Boogie boards originated from Alaia and Paipo boards which were brought by ancient Polynesians to the Hawaiian Islands. Riding a wave was seen as an art form back then, and religion and society are a big part of it; you can only ride in certain areas if you are part of that particular class of society. Fortunately, you are now free to boogie board as much as you want, regardless of your social status.
How Are You Supposed to Use a Boogie Board?
Boogie boarding is a very enjoyable water activity. You might have a boogie board with you but still don’t have a clue on how to use one. Here’s how.
- Proper form: Connect your wrist or your biceps to your boogie board to ensure your board’s safety.
- Head to the water: Paddle out to the sea with the use of your arms and feet.
- Pick a wave you want to ride: You can choose between a big wave and a small wave. It is recommended for you to pick a smaller wave to ride if you’re just starting.
- Ride the wave: Go with the flow of the waves.
- Gain momentum: As you begin to gain momentum, you may start to do some tricks and maneuvers.
These are also three riding styles for you to ride a boogie board.
- Prone: It is where you lie down with your belly on top of the board. It is the easiest and most common of the three.
- Drop knee: It is a style where you shift from a prone riding position to a kneeling position. Depending on which one you will use, your foot is down on the board while the other one is on the nose. It should look like you are proposing to someone.
- Stand-Up: it is a style where you’re upright on the board like how surfers do it. It is the most challenging type of riding among these three.
Riding prone is the most common among the three, mainly because it’s the easiest among the three, and most boogie board competitions are mostly all about prone riding. If you’re starting to boogie board, it’s best for you to start riding Prone.
Each way of using it depends on how you really want to ride the boogie board. If you want something relaxing and chill, prone is the way for you. But if you want the thrill and adventure, Stand-Up is for you. And if you want something chill yet flashy, then Drop knee can be an option for you.
Can You Stand on a Boogie Board?
Yes, you can actually stand on a boogie board, but it depends on the board you are using. The bigger and the longer your board is, the easier it is for you to balance on it. Bigger boards give you plenty of room and support, while the smaller boogie boards will probably give you a hard time floating because they probably can’t support your weight while trying to float. You probably won’t be able to float on that smaller boogie board.
Standing on a boogie board requires a high level of skill to be able to do this. Although not for beginners, it is a super fun way of riding a boogie board. The stand-Up form is the closest thing to the ancient Polynesian way of catching a wave since your board doesn’t have a fin. Cavin Yap, Chris Won Taloa, and Danny Kim are some of the pioneers of the stand-up form that inspired many practitioners of the form.
How Do You Stand on a Boogie Board?
Before you try to stand on a boogie board, you should know first which stance you’re comfortable with. Just like in skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing, there are two kinds of stances available for you.
- Regular: If you are comfortable with your right foot on the tail and your left foot on the nose of the boogie board.
- Goofy: If you’re comfortable with your left foot on the tail while the right foot is on the nose of the boogie board.
Being right-handed or left-handed is not a factor in choosing your stance. Your stance depends on how comfortable your feet are on the board. That being said, Regular doesn’t mean it is the better stance of the two, and Goofy doesn’t mean the way you ride is weird. It’s all about what feels good and what feels right.
Standing on a boogie board is no easy task, but it will be an excellent way of riding once you give it a try. Here are the steps on how to stand on a boogie board:
- Lay down: First, you have to lay your body down with your belly on the board but not all the way up, just to have a little bit of room from the nose of your board.
- Stance: After that, find a reference point where you think you can balance once you place your feet on the board by placing your hands on the rails of your boogie board.
- Position yourself: As you catch the wave, push your body and place your dominant foot on the back part of the tail while the other foot goes towards the outer rail of the board.
- Enjoy it: Keep your balance and enjoy the ride.
Another thing to take note of is the size of the board you are using. The average size of boogie boards for stand-up riding is 45 inches, but consider your height and weight because those are also factors in choosing a boogie board.
How Do You Swim With a Boogie Board?
Before you head out there, check your equipment and see that it’s safe and ready to go. It can be such a drag to cut short the fun of catching waves just because your equipment gave up on you. Now, here are the steps on how you can swim with a boogie board.
- First, you should lie down with your belly on the board
- If you are riding prone, but most of your legs are on the water.
- To accelerate, paddle either using one hand or both of your hands.
- You can also accelerate and decelerate with your legs with the help of a pair of swim fins.
- To steer, you will need to put some weight on the side of the board where you wish to turn with your hand holding the rail near the nose. At the same time, the other arm holds the rail near the tail of the opposite side of the board to maintain its control.
It is advised to practice your basics on smaller waves. It is okay for you to learn slowly as long as you’re doing it the proper way. Also, even though swim fins can help you in moving, it is not really a requirement.
How Do You Go Under a Wave With a Boogie Board?
You’re paddling out, and you want to catch some big waves. You’re trying to go further, but a big wave is rushing on its way to the shore. Going under the wave, or “duck diving,” is a way to avoid getting pulled by the wave to the shore. Here are the steps on how to go under the wave with a boogie board.
- Paddle on the approaching wave as fast as you can. Doing this will give you the momentum you need to go under the wave.
- The time you go under depends on the size of the wave you’re facing. Basically, you have to go under the wave before it hits you.
- On a push-up position while holding the rails of your board, push the nose of your board under the water. Keep in mind that the harder you push, the deeper you will get.
- Simultaneously, place a knee on the back of the tail of your board to give that extra weight.
- Once you’re under the water, flat, point the nose of your board up towards the surface.
- Because of the momentum, you will be able to go towards the surface easily without the need to paddle hard.
- Now let your body stay close to the center of the board as tight as you can before you reach the surface to maintain its control.
At this point, maybe you are already doing great on the smaller waves and would like to take it to the next level. Going under the wave is an important tool to be able to get through the breaking waves. Once you’re able to master this, it will now be easier for you to face bigger waves without panicking.
Can You Float on a Boogie Board?
Of course! It is possible for you to float on a boogie board, but it depends on its size. It will be easier for you to float with a bigger boogie board.
Although you can float on them, a boogie board is not really meant for floating alone. It was made to carve the beautiful waves of the beach by riding on it.
What Tricks Can You Do on a Boogie Board?
Boogie board tricks can be flashy, but some are essential maneuvers to help you stay longer on those beautiful waves. Here are some of the tricks you can do on a boogie board.
- Bottom Turn: It is a basic turn maneuver used to gain speed when you are in the wave.
- Scoop: It is slightly similar to a standard bottom turn. The only difference is it uses both your legs and arms to control your speed once you drop into the wave.
- El Rollo (Air Roll): It is a trick where you rotate the boogie board off the top of the lip of the wave. It is one of the most popular tricks in boogie boarding.
- Forward 360: This trick is an advanced boogie board trick where you position your body, shift your body weight to the board’s nose, and then do a full spin.
- Reverse 360: This one is almost the same as the Forward 360. The only difference is that you’re going to put your weight on the back side of your boogie board as you do the spin.
Boogie board tricks are tools for you to be able to ride the waves as much as you can. These tricks showcase the level of skill you have acquired to get the proper technique for each trick. Some tricks require you to master some basic tricks and maneuvers that require you more time. But hey, as long as you are having so much fun, it’s going to be worth it.
How Do You Get Good at Boogie Boarding?
Take your time in learning the boogie board. As much as you want to learn everything, it is essential to focus on one goal before going to another. Proper technique is important in boogie boarding, and once you achieve it, everything will be easier for you. Having the appropriate equipment can help you a lot, especially the basics.
As you spend time on the water, learn how to read the waves. You should be knowledgeable on how to deal with a specific wave. Doing this helps you with how you ride that particular wave. It will take you months and years to be able to achieve it.
Tips for Boogie Boarding
Like other sports or other activities, safety is always first. So here are some tips on boogie boarding.
- You always start with warm-up stretching. This prepares your body for that ride.
- As stated before, proper technique is a must in boogie boarding; that is why be patient in learning every step of every trick or move.
- Remember that we have this thing in our body called Muscle Memory. That is why if you keep on repeating the proper steps with a proper form, the good effects of muscle memory will be most likely to be in your hands.
- Before you start boogie boarding, it is really important for you to learn how to swim. Knowing how to swim can lessen the chance of drowning, and we really don’t want that to happen to you. Always have a friend to accompany you when you boogie board. Your friend can rescue you just in case something happens; also, it’s really more fun to have someone do some boogie board time with you.
- The most important thing is that you enjoy it!
Have a fantastic day boogie boarding at the beach!
