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Body surfing, the skill of riding a wave with your body, can be an exhilarating and enjoyable beach activity for people of all ages. Although some make it look easy, body surfing is a great deal harder than it appears, as you may already know if you've ever tried it. If you plan to try it out on your next beach vacation, check out this guide, designed to introduce you to the basics of learning how to body surf.
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Introduction
- If you've been to a beach and observed other people body surfing, you may have thought to yourself, "That looks easy, I bet I could do that." However, after a few tries, you may have found yourself either unable to catch a wave or with a face full of saltwater. As is the case with any skill, perfecting the art of body surfing takes some practice and becomes easier once you learn the basic technique.
Step 1: Equip Yourself
- Unlike traditional surfing, you don't need any expensive equipment in order to body surf. To ride waves close to shore, you don't require swim fins, but to catch the larger waves further out, you will likely need a pair of swim fins. You can purchase either a pair of basic surfing or body boarding swim fins or those specialized for body surfing at most surf shops.
- If you are planning on body surfing early in the season or in colder waters, you may also want to wear a wetsuit.
Step 2: Be Safe
- Especially when attempting to body surf for your first time, avoid doing so alone. Go body surfing in an area where a lifeguard is on duty, or, at the very least, have a friend nearby to watch out in case you get bowled over by a wave. If you don't know how to swim or have never swam in the ocean before, get some practice doing so before attempting to body surf.
Step 3: Pick Your Wave
- Not all waves are ideal for body surfing. The best beaches on which to body surf are those that are relatively shallow with a gentle grade, thus allowing you to wade fairly far out. Avoid beaches that drop off suddenly.
- To get a good ride, look for waves that:
- Break gradually and don't crash suddenly
- Are one to four feet high
- Crash farther out in the water, not right on the beach
Step 4: The Technique
- Once you have selected a wave that you want to try surfing:
- Stand so that your back is to the wave and you are facing the beach
- Wait until the wave is a few feet behind you
- Push off from the bottom and begin kicking your legs
- As the wave lifts you, angle your body so that you are facing downward and the lower half of your body rises above the upper half
- As you begin to slide along the wave, make your body long and straight by keeping your legs together and holding your arms straight out in front of your head
- Arch your back slightly; you should be sliding mostly on your chest
- If need be, paddle your arms and legs slightly to keep your body straight and maintain your position on the wave
- As the wave begins to break, turn your body away from it, or dive beneath the water to allow it to pass over you
- When you are learning to body surf, allow your body to glide straight down the waves. As you gain experience, confidence and strength, you can try angling your body and riding the waves diagonally.
Conclusion
- Body surfing is much more difficult than it looks and takes not only technique, but a modicum of bravery and basic swimming skills. As is the case with board surfing, body surfing takes practice, but once you get a feel for the proper movements, you'll likely be hooked on wave riding.
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