Bodysurfing

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Bodysurfing in La Jolla California

Bodysurfing is the art and sport of riding a wave without the assistance of any buoyant device such as a surfboard or bodyboard. Bodysurfers typically equip themselves only with a pair of specialized swimfins for optimized propulsion, though some practitioners also carry or wear a small planing surface on the hand to aid with positioning on the wave face. These include Hand Paddles, Hand Guns, Wave Blades, Redwings and others used to gain extra speed across the face of the wave.

Bodysurfers tend to have a minimalist attitude toward wave riding and consider their sport to be more pure than other forms of riding waves. The lack of floatation allows a bodysurfer to ride the wave under the surface of the water. Some surfers in Hawaii have stated they use bodysurfing as conditioning for big wave riding.

In riding waves on the body, a number of variations to other types of wave-riding can be experienced. To exit the wave immediately after catching it, simply drop the head and a tumble turn will exit the person out of the wave. Care must be taken to ensure the water is deep enough so that no injury is brought about by the head, neck, and shoulders hitting the sand. Left and right turns can be performed by digging the shoulder into the wave, causing the person to slide to the side of the wave. In small surf in waist-deep water, a variation known as the "Dolphin Pop" involves diving towards the shore as the wave prepares to break, resulting in popping out on the wave like a dolphin.

Annually, the Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic competition runs at the world famous Banzai Pipeline. This event is considered to be a world class pro/am competition and yet is also considered one of the truly unique underground surf contests around. From the bodysurfing population et al, the event is considered the premiere event internationally.

One of the most famous (and dangerous) bodysurfing spots in the world is Marine Street, home of the Jetty Seals.

References

• The Art of Bodysurfing by Robert Gardner (1972)
• Bodysurf by Hugo Verlomme and Laurent Masurel (2002)
• The Art of Wave Riding by Ron Drummond (1931)

World Competitions A number of competitions exist throughout the world including Sydney, Australia; Hossegar,France; Rio de Janero, Brazil; Pipeline, Sandy Beach and Pt Panic in Hawaii and Santa Cruz, Manhattan Beach and Oceanside,California. The largest competition in the world is the Oceanside, California based World Bodysurfing Championships with over 300 competitors annually. This contest's claim to world title is debated among practitioners of the sport. The World competition is held at a California beach break on pre-scheduled days in late August every year. Consequently, the surf varies in quality as it is held regardless of the presence OR ABSENCE of significant surf. Its strength is in the number of competitors, age divisions, and the conviviality of the event ([1]). In contrast, The Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic is held only when larger surf arrives during a two week holding period in late January/Feb. Pipeline offers no age distinctions. This event features the best in the world competing in the most spectacular surf conditions ([2]). Both events are open enrollment contests and produce winners of the highest talent known to the sport. A Bodysurfing online chat group can be found at ([www.yahoogroups.com/bodysurfing])

In Australia bodysurfing is an important part of competitions between surf life saving clubs. In the Ironman event a open water swim is involved where the participants swim from the shore to a buoy and then return to the beach. The top competitors use the art of body surfing to return to the shore.