned as the best bodyboarding wave in England due to it's shore breaking nature (it breaks extrememly quickly, the waves are very steep and not for the feint hearted).
-Croyde in North Devon is also another excellent wave although these days it suffers from overcrowding.
-Bournemouth: is another Bodyboarding hot bed when there is enough swell on the South coast to turn the conditions on.
-Brighton wedge: offers spectacular rides when the combination of banks and swell is at its best
(not very often though !).
-Scarborough in the North East offers cold but excellent conditions at Cayton Bay and the surrounding beaches.
-There are also excellent waves at Thurso in the north of Scotland as long as you have a thick wetsuit, gloves, socks and a hood to protect you from the freezing temperatures !!!
-Porthleven: one of the best reefs breaks in the country...no comments!
Bodyboard XT
