By Kilian Allen
Body boarding is an exciting sport that involves riding waves while lying on the stomach on a special kind of board, known as a body board.
The body boards are made of special kind of foam, known as hydrodynamic foam. This foam can glide on water, making riding the waves a breeze even for amateurs.
Body boarding should not be considered to be the same as surfboarding, although both of these activities involve riding waves on a board. Body boards are significantly larger and wider than surfboards, and the rider can lie down comfortably on these.
Body boards come in various sizes in order to meet the requirements of people of different heights and weights. There are 37" long boards for people who are around 123 cm in height and somewhere around 55 kg in weight. There are also 46" long, giant sized boards for people who are more than 196 cm tall and weigh more than 100 kg. So, whatever your body type may be, do not worry. If you are dexterous enough, you can enjoy body boarding to your heart's content.
Body boarders need good boards for riding the waves safely. Riding waves is dangerous, and a good body board can make the difference between life and death in case something goes wrong. If you are looking to buy or rent a body board, look for the following qualities in it before you make your decision:
1. Take a Close Look at the Board.
Inexpensive body boards often have a porous surface. These can get waterlogged fairly quickly, and increase in weight. A heavy board has a greater chance of sinking, so make sure the body is solid foam, with not much porosity.
2. Make Sure the Board is of the Right Size for You.
Hold the body board in an upright position with the tail end touching the floor. The top end should come up to within 2 cm above or below your navel.
3. The Surface of the Board Should be Smooth.
There should be no jagged edges, cracks, splinters, or gouges on the top surface of the board.
4. Check the Underside of the Board.
If you are a beginner, it is best to choose a board that has its tail curving inward and sloping downward. This kind of boards can glide easily on the water surface, and make steering the board significantly easy.
5. Lay Down the Body Board on the Floor.
The board should lie perfectly flat on the floor, and should not tilt, or wobble. Perfectly flat boards float better on water than bent boards.
6. Make Sure the Board is Flexible.
One way of testing this is to hold the board upright, leaning against your stomach. Gently pull the snout of the board downward. If it bends very easily, or not at all, it is not a good board. It should bend to some extent and then resist any further bending after a while. Flexible boards are good for body boarding, but too much flexibility shows a lack in craftsmanship.
Body boarding is a very enjoyable adventure sport. Make sure you choose the right kind of body board so that you can enjoy riding waves on it safely, and for a long time.