Why bodyboard?
Arguably the most versatile of all wave craft and loads of fun.
With a bit of practice virtually anyone can start catching waves in the white water from little kids to senior riders.
At professional level, it's a highly skilled, adrenaline fuelled, acrobatic surf sport.
New to bodyboarding?
It is recommended you have lessons with qualified instructors.
Look for upcoming events - some events will have lessons on offer by experienced qualified coaches or visiting pros.
For classes there is currently only one surf school in Scotland offering bodyboard lessons.
(Coaches have instructor qualifications (ISA or ASI), lifesaving certificates (SLSGB), PVG disclosure).
Learning Pathway
Beginner Lessons: Learn about equipment, catching white water waves and how to stay safe in the sea.
Improver Lessons: Learn skills for unbroken wave riding (green waves) using fins (flippers). This is called making it outback. You'll also learn timing, wave etiquette, position on board, duck diving and more.
Intermediate to Advanced
Already outback but want to train and meet fellow riders?
Follow the events page where updates will be provided on advanced bodyboard tuition, visiting pros, gatherings competitions and socials.
Want to contact please email
Lingo
Paipo; Ancient Polynesian board made of hardwood for riding the waves prone
Boog, Boogie; Name for the Bodyboard named after "Morey Boogie". Surfer Inventor Tom Morey invented the "Boogie" Board in the 1970s.
Sponge, Lid; More colloquial names for bodyboards
Belly Board; Wooden boards normally ridden in the shallows - based on traditional Paipos.
Hand Planes; Tiny boards used in one hand as an extension of bodysurfing
Fins; In bodyboarding fins are shortblade flippers used to propel the board. Essential for bodyboarding unbroken waves.
Manouvres
Drop Knee (DK); Half stance between kneeling and standing
Jack Stance; Another name for DK named after Jack "da ripper" Lindholm the Hawiian rider who was credited with
Roll or El Rollo; like the name suggests a roll that's performed off the lip of the wave
360 Forward ; spinning up the wave face
Air Roll Spin (ARS): a combo of the roll and the forwrad spin performed in the air
360 Reverse; spinning back towards the pocket of the wave
Backflip: Similar to the ARS but more of a flip than a spin
Air reverse and air forward: as the name suggests 360 rotations performed off the wave face.
Cutback: turning back towards the power pocket of the wave
Trim: riding cutting along the wave face
Barrel ride: riding inside the curling part of the wave other names for barrels include "tube, keg, cave etc"
Waves
Shorey or Shorebreak: Steep top to bottom wave breaking onto or very close to the shoreline. Usually favoured by bodyboarders or bodysurfers.
Double up: two waves that catch up with each other making the wave extra thick and powerful
Tube, keg, barrel: as the lip or crest of the wave throws over it creates a tube
Slammed: a fall or wipout
Reef break: Waves that break over rocks or reefs
Beach Break: Waves that break over sand
RIP current: A current that drags out through the surf zone. Can be very dangerous for those that aren't aware of them.