Catch More Waves Bodyboarding: Pro Tips for Increased Wave Count!

Are you ready to take your bodyboarding skills to the next level? Whether you're a beginner looking to improve your paddling technique or an advanced rider eager to catch more waves, this comprehensive guide will help you catch more waves and maximise fun in the water.
Are you tired of feeling left behind while others effortlessly ride wave after wave? Look no further! Bodyboard Holidays visionary and founder Rob Barber guides you through step-by-step techniques that will revolutionise your paddling game. Get ready to maximise your wave count during each session and make the most out of each and every wave!
Rob Barber, a renowned figure in the bodyboarding community, has dedicated his life to the sport and has now brought his passion straight to your screens. Our KZbin channel is packed with expert guidance, where you'll learn his tried-and-tested methods that have propelled him and countless other bodyboarders to the top of their game.
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Transcript:
Rob here from Bodyboard Holidays, today shooting from Secret Morocco, one of my favourite locations on the Bodyboard Holiday schedule.
I'm going to talk to you about Advanced paddling to catch more waves.
So, paddling comes in a few different forms. The most basic form is laying on your bodyboard when you're paddling out towards the horizon, and the way that you do that is that you move your weight right off the back of the board. You have your arms totally straight, holding onto each corner of the board, and that enables you to get the whole of your leg from your hip down to the end of your fin under the water and kick with fairly straight legs to keep you moving in a horizontal movement.
You're going to try and minimise splashing, and you're also going to try and minimise the amount that you bend your knees. You're going to try and keep them fairly straight so that you move in a rapid direction.
The next thing that you can do when you're paddling into it, which helps you gain speed, is you might want to paddle with one arm and two legs. That really gets you moving and doesn't tire you out too much, while still giving you good control of your board. The way you do it is you reach forward with your arm just above the water surface, first you plunge in with your thumb side first, and you keep your fingers slightly apart so that you get this nice vortex through your fingers, which catches loads of water. Then you pull your arm under the board, and your arm comes out little finger first, then you plunge it back round again.
The most multifaceted paddling technique is to paddle with both arms and both legs. You will see the best bodyboarders in the world using this technique to catch waves. When I was in Morocco about 15 years ago, I saw the best Moroccan bodyboarder, a guy called Brahim Iddouch, do it so effectively that I then copied it, and I still do it to this day. What you do is you move your weight forward on the board, you move your chin down towards the nose, you hold your board in place with your chin, and then you paddle with both arms, one after another, and you kick your feet. Now, because you're further forward on your board, it means that you will splash a little bit out the back of the board. Don't worry about it, just keep kicking with your feet as hard as you can and keep paddling with your arms.
The secret sauce with this technique, and for all of the paddling techniques, is that you have to keep your board flat. The reason you have to keep your board flat is that it has to flow on the water surface because each time you paddle, you're flowing smoothly forward, and that's going to enable you to either get out back quickly, and it's going to enable you to catch a wave quickly.
So, take those tips, use them when they're at their most useful. For me, paddling out with my weight off the back of the board is the best. Moving through the water with one arm and both legs makes me accelerate quickly. But the ultimate for catching waves, for me, is two arms and two legs. It takes some practice to nail, but it's worth it. Get out there and give it a try!
Visit our website at bodyboard-holidays.com, and we look forward to getting barrelled with you soon!

[@crunchers9]

Once you get a surf break wired all you'll really need paddling speed for is those pesky cleanup sets. I tend to sink the tail of my board right before the swell breaks over trying any extra paddling/kicking.

[@bodyboard_holidays]

We find that regardless of familiarity of any wave, fully committing when paddling always allows you to make the most of each and every wave. Give it a go and see how you get on. ✌

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Video Transcript: Rob here from Bodyboard Holidays today shooting from Secret Morocco, one of my favourite locations on the Bodyboard Holiday schedule. I'm going to talk to you about Advanced paddling to catch more waves. So, paddling comes in a few different forms. The most basic form is laying on your bodyboard when you're paddling out towards the horizon and the way that you do that is that you move your weight right off the back of the board, you have your arms totally straight holding onto each corner of the board and that enables you to get the whole of your leg from your hip down to the end of your fin under the water and kick with fairly straight legs to keep you moving in a horizontal movement. You're going to try and minimise splashing and you're also going to try and minimise the amount that you bend your knees. You're going to try and keep them fairly straight so that you move in a rapid direction. The next thing that you do when you can when you're paddling into it helps you gain speed is you might want to paddle with one arm and two legs. That really gets you moving and doesn't tire you out too much and still gives you good control of your board. The way you do it is you reach forward with your arm just above the water surface, first you plunge in with your thumb side first you keep your fingers slightly apart so that you get this nice vortex through your fingers which catches loads of water then you pull your arm under the board and your arm comes out little finger first, then you plunge it back round again. The most multifaceted paddling technique is to paddle with both arms and both legs. You will see the best bodyboards in the world using this technique to catch waves. When I was in Morocco about 15 years ago I saw the best Moroccan bodyboarder a guy called Brahim Iddouch do it so effectively that I then copied it and I still do it to this day. What you do is you move your weight forward on the board, you move your chin down towards the nose ,you hold your board in place with your chin and then you paddle with both arms one after another and you kick your feet. Now, because you're further forward on your board it means that you will splash a little bit out the back of the board. Don't worry about it just keep kicking with your feet as hard as you can and keep paddling with your arms. The secret sauce with this technique and for all of the paddling techniques, is that you have to keep your board flat. The reason you have to keep your board flat is that it has to flow on the water surface, because each time you paddle you're flowing smoothly forward and that's going to enable you to either get out back quickly and it's going to enable you to catch a wave quickly. So, take those tips, use them when they're at their most useful. So for me, paddling out with my weight off the back of the board is the best, moving through the water with one arm and both legs makes me accelerate quickly. But the ultimate for catching waves for me is two arms and two legs. It takes some practice to nail but it's worth it. Get out there and give it a try! Visit our website at www.bodyboard-holidays.com and we look forward to getting barrelled with you soon!

[@bearzakes4459]

From South Africa 🇿🇦, since I’ve watched most of your videos I’ve improved a lot.. God bless you 👏🏾

[@bodyboard_holidays]

That is great to hear. We love it when we can help people maximise their fun in the water. Let us know if there's anything else you would like to see a video about. 👌

[@welshbodyboardclub3400]

Thank you for doing these videos. We always share them with our members! Keep up the good work 🤙🏼

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Nice one. You guys keep on doing your good work also! 🙏

[@markhollidge8514]

Great video Rob. Always appreciate your tips and advice! 👏

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Glad you like them Mark. Hope you’re doing well. It would be great to catch some waves with you soon! 🤙🏼

[@bobthebuilder1103]

Thank you for the tips. Peace from Morocco! 🤙🏼

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Glad you liked them. 🤙🏼

[@NewquayactivitycentreCoUk]

Some great tips to increase paddling speed 🙏🏼 thanks guys!

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Our pleasure!

[@nigelbarrett3602]

Very helpful thanks.

[@bodyboard_holidays]

You're welcome!

[@matthewdavies5875]

Some game changing advice.

[@bodyboard_holidays]

✌

[@severnbrand]

Love this! 👏

[@bodyboard_holidays]

✌

[@amcwales]

Solid advice 👌

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Cheers boyo! 👊🏻

[@michaelculhane3058]

Thanks for this video. One problem I always have is cramps in my feet and calves. It can be dangerouse in larger surf. I take calciium / magnesium, I get hydrated, I stretch, I think about the way I kick, but it's bloody painful. Any suggestions?

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Hey Michael, you're doing the right things with hydration, nutrients and stretching etc. Have you though maybe trying different fins could help? It could be that the ones you use don't quite fit. A different size or brand may be the answer to your problems.

[@michaelculhane3058]

Yeah I have booties in xtra large churchills and it is tight in there. Maybe I'll get something thinner. I also started out of the water practice of pointing my feet and tensing up to simulate kicking. I'm noticing improvement. thanks for the info. @@bodyboard_holidays

[@XenomTV]

lovely

[@bodyboard_holidays]

👌

[@TaniaThompson-vo1ll]

What type of donuts are best to eat before bodyboarding?

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Which ever ones are on offer!

[@Drift_x27]

Question: everytime i try to paddle with both arms my board wants 2 fly out from under me, forcing me 2 use one hand and readjust myself. Because of this i miss the wave. Is this due to my shitty eps board? Or is this normal and i have 2 learn how to balance.

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Practice makes perfect. Maybe a small amount of wax on the deck of the board will help you until you've got the double arm paddle nailed. Only a very small amount though, you want to be able to move around the board when riding the waves. Let us know how you get on! 🙌

[@Drift_x27]

@@bodyboard_holidays update i waxed the board last time i went out and it helped a lot. Still wiped out a few times but had a blast. Im gona keep at it

[@anikdasdigital]

Your videos are amazing. I really like it. I am a new subscriber to your channel. Can I talk with you Bodyboard?

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Hi, we're glad you like our videos. You can talk to us about all things bodyboarding. Simply hit us up on one of our social platforms or drop us an email. We'll happily assist you. 🙂

[@anikdasdigital]

@@bodyboard_holidays Ok done

[@andrewfitzsimons8509]

Can’t keep my board in place trying both arms . Maybe I need to loose weight

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Keep on trying, you'll get there.

[@enjoy_yourself]

Have you got a bit of wax on the deck of the board? This helps me and a solid cobra position to keep the board towards my lowest ribs to my belly. Keeping it away from the movement of my shoulders. Hope this helps.

[@MuerganoZFG]

Thank you! 🙌🏼🤙🏼

[@bodyboard_holidays]

No problem!!