Not trying to spark controversy

Stood up surfed for about 4-5 years and just started bodyboarding this past summer.

Honestly, I enjoy bodyboarding more. Everyone you surf (bodyboard) with pushes you and they all get stoked.

I really enjoy finding those heavy, jacked-up waves that you wouldn't (well most wouldn't) stand up surf on. It is also a lot cheaper and MUCH easier to get around with it.

When it comes down to it... if anyone has a problem, **** EM'! I am having fun regardless if I'm standing up or laying down.

 

I do both, but prefer bodyboarding because I'm just not that great of a surfer. No, not a kooky one, I bet I have more respect in the line up than a lot of guys.

But I seriously need a certain set of conditions to surf otherwise I can't do anything. It's gotta be like knee/thigh with inconsistent waist and semi spilling, not dumping. I've been able to surf chest high days at IBSP since that's a spilling wave but anywhere else forget it.

So that leaves the other 95% of days where it's fast and hollow for me to bodyboard. But whatever, I'm having fun doing it and thats all that matters. ^^^What he said, **** them if they have a problem we are out here to have fun, surfers and BBers alike. I have respect for both.

 

Good question. I do both and love them both. i love the barrels in surfing and the power under your legs doing huge turns and airs. But then again bodyboarding fun for dumpy days and close outs. Also BB you can hit that lip and launch into these crazy maneuvers. But i still i just want to out there and respect the who ever comes out.

 

i started riding on a bodyboard. two years later, borrowed my friend's 6'0, and in three tries had my first wave. never touched a piece of foam since. must have been six years ago.

 

What are you riding...a 6'0 fully wooden board? hahha... j/k

 

same here. the glide of no fins on the board is nice. I want to get into standup surfing more, but really it's hard for me to pass up getting barrelled on a bodyboard for "working on my standup". next summer I plan on taking fiberglass out the majority of the time so I can really get into it.

 

I started off surfing and lived near VB. The fact that you can only surf at certain places made me quit as did the crowd factor. When you live in places that are influenced by sand shifting, closed beaches for surfing really limits your surf time and wave count.

That was my reason and I have never looked back.

 

I surf. I bodyboard, but I prefer body surfing plus I want to get a housing... which will just make life easy. body surf and shoot

 

I personally find bodyboarding more fun because its easier to get barreled on smaller waves and you can get a lot deeper on any size barrel. Plus airs are a lot of fun. I prefer standing up when the waves are under chest high though because you just cant get that much power on a boog.

 

I've done both. I can not for the life of me see how people find body boarding more fun then surfing. Some of the above posts prove the point that body boarding is for people not athletic enough to surf. Surfing is difficult..takes time to master. Today's culture of immediate gratification has youngins drawn to bodyboarding more and more. I will admit..surfing is a bit more expensive..especially when your board breaks and you're more limited in where you can go out but laying down on a wave vs standing up on a wave is no comparison.

I don't disparage anyone for body boarding, but in my humble opinion it's no where near as fun as surfing.

 

One could make that argument... but then can't we just say you stereotyped? By all means, I'm not trying to argue or say you're wrong...but have you seen pro-bodyboarders charging the waves they do and do the maneuvers they do?

And I don't know if you have read my post before, but I have stood up surfed for about 4-5 years before bodyboarding... and I am plenty athletic.

 

I rode a longboard for about one year. Then the shortboard revolution hit the shores during the winter of '67-'68 and the longboard was stripped and made into a real wave riding machine. During this time I also started riding a paipo and bodysurfing. The paipo was a must-have at spots like Gas Chambers in the pre-leash, pre-bodyboard days. I'd become an okay longboarder/shortboarder, but continued to drift to riding the paipo for a whole litany of reasons, and it was my main ride during the winter of '69-'70 and beyond. I did buy a longish board during one late summer in the late-70s while down in Hatteras, a nice 8'6" G&S Hot Curl pin-tail, for those really small days when I couldn't really ride my little board.

If I ever regress to stand-up riding it would be for those crappy days... the main ride is for *good surf*. BTW, my board is about 50" long and does have fins -- and not as much float as a typical bodyboard.

 

i started out bodyboarding when i was really little, mom would take me to the beach etc... my brother introduced me to surfing like once or twice but never caught on or had the time. when i turned 16 i was able to take myself and got into standup more but never let bodyboarding go because i longboard and it requires certain waves. i have a 9'6" for most days under head high and just recently got an 8' firewire that is better for bigger waves but im still trying to figure that board out.

reguardless of size though, is how the wave is throwing, like everyone else says, if its pitching, surfing is pretty much out of the question.

i like surfing better and i do it more, but when it comes to bodyboarding i have just as much fun because it usually means big hallow waves






thanks to SC for the pics

 

I enjoy bodyboarding heavy waves. I mostly rode the stick during the summer when surf is on the smaller side. I'd like to advance my riding on both vehicles.

 

I will make an analogy to your statement above... a symphony orchestra lover's humble opinion is that a top rate ska band is no where near as pleasing as a well turned Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Fun is in the gusto of the beholder or practitioner.

 

LOL ohhh ok!..in that case...i didn't mean to offend you or any other "mister three sport high school stars" out there, but my post is just my opinion based on what i've personally experienced and see with my own two eyes!!

 

Doesn't matter what you do in the ocean. From surfing to bodyboarding to bodysurfing, even to kayaking. Gotta be athletic to do any one of those. Just each focuses on different aspects. Surfing focuses a lot of leg strength and balance, where as body boarding focuses a lot of core muscles. Bodysurfing requires a lot of endurance cause you're kicking the whole wave if you plan on making it out and kayaking requires a lot of arm work...

All are fun... no need to get aggravated over something someone enjoys. Live and let live...

 

hmmm this thread has gone relatively smooth. well done!