Appreciate your thoughts Matt. With your family and personal background/experience in production, maybe your the one who can lead the way to better promoting the sport. As a woman, you'll not be surprised that I am hard pressed to see many videos of women bodyboarders. My goal is to do a documentary on the history of women in the sport. Good luck with your Bodyboarding Goals, rooting for You!
Thanks very much for such a kind and considerate reply. Stoked to hear about your doc, but unsurprised by the lack of female representation in videos and generally within the sport. Hopefully, we are on the right path to change that though. We look forward to seeing your documentary.
The fact it’s not popular is what makes it such a special sport. I’m generally a stand up surfer but love getting on the boog when the conditions are right for it. Also, I generally stand up surf with bodyboarders purely because the heavy waves you all chase are so much more fun and as it is more underground, bodyboarders are generally a lot nicer more humble people who do the sport for the love - not the image! A general rule of thumb is if a stand up says bodyboarding is shit, it shows they are a kook at surfing and know nothing about bodyboarding.
We definitely agree that its underground nature is part of the appeal Jim. We also agree that boogers are generally a more low key and humble bunch, particularly given some of the crazy waves being charged. No comment on the last point...(but yes :))
I always look like a complete dork in the surf, wearing a cheap rashy from big W, overweight, poor posture. The surfers look down on me. Then I take off super late, freefall into a gaping pit and sometimes make the wave. I love seeing the look of surprise whilst I'm riding the foamball😂
I have been practicing bodyboard for 23 years, and i got malignant psoriasis disease in 2003, and yet i still love this sport, no matter what happens or what others say about it.
Hi , this is very interesting discussion. By background is ive been a keen stand up surfer for 35 years and due to mobility issues ive not been able to do it any longer ,and looked at bodyboarding as an option to get out. For years hate to admit wondered what it was all about and can understand why some think maybe not as cool as the media is all about "surfing " due to the immage and fashion side . In april i had an operation that gave me plenty of time to investigate into whats involved with bodyboarding as have very limited knowledge on it. watching hours of videos i became drawn to this idea...maybe just maybe . Took the plunge and gave it a go,picked up an old 90s board off Facebook and got some fins and off i went.....how hard can it be.?? Lol First go out and i was sliding sideways, but having a blast with massive grin, 2 months later iam absolutely loving it ,doing bottom turns and riding along the face fine. Getting way more waves than i would have on a surfboard, giving me a lot more options on where can go in . Have already had some cracking sessions and a few cover ups ...to my suprise for dorset , so stoked. Wish i started it years ago !, have absolute respect to high end bodyboarding as its not as easy as it first looks , but still easy transition from surfing to at least get up and riding again. Bodyboarding has given me so much in a short time, thought my surfing days were over for good. Retuning back to my local spots ive noticed more spongers than ever remember seeing in the past , would seem slightly more popular than in previous years?? Cheerrs all
Hey Jez, thanks very much for the sick message dude. It is epic to hear your journey to the boog. We are very much hoping that the sport is becoming more popular - it is fantastic to hear that you are seeing more of us on the south coast. Perhaps a better title for the video might have been 'Why is bodyboarding not respected more?'...
I started bodyboarding in 1992 at Waikiki Walls. I live far from the beach now and only bodyboard whenever I visit Hawaii once a year. I remember the hey day of bodyboarding in the 90s but even then, it was still an underground sport while surfing was much more popular. Many board companies and board shops have come and gone since then. I think as surfing continued gaining popularity (starting in the 1950s) esp in mainstream media, bodyboarding never really ever went completely mainstream at all and just faded into obscurity. The few times bodyboarding is shown in the mainstream, it's portrayed as something you do on weekends or on vacation with a cheapo board from Wal-Mart that you use to ride small white water with. It's essentially viewed as a toy for kids or tourists. It's also seen as a stepping stone to stand up surfing. I think rollerblading faced a similar fate and trajectory. A part of me is glad bodyboarding is underground and free from the agro hyper-competitiveness of surfing, but another part of me wishes it weren't so underground to the point that it's hard to find actual decent bodyboarders in real life or boards at surf shops. We are an endangered species.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. It's always interesting to gain insights on the story from people who have been riding since 1992. Respect brother first off. Second, you have some very relevant points. We definitely agree that stand up surfing has been historically better at riding the mainstream marketing wave. We also totally agree that historically bodyboarding has not been promoted well.
It’s also the bodyboarders fault for always standing down to stand up surfers and in general the industry has indeed done a horrible job marketing… with Stewart and hubbards being mr nice guy always .. we need more of what the aussies are doing like NOmad guys are doing with their marketing
Hi Tommy, thanks for the thoughtful and interesting comment mate. We definitely agree on the marketing of bodyboarding + it's a really interesting take that we need to stand up for ourselves more. Totally agree.
I stand up surfed for over 30 years . Recently I had a bad injury and now I am a bodyboarder . It's different but it's still fun . Love how I can surf places I couldn't on a stand up
Thanks for the message. We are sorry to hear about your injury, but stoked to have you as part of the boogie family. We also agree that the boog is so good for riding all types of waves, particularly fast and hollow ones.
Wow. I'm proud to love a sport that has this guy in it. I'm sorry to say that I had to look up who Matt Sharman is, but that shouldn't diminish my respect in any way. Wow. Matt has just provided a clear and insightful answer to the burning question. Weirdly, there’s a lot of us who had to go away and do the growing up he mentioned, and now we are returning again. Are we on the cusp of the next bodyboarding evolution? I hope so, and I reckon Matt Sharman, Rob Barber and all the clubs in the UK, inc. Iain Campbell 🎉 will be part of how we get there. Massive respect. Lets goooo! 🎉🎊🙌😌🤙
Hey Seb, thanks very much for the really kind message. Matt certainly loves bodyboarding + has done a lot for the sport in the UK over the past few years. Hopefully, we are on the cusp of a real evolution. Definitely having guys like Rob, Iain and Matt certainly helps the progress 💪
I love bodyboarding. I love stand up surfing and paddle boarding too, but I started off as a bodyboarder and always felt and still feel it is sooo underrated as a sport. In my eyes its due to most people associating it with kids playing with bodyboards on their summer vacation. They simply dont know about professional bodyboarding and the athletic side of bodyboarding. I am quite ok with the facts its not as known and hyped as stand up surfing though 😅
Hi Susan, thank you for the interesting and thoughtful response. We agree that bodyboarding is seriously underrated and on the association. As you say, most people have no idea that it is a high performance sport. Bodyboarders generally are quite real and low key in their attitude. Whilst we don't want hype, we do want more awareness and respect for the sport.
My Blalah Bullyboard bodyboard by Wayoo, just arrived yesterday here in Florida. Can't wait to try it out. Beautiful board. As a kid I bodyboarded and then I stood up surfed till now since the late eighties. Bodyboarding is very difficult for me as it was as a child. It has amazing sensations but difficult and it's a challenge. I like too much volume so this big body board will be so much fun and fast.
I was in a bad accident 10 years ago which left me with leg and pelvis injuries a lot of titanium, and really affected my life being very outgoing. I took up bodyboarding 4 years ago and it's had a profound effect on my life, it helps both mentally and physically it's now a passion, and no matter how hard times get, you always leave the water smiling everyone should give it a go, you can take it to any level you want. I just wished I'd discovered it when I was younger now approaching 50! 🤙
Thanks for the comment George and we are sorry to hear about your accident, but stoked that you have joined the bodyboarding family - welcome! There can can be no question about the benefits of bodyboarding to your mental and physical health. It is also super fun at all levels in nearly all conditions. It's definitely not all about mutant slabs and backflips too.
@@Bodyboard-depot thanks guys appreciated , not many bodyboarders up here in the north of Scotland. I'm hoping I'll encourage more, now I'm posting on my channel, wishing you guys good health happiness and clean waves this year! 🤙
I’m the only bodyboarder at my local breaks on the Moray Coast. I love the uniqueness of the sport, definitely has an underground feel for me. I also enjoy the fact that I practically have certain waves to myself because they’re way too sketchy for surfers.
Our absolute pleasure. We know all about Chile being a hotbed for the sport too. You guys have so many epic charges over there. Not long before a Chilean is a world champion...
I think if the bigger brands like Quicksilver, Billabong, Rip Curl (the main clothing and surfwear brands) etc all switched out their advertising and posters for bodyboarders instead of standups, the awareness would grow much faster.
Hi Justin, this is true for sure. Such brands did support bodyboarding in the 90's, but withdrew it after they assessed that the sport was a threat to stand up surfing.
Some bodyboarders do Daniel for sure, others get frustrated that the sport is not respected more and paid better. All part of the weird and wonderful boogie mix...
Hi Stewart, thanks for the input. The 90's was definitely a good time for the sport. Time will tell and it is somewhat down to the industry, but you may well be correct
I started with a 139 morey boogie in 77.then started board surfing in 79,.I have surfed from Humboldt, down to Ensenada, Hawaii and Indonesia. At age 59 i bought a pair of h20 odyssey fins and a catch surf bodyboard. Im having so much fun,and telling my surfing friends im getting overhead barrel s 😅p.s i still have my original morey
Hey Casey, this is so sick to hear. We have an experienced head in the house - BIG respect brother. Please keep sharing the stoke with as many people as possible. This is what its all about. We salute you!!
Surfed for 30 years of my life, but became disillusioned with it for few reasons, mostly the other surfers, so I started riding dropknee and it has reinvigorated my love for being in the water. The masses can have stand up surfing, dk is where it’s at imo for me these days…
This is true. Perhaps it is on us a s a community to communicate how hard it is to get good at bodyboarding and what the sport at the elite level is all about.
I'm a lifelong bodyboarder since the 1970's from San Diego, CA. Stand-up surfing has always been the big dog because it's easy to watch and has a storied history. Many of my friends said I should just get a surfboard instead of a sponge. I hate elitist attitudes and surfurs are some of the worse with it's local tribalisms. Boogie boarders don't care for the show, or the crowds, or the kooks. Bodyboarders are soul surfers that don't have to search for that perfect wave, anything can be fun. Because we just don't take it seriously like some aggro surfer nazi. These days I surf with a kickboard and get barrels in shorebreak, even more stoke as a bodysurfer or freediver.
I think they should get it into the 2028 olypmics and host it at the wedge... image some guy switching channels and then seeing a bodyboarder getting spit out right into a huge invert. It would blow peoples minds and bring more awarnce to the competitive side of bodyboarding.
Hey Luke, thanks for the comment. We absolutely agree that bodyboarding should be included in the next Olympics. Hosting it at the Newport wedge would be epic, if challenging in getting a permit. It would be so sick though and 100% help to bring the sport to new heads, which would come off...
@@Bodyboard-depot Honstley I think it would bring way more viewership than trestles. From outside surfing. Everyone knows the wedge, and it’s exciting. Not everyone knows trestles or find it exciting.
I’ve always told people bodyboarding is better because you can do it in basically any condition. You can enjoy bodyboarding on a 2ft sloppy beach break day, or a 15 foot hollow reef. All with the same equipment
I think a lot of the lack of industry interest is the lack of money. I'm riding a 6year old boog and it rides fine, in all conditions. 8ft kegs or two foot slop, it does the job. For stand up surfing a range of waves, you need min. 3 boards, each $1000 a pop and wax every surf. I love both standup surfing and booging. Bodyboarding is way harder on the body, you need to be so fit to be doing aerial maneuvers. Awesome interview
Thanks very much for the considered input. We totally agree that good quality bodyboards last a very long time for sure. Some riders like to have a range of boards, like our stand up brothers, but it is definitely not a requirement.. The availability of low quality and cheap bodyboards in supermarkets, for example, has further degraded the public perception of what bodyboarding is and what they expect to pay for a bodyboard. Bodyboarding is definitely way harder on the body than stand up surfing too.
@@Bodyboard-depot >The availability of low quality and cheap bodyboards in supermarkets, for example, has further degraded the public perception Or it allows greater access and more people to enjoy the sport? The people buying cheap boards are not the ones that are going to think about performance, they simply want to have fun. This can then convert into people who bodyboard later. Thinking on a longer timeframe this could potentially outweigh surfing. Yes, these people may change to surfing due to the perception of foam boards but not all will and not all who progress to competency will have the patience to make this conversion. The comments are full of people talking about elitsism of surfers and then we have comments like this? kek
I start body board because it was cool and more affordable as teenager. I like having a body board it fits to every wave condition and skimboard for flat, it doesn't hurt. I don't annoy anybody in the train or the bus, i can cycle with my board easily. It make also a very good sludge in the mountain and a ab/gym mat :) . I laugh at surfers I catch faster because I am fitter than them and I am mostly the only girl in bikini whereas they are in full wetsuit. bodyboard is the best for everything and i love to watch slabs . surfer becomes too mainstream it is a daddy sport baah .
This is great to hear. You also make some really good points regarding how much easier it is to travel with a bodyboard vs a stand-up board. We also love it that you're in a bikini, whilst the boys are all wetsuits - good on you and keep shredding!
I Boog and surf. I'm good on a sponge but super average on a stick. I like both but mostly sponge. For me it was skateboarding. Just love that sh#t since the 90s. Body board, surf but mostly skateboarding. Eventually skating took over from everything else. Now I'm older I prefer the non impact aspect of the sport (mostly non impact 😂).
We feel you John 😂. We have some 40 somethings in our crew. There's is definitely a time and place for all forms of wave riding (again some of team stand up surf too, including Matt). We would just love for the boog to be more understood and respected. Skateboarding is an amazing example of where an extreme sport can go.
In Australia we always had to wait for cyclone swells to come through in the north and when they came no one had surfboards only fins and a boog, we would find some submerged bombie or rock that was barreling in some strange wicked form and surf that until our knees scrapped on the oystered rock and the tide sucked dry surfers cant do that shit 😅
This is the soul route mate and so epic to hear. You guys are built differently over there and we love it. Australia is the best boog destination on the planet + has too many of the best riders. Time for you boys to lead the world again we think.
@@Bodyboard-depot we were just young guys growing up in a different error when the wind speed was 30 knots or more we could always find some shore break 2 second barrels 😂 was the late mid to late 90s best times
Nice video, congrats! But don't be fooled, even the "good examples" mentioned in the video are very relative. I am portuguese, have been bodyboarding for 30 years now and the scenario you see in the water is very disapointing in terms of quantity and quality of sponge riding. Sure, we have incredible riders, but in truth they are not that many, specially if you compare with the number of good stand-up surfers... and I know what I am talking about, I started booging in the 90's and back then you had tons of boggies out everytime, especially when it was pumping... it is what it is, we should just enjoy it and share the good times!!
Interesting and a fairly popular perspective. The pros would disagree and would prefer more sponsorship support and media coverage, but ultimately at present the fundamental economic interest / demand is not there. With so many booger wanting the sport to remain underground, we are not surprised. This will result in fewer boogers, fewer brands within the sport and fewer events. This for us is a great shame, as we think the joy of booging should be shared with as many people as possible.
This is true. Bodyboarding is definitely not better than stand up surfing, both have their own sick qualities. Some of our team riders also stand up surf too.
Bodyboarding is only exciting when in hollow/powerful waves which are usually not at the normal beach break waves. Stand-up surfers can get more speed out of sloppy waves and make it look more exciting than a bodyboarder can.
We agree on the pure adrenaline side, but one can still have fun on the boog on weak waves. Totally agree that stand up surfers can generate more speed in the sloop. Horses for courses...
The dissemination of bodyboarding as a sport depends a lot on sports journalism (TV). Unfortunately in third world countries. Sports journalists only know about football (soccer) and turn out to be totally ignorant about water sports. Lately, in 2023, Peruvian Maycol Yance was crowned youth champion at the Gran Canaria Frontón King 2023. He did not receive a single interview from the Peruvian press despite being a very poor country in world sporting achievements. Ignorance and a taste for money (professional soccer) are the characteristics of journalism in Perú and others, no doubt.
Absolutely. As a sport we have struggled to gain the attention and respect of the wider sports media community. The question here is why? The answer is complicated and multifaceted, but we all have a role to play in shaping the sport for the future and primarily to share it with as many people as possible. For too long, bodyboarding has been in the shadows of the sporting world. It is up to us to make the mainstream media outlets take notice.
interestingly I don't think people ( holiday makers and the like, and lets face they could spend alot of money in this industry) see much good bodyboarding at the main beaches anymore and so don't know what it can be and how much fun you can have. Promotion at base level starts with seeing it and generate desire to do it. Imagine people buying a proper bodyboard instead of the cheap ones and getting into the sport having fun and feeling healthy whatever there age or sex.
Nicely said and we totally agree Glenn. Much more must be done to communicate all you have said i.e. the difference in board quality and subsequent impact on enjoyment and progression etc.
Just listening to these comments just shows how dead bodyboarding these days... Almost everyone in these comments have said they are in their 40's... We are all old !! Where is the new generation?!!!! And this falls on the industry and the marketing...
Totally Tommy. That is starting place number one i.e. get to the next generation early, in schools etc. This simply has not been happening. Too many boogers are content on keeping it to themselves, instead of sharing...
Bodyboarding is definitely not easy at the elite level Jayce, otherwise we'd all be doing backflips at our local. Respect in the water has also hugely improved. We don't know any of our riders that get dropped in on.
It doesn't need to be no, but it would be nice if it were better understood and respected + if the elite professionals could earn a decent living from it, which at present they cannot
Like this. It's the core for sure. It's a tough one though. Without some form of media attention at least, it's hard for the sport to develop commercial partnerships and therefore bring in much needed funds (this is particularly relevant to the elite world tour).
@@Bodyboard-depot for sure but that's the marketing angle imo. If media drives adoption then Tensions was the most successful at this, surely Chris White leaned into the unhinged aspect because he saw how well it worked for skating. Surfing grew when it aligned itself with the hippie movement and has its own unique genre of music in surf rock. I think it's especially true for bodyboarding now while surfing is so mainstream.
@@Bodyboard-depot I think there's some great opportunities right now for media. You have bodyboarding in the big lez show. I'd be licensing his art and leaning into stoner culture as surfing seems to have shed this image (even though it's what popularized them). You also have Skegss members that surf and boog and Bugs has a song called Esky Lid. I think drag board Co is on the right track.
Really interesting and informed views here and you could definitely be onto something. A lot of people seem a bit bored of the cleaner than clean image of many pro sports people. They are human after all, with all of the subsequent imperfections, meaning we agree there is appetite for some interesting realness.
I think more people would take up bodyboarding if the actual bodyboards ‘looked’ much more like surfboards - e.g. all white boards, B&W logos and branding. Truth is orange, yellow and blue bodyboards are kinda ugly and generally unappealing when compared to beautiful clean, white surfboards. Too many adult bodyboards look too childish with all the solid colours.
Hi Chris, this is an interesting point of view and thank you for the input. Our response here would be to partly agree, in that some boog designs are a bit out there. We would also add that not all stand up boards are white, many are in colour, but the designs generally tend to be better. Cheers
disagree about the white boards, but some of the simulated wood grain and custom print/design surfboards really are visually stunning. Not sure if cost is an issue, but I would absolutely buy a bodyboard with distinct art/look
What makes bodyboarding so awesome is that bodyboards dont care what anyone thinks of us. We just out there to drop heavy, get pitted and boost! It’s da way
This is no doubt true. All day long on the heavy drops, pits and boosts - this is the essence. We do also think there is a time and place to care what people think of the sport. Afterall, we want it to thrive and for the next generation to enjoy it too
Update, on my 50th birthday 6 months after started bodybording I got a treat of a session . South coast barrels I would never have got it was still surfing . I am hooked
I'm just a random bodyboarder from italy, here is so niche that the rate is probably 100:1, but our community is so fun we cheer each other and smile in the line up while the avg surfer is a kook and snob too....our mentality is 100% more real then them, i kinda love being the underdog....offcourse is different for professionals
Hey Fingo, thanks for the message dude and great to hear from the Italian crew. Also, so stoked that your community vibe is supportive and fun 😊. Makes us want to come and surf with you in Italy...
I would argue that bodyboarding is more popular than surfing. On any given beach there will typically be more people with boardboards than surfboards. Now yes, from a professional perspective bodyboarding might be less popular, but really does this matter to the majority of people? There might be a dozen surf boards out on a given day and yet there are 50 kids with bodyboards. >X is cooler than Y The whole argument is moot, wtf cares if about coolness level. Who cares about being able to ride bigger waves or athletic ability. Most people want to goto the beach and catch some waves. We aren't professionals. A quick google shows that bodyboard sales dwarf surboard sales. In short bodyboarding is more popular. Just the type of bodyboarding that professionals want and the recognition that comes with that does not exist. This is an entierly different beast to "why is body boarding not more popular". Well the question would be - what beach activity outsells bodyboards and then the comparison should be made to that as the comparison to surfing is simply wrong. In my mind people doing the activity is more important than people watching the activity, which is what modern sports tend to be about.
Thanks for the thoughtful input Joel. In terms of global participation, audience figures, size of market and total revenue, surfing significantly dwarfs bodyboarding. At the professional level, there are many athletes within the surfing industry that have become financially successful as a result of their performance exploits. Within bodyboarding there are virtually none. Whilst this is not an additional measure of sporting popularity, a clear professional pathway is essential for both existing aspiring professionals and for the next generation. On your anecdotal experience of participation proportionality, this is somewhat dependent on territory. For example, in the UK, on most occasions surfers outnumber bodyboarders by at least 10 to 1. Some people 'care' or are interested in athletic ability and about what type of training goes into being an athlete. However, we do accept that the majority of bodyboarders are not interested in riding bigger waves. The board sales figures you quote are highly misleading, as they include and are dominated by the sale of very low quality disposable boards, often selling for around £20 (these boards do not provide a genuine bodyboarding experience). At present and in short, surfing is far more popular than bodyboarding, using any sensible quantitative metric. We absolutely agree that bodyboarding professionals want and deserve more recognition. We don't agree that asking a question as a basis for open discussion is 'wrong' as you put it. The title could perhaps have been 'Why is bodyboarding not respected more at the professional level?' 100% agree that its all about doing the thing, rather that watching it. Thanks again for your input.
@@Bodyboard-depot >We don't agree that asking a question as a basis for open discussion is 'wrong' as you put it. The title could perhaps have been 'Why is bodyboarding not respected more at the professional level?' Sure. I wouldn't have even commented if this was the title. >The board sales figures you quote are highly misleading, as they include and are dominated by the sale of very low quality disposable boards, often selling for around £20 (these boards do not provide a genuine bodyboarding experience). In other sports (for example cycling) people are excited when kids ride bikes and don't care overly much what they use. This comment section is full of people claiming how elitist surfies are but I think the bodyboarding community needs to take a look in the mirror if they think poo-pooing new users is cool
Hi Joel, our response here is to say that hopefully the bodyboarding community does not poo-poo new users. That is definitely not cool. Our frustration with the high number of low quality board sales, is that those boards do not offer enough buoyancy for the user to catch waves easily and trim across them (the basics that get us all excited). The materials used allow the boards to retail cheaply, but are not fit for purpose, do not last and are therefore terrible for the environment (think single use pieces of polystyrene vs a virtually indestructible blades that will last 20 years+).
The majority of people you’re talking about are not bodyboarding. They’re just flopping around in the whitewash. They have no idea of wearing fins and actually riding in the pocket.
@@cycologist7069 kek, they aren't bodyboarding? I mtb and climb as well as beach activities. Both those communities are welcoming and people who are just climbing 5.3s or riding green trails are not said to be not doing the sport. They are generally encouraged if they interact with the more experienced people. Bodyboarding is more accessible than both (provided you have a beach nearby) as pointed out by the absurdly cheap boards. These are cheaper than first bikes for kids (generally) and might cost as much as a single casual gym visit with gear hire. A large number of posts to this video is about the community being better (likely in large part due to how toxic surfing is), but here we have an example of someone sneering at people with bodyboards "not really bodyboarding". Sad.
I'm "board again" - got back in the water last summer for the first time in 30+ years and now I've got the stoke. Stand-up is still king in Southern California, but we have a very strong bodyboarding community thanks to The Wedge and heavy breaks like Zuma. I see quite a few boutique brands (Tribe, Science, Hubboards, etc.) in the lineup and several stand-up surfers have told me they bodyboard when conditions warrant. Not sure what this says about the sport overall other than that there seems to be strong interest/appreciation.
Hey Mike, thanks for the message and this is so sick to hear - great work!! One our team riders have surfed both the wedge and Zuma, so know all about that Pacific power - perfect for the boog. Some of our riders (including Matt in the video) stand up surf too. It's all about horses for courses. Great to hear that there is a strong interest and appreciation over in Cali .
I love bodyboarding! been bodyboarding since the late 80s-90s. All it took was one wave at Waimanalo Beach (Sherwoods) with my older sisters Morey 136 and I was hooked. Spent a summer doing a paper route to get my first Mach 7 in '84 with Churchill fins. Watched the legends Mike Stewart, Ben Severson, Kainoa McGee, Jay Reele, Pat Caldwell, Jack Lindholm, Keith Sasaki, Haoli Reeves shred it up all around the island. I missed those days. Still bodyboarding at over 50y/o not to shred but just to have fun in the water.
This is sick to hear - great work! It must have been super sick to watch all of those old heads shred. We are jealous. But the best thing about your message it that you're still riding in your 50's. We salute you!!
Can't you love both body boarding and stand up. I use my long board when we have nice long chill waves. When we have a shore break or waves or '6 over head I love love body boarding. Iv been rolled almost drown, skagged so bad on a surf board in big waves. I'm skeeard so i body board. So much more fun anyway. Also injury. I have a bad left rotator cuff. Body boarding works when it hurts. Or depending on weather I wanna workout with upper lower body. Can't we all get along and love both.
You absolutely can. At least one of team riders (Matt from the video) also is a keen stand up surfer. Horses for courses, as you say. We love both, we would just like bodyboarding to be a bit more understood and respected.
I’ve been bodyboarding for over 40 years since the early 80s when it was called boogie boarding. I’m glad it’s stayed underground. Growing up all my friends were surfers and I was the only bodyboarder in the group. There were lots of times in the early 90s when I was the only BB in the lineup. More localism and fights back then but the surfers always left me alone. Plus, I would look for little slabs, shore break, and getting shacked while being able to maneuver and take off late which helped. When it was big, a lot of the surfers wouldn’t make it out to the lineup or pull into the bigger sets so I usually got waves. If it was small and mushy then it wasn’t worth the hassle in the lineup anyways. I think it is important though to keep supporting the sport especially the local board companies. 🌊
Soft Tops killed the bodyboarding industry. IBA failures killed competitive bodyboarding. If Tom Morey patented the bodyboard then every soft top would owe a royalty to the industry unfortunately that didn't happen, and all that soft top money or what it should be called a stand-up bodyboarding money went into the surfing community
Wonderful question. We need that discussion of how bodyboard stands nowadays in society in contrast with other sports through the eyes of different bodyboarders. Bodyboard is something that everyone knows, but most of people don’t understand it. It has a marginalized market and marginalized athletes. Bodyboarders live under this social paradox of loving and living by something that it does not have the proper social recognition as other sports. How this image was constructed?
Exactly! We could not agree more. The general perception of the sport and athletes is well off the mark. We all need to do more to communicate what the sport is all about...
As a surfer I’ve always loved bodyboarding my first barrel and aerial was on a bodyboard. I always bring a bodyboard with me when I go surfing if the waves are too hollow and dumping bodyboard it is.
That is a good point Craig. Unfortunately, most of those riders never get a true bodyboarding experience, as they are normally riding low quality polystyrene boards and don't use fins, as you say.
Bodyboarding WAS extremely popular in the 90's. During the Mike Stewart days it was almost more popular than surfing here in Australia. It's just kinda go under
Cheers for the input Westy and yes we remember the 90's fondly. Riptide was so sick in that period, as were many of the riders from west Oz that dominated proceedings. Hopefully, we can recapture some of that spirit going forward.
As a bodyboarder, I just think that the way surf schools are set up are wrong, everybody wants to stand up on a big board, while they could have so much more fun and learn about waves so much quicker on a bodyboard and then stand up. This would benefit 2 things or even more. One the newbies would get an understanding of waves and duckdiving much quicker, two more would-be standup surfers would stay with bodyboarding or surfing instead of being gassed out after a lesson or two...third bodyboards are also much easier to travel with...
Hi Chris, this is a really interesting point and one that we 100% agree with. It is a common point of discussion among our rider team. Perhaps the next stage of this discussion is how we help to make bodyboarding more popular. Your suggestions have to be at the core of this. Thank you for such a great contribution.
Been bodyboarding since inception. Im 49, and been bodyboarding since the mid 80's, started on a canvas raft in VA beach. BBing is the best, yes I own surfboards, I love the ocean. I am a padi diver, and love all things ocean, and seafood. Honestly bodyboarding kept me off worse paths, and Im so thankful its still part of my life. Headed to PR in a month. Keep riding boys, girls!
Thank you for the comment. It's amazing to hear that you've been on the boog journey since the start and also to hear that you've stuck with it for all of those years - epic! The boog is also definitely a brilliant way to help stay on a positive path. We wish you an epic trip in PR.
What happened to all the US mainland bodyboarders? There were a bunch when I was a kid in the 90s, now it seems like it's Tanner McDaniel and that's about it.
Thanks for posting the discussion! Badminton has a reputation as a picnic game in the US but is an Olympic sport with great athletes in many countries around the world. Pickleball has boomed in the US but is not as challenging as competitive badminton. However, it is successful getting older Americans active and has generated a professional tour. Many sports companies are really lifestyle businesses, making money on t-shirts, shoes, and an image. Bodyboarding is hurt by junk boards sold to famlies on vacation and so is not seen as a true sport. If active, older people got into it for health and fun, all levels of bodyboarding would benefit. Elite bodyboarding is as difficult as any complex skill. It is the first surfing and Hawiaans still ride many waves prone, which is good enough for me. I teach competitive badminton, which is growing as international players move to the US. I have been bodyboarding since the mid 80s and love the fitness, the connection to the ocean, the new gear, and all the travel the sport offers. I miss Riptide (magazine) and some of the early rivalries but like the new world of slab riding, new companies, technical videos, drone shots and all the creative opportunities the bodyboard offers. With education about water safety, technique, better boards, and good fins, people can take this sport as far as they want.
Hi Mark, thanks so very much for the thoughtful and considered message. It is really interesting to hear your experience within badminton. As you say, there is also so much about bodyboarding to love, from the fitness element for any ages right through to the elite slab riding professionals. This is exactly what we need to communicate to the general public via high quality videos, films and events etc. If done well, we think that progression could be rapid.
@@Bodyboard-depot Thanks for the kind words. Pickeball has grown because older folks have fun, even when many don't watch matches. USA badminton and the World Badminton Federation are growing that sport by a teaching program designed for schools (Shuttle Time). Partly because it is an Olympic sport, there is a Safe Sport component to prevent bullying and child exploitation. Is there a World Bodyboarding Foundation? Building teaching, fitness, equipment, ocean awareness, and travel modules would be cool. Badminton clubs do well with week-long camps and bodyboarding could be added to coastal camps in a professional way. High quality videos would be great. I love shorebreak or deep water footage. I would also watch video on fin making, new wetsuit materials, sun protection and exercise physiology. My brother and I would be happy to help.
Agree with mostly all the points, except speed, don't go anywhere near as fast on a boog as you can on a surf board. Once you get the skill level, you can make far deeper sections on a surfboard. Tow surfing means the top guys can surf any wave a boog can, in most cases if it's under 10ft they don't need a ski to ride a slab.. They both have their limits.. bodyboarding is by far the easier to get to a intermediate level,( you can still be at that level and do all the moves) But you won't be intermediate and do Bach hand air revs on a stick.. fact..
Thanks for the response. Definitely some good points in there. We think the speed comment has merit, as boogers can't pump on a wave. We think on super critical waves, it would be interesting to do a speed test. Not sure about the deeper sections, especially in smaller hollow waves. We also don't agree that stand up surfers can surf any wave a booger can, El Fronton is probably the best example. Intermediate bodyboarders cannot do all of the moves, the bac flip and air reverse are two such examples, as are perfect reverses.
@@Bodyboard-depot I live in East coast Oz..seen many pro surfer paddle into shark island, zone, Solander...seen my 2 mates with same ripcurl watches recorded speeds on the same slab, surfer quicker every time...don't believe me find a good local surfers give him your watch in the same waves. You put john john in 10ft fronton, he'd still make many. Ust be a poor quality were your from, beginner to intermediate is spin s,rolls and the odd 90s spec invert.. intermediate should be able to backflip and air reverse..you don't have to be a pro .....there's literally 1000 blokes on the east coast of Oz who would never be at a pro level and can still air rev,flip and do the odd air forward..I'm 45 have had back surgery and I still can..never close to the the elite level
@@Bodyboard-depot I didn't say they can paddle every boog, just surf any wave a boog can....if they tow assist, they can surf any wave...boog ing into slabs is just easier we all agree there
We'll have to take your word for it@@arcrotaryengineering7156 - be an interesting experiment at scale i.e. record max speeds by both at a few critical waves around the world. Maybe one for Red Bull!?
Agreed on the tow assist, that's when then boog comes into its own, as it's made for the late vertical drop. Your own Shippy's at size is a good example here@@arcrotaryengineering7156- in all all though, both craft have their moments 🤘
One thing I can see, at least in the region where I surf (but I do think it applies elsewhere) is that most of the industry is run by lads who are now in their 40's and 50's. That's not a bad thing by itself at all, but somehow the way they market and showcase the sport seems a bit outdated. Were I a grom just starting to get into the sport I reckon I wouldn't be too thrilled or compelled to participate in "the boogin scene". But at the same time, I think we have to admit that people this age are supporting the sport in a very important way, buying boards and equipment with "grown up money", even sometimes getting their children to enjoy body boarding. As for the exposure, regarding the amount of surfing clips flooding the internet versus the amount of boogie clips makes it feel like it's almost 20 to 1. Not to mention Instagram and how the algorithm behaves: you just have to like one surfing post and you'll be fed one after the other, while you can like every bobyboarding post you see and still get bombarded with surfing related content. Those are my two cents on the matter for now, but I think we're in for a long conversation
Thanks very much for a such thoughtful response. We totally agree on the people of influence within the scene. Whilst we understand that these people are the rightful elders, it would be great to see some younger ones / different newer approaches in the bodyboarding industry marketing mix. Your two sense in bang on well received.
Maybe free clinics promoted at the actual beach or wave pools like Bristol etc, where you let people use good boards and flippers and coaching for a “give it a go” for 10 minutes type thing. You might be able to get funding for this from sport England or businesses
All really good thoughts Glenn. Surfing England has an existing relationship with Sport England, so it an avenue that could be explored for sure. Encouragingly, Surfing England included bodyboarding in the English Nationals this year too 👍
