Bodysurfing

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 that stay on during turbulent conditions and optimize propulsion. 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.

One of the most famous bodysurfing spots in the world is The Wedge, located in Newport Beach California. Wave faces there can reach upwards of 30ft and more on big southern hemisphere and hurricane-generated swells during the spring, summer, and fall. Known mainly for high performance bodysurfing and intense jaw dropping rides and wipeouts, these waves are created by swells hitting the jetty and "rebounding" into oncoming waves, creating the "wedge effect," which results in peaks that can "jack up" to incredible sizes and shapes. When it is "on," The Wedge is for experienced riders only. The Wedge is to bodysurfing what the Pipeline is to surfing: the best bodysurfers prove themselves at The Wedge, as do the best stand-up surfers at Pipeline.

Bodysurfers tend to have a minimalist attitude toward wave riding and consider their sport to be more pure than other forms of riding waves. Because velocity is slower without a board (due to increased drag and limited planing ability), bodysurfers tend to focus on barrel riding. Consequently, bodysurfers tend to congregate on slower waves or shorebreak, where close-out barrels are the flavor of the day. Getting "tubed" is generally considered the grail of surfing, which may help explain the superior attitude bodysurfers have toward their sport. Some surfers in Hawaii have stated that they use bodysurfing as conditioning for big wave riding.

To get on the wave, bodysurfers must pick a direction, paddle hard, put down their arm, and roll onto their back. Other tricks or variations include underwater takeoffs, spins, barrel rolls, and the ever-popular getting pounded.

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, al and yet is also considered one of the truly unique underground surf contests around. Among the bodysurfing population at large, the event is considered the premiere event internationally. It's one of the only times bodysurfers have access to the cream of the Pipeline's waves.

Also in Mexico, between April and June in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, at Las Escolleras beach takes place the tournament called , Torneo Internacional de Bodysurf "Las Escolleras" where the competitors challenge the powerful pipes in this famous waves of world-class, with the notoriety that this two days event is not charged subscription to the competition, but it rewards the first 4 places of the category, with trophies and gifts from sponsors and make a big party with live music at the beach as the pure style of Sharing The Aloha Spirit.

References

*"Secrets of a Kahuna Bodysurfer:A Spiritual Adventure Guide" by Lani E Lowel (1999/2006)
*"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)

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od8zY5JEVMk Body Surfing] - Bodysurfing contest in Brazil

* [http://surfmusic.blogsome.com/2007/12/14/body-surfing/ Body Surfing] - Bodysurfing in Indonesia Waves

* [http://www.santacruzbodysurfing.org/ Body Surfing] - A club in Northern California

* [http://www.bodysurfing.com.br/ Body Surfing] - Brazilian Bodysurfers

* [http://www.mantabodysurfclub.com/ Body Surfing] - A Bodysurf Club in Mexico

* [http://www.surfedepeito.com.br/ Body Surfing] - Brazilian Trailler