How to catch a wave on a bodyboard with eBodyboarding.com's Jay Reale

Simple techniques will help you catch a LOT more waves the next time you paddle out.

[@mullahforbreakfast]

I watched this video right before my second ever surf session, paddled out, caught my first ever wave and guess who I run into in the lineup? Mr Reale himself!! So stoked! I mean what are the odds?? I'll be forever grateful for this experience.

[@JayReale]

Stoked!!!

[@Skatergv]

wow, did you tell him u just watched this video

[@lilliepatton7979]

Djoboogie

[@TannerMartty]

Been looking for a video like this for awhile. First breakdown like this of the finer technique points for the getting on the wave. Your cue to keep one hand pushing down the front of the board so it planes well was the missing piece for me. I was paddling with both arms thinking I needed to maximize propulsion which has probably been hurting my board plane and holding me back. Also, really helpful that you did this in the pool so we have a great view of the technique you're sharing. It can be hard to see the details when you're watching a video of someone far away on a wave. Big thanks!

[@3xp3rtguitar]

Wow I was actually looking for the technique for this. 👌

[@sportysbusiness]

I'm a novice and was out the other day in mushy waves, struggling to catch anything by kicking. A young guy joins me and catches EVERY wave he went for using a one arm paddle, I couldn't understand why it worked. I now know he was using this technique, thank you!!!

[@eBodyboardingcom]

Stoked to hear this technique helped you!

[@keithamos6992]

Good video showing this technique. I ride an old school wooden Paipo so I don't have the floatabilty of a foam board, BUT since a Paipo is stiffer and thinner you go sooooo much faster :)

[@colesisler582]

How does the paipo compare to a sponge when taking off in more mushy surf? In strong stuff I’d imagine there’s no noticeable difference but is it a little more tough to get going in smaller/weaker surf?

[@LewyJon]

Thanks for the advice. It works great, and has helped me catch waves.

[@eBodyboardingcom]

Mission accomplished!

[@OttoFins]

Thanks, such a clarifying video! I was surprised to learn that you don't need to start kicking a couple of meters before the wave, but you're rather launched by it with a push and then continue with kicking. Is that what you should do even for bigger, say 2 metre waves? Thanks!

[@JayReale]

No, you can definitely kick a couple of meters before the wave reaches you without doing the "dolphin takeoff" part.

[@travelingandoutdooradventu6545]

Cool video. Now i know what i have been doing wrong.

[@vicmiramontes4316]

Same here I’ve been out several times but haven’t caught a wave yet …still learning..:can’t wait to ride that wave🤙🏼

[@darrisnelson5223]

Thanks Jay!

[@Broitman]

Thank you! When and how should you move your body up the board? In the demo you are still far back which can cause drag right? (Beginner here)

[@eBodyboardingcom]

Basically, as soon as you feel the power of the wave propelling you, then you assume the normal riding position by pulling yourself forward and putting your hands in the proper position, which I cover in a different video.

[@Vaudvillain]

I almost caught a wave at Manhattan Beach yesterday🤙🏾 thanks for the vid!

[@JayReale]

Great to hear it. Almost is better than not at all!

[@vlaaady]

Great advice! I was looking for exactly this!

[@JayReale]

Great to hear it.

[@RochelleParry]

Yo Jay! Nice video. You forgot to add, "look behind you to make sure someone else isn't coming down the line" and "Look ahead to see who is dropping in on you." hehe

[@eBodyboardingcom]

The "etiquette" video coming in the future.

[@bhaireddy7972]

I just picked back body boarding at 50 and yesterday at Newport Beach (Blackies) At 7:00 in the morning there are at least 70 surfers. I found later in the morning as the waves got bigger it was difficult to get out of the way especially paddling out to the line up. My concern is taking a board to the head.

[@JayReale]

@@bhaireddy7972 Definitely go to 40th St. That's "Boogie Land". It's bodyboarders only between the 40th and 44th street jetties during the summer.

[@bhaireddy7972]

@@JayReale Thanks for the info. I went on Friday overcast however the waves were great, my biggest issue was I couldn't keep my trunks up and kept getting pummeled with each approaching wave as I tried to pull them up and tighten them as I went out .I seen some great body boarders out there including a guy who kept catching wave after wave in the drop knee position.

[@Long_John_Silver]

Thanks jhonny

[@jack91g]

Great video

[@Bladerunner55217]

When I ride small summer waves here in Southern California. I never have fins so I position myself right at the bottom of the start of a wave and I push my bodyboard in front of me completely away from my body holding on to the top and side of the bodyboard and the bodyboard pulls me because the wave is taking the bodyboard so 3 seconds of that happening I’ll launch my body back on the bodyboard and I glide down the wave perfectly. I confused why nobody does that on small waves with no fins.

[@LIQUIDE]

Good

[@noeb5250]

Were you at Huntington beach on 4th of july?

[@Fatsimbacat]

Hi and thanks for your great tutorials. It's for beginners so I suppose stupid question are OK, here goes.. So when riding a wave that peels left do you put your left hand on the top l/h corner and is a left hand peel as seen by you looking at the beach from the water or as seen from the beach looking at the wave? Thanks

[@eBodyboardingcom]

Hi Chris. You want this video for the answers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZXCg4h5Zal3pbs

[@rodrigo_teixeira1332]

Do we actually need a suit to bodyboard?

[@eBodyboardingcom]

I'm sure you could bodyboard naked, but it wouldn't be very comfortable! ;)

[@meridian580]

Nice! You threw a wake!!

[@john-yu9yw]

Hi Jay. It looks as though you do a kind of frog kick/ breaststroke kick when you first initiate popping the board up and forward? Is that right?

[@eBodyboardingcom]

Yes, I do, but it can be any kind of kick. The "frog" kick gives you a quick burst of speed at the start though.

[@inesnereskaminski8335]

Quê TOPE! ❤👏

[@chrisfourment3]

Look so natural in the pool with boogie, might be onto something…

[@rodrigo_teixeira1332]

Do you need to always beat your feet while bodyboarding?

[@eBodyboardingcom]

"Beat your feet"? Do you mean "kick" your feet? No, you can arm-paddle only when paddling out, but if you are not using your feet when kicking for a wave, you are defeating the purpose of wearing swimfins in the first place.

[@kaisalis7895]

What board is that you're on? Dig the black and yellow

[@eBodyboardingcom]

It's the Tribe Reale Deal, which is now sold out. Those were limited edition colors that were only available this year. New colors coming in October.

[@michaelculhane3058]

So you're not completely on the board when you catch the wave? I guess you pull yourself on with one front arm.I surf too so I paddle with both arms on a bodyboard but it would be nice to be off the back with more fin in the deep for power.

[@eBodyboardingcom]

Yeah you don't want to only arm-paddle on a bodyboard. I also ride shortboards, longboards, etc. Bodyboarding...use the technique in this video and you'll catch a lot more waves.

[@michaelculhane3058]

@@eBodyboardingcom Well no I would always use my fins too. Here's a video that talks about it. www.google.com/search?q=2+arm+paddle.+bodyboard&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:494e0af3,vid:a2lXF3N2PEw,st:0

[@arthenarubin3196]

Lol what about the wave coming at me while I'm walking out Vero Beach Big waves

[@eBodyboardingcom]

You should watch our "how to duck dive" video!

[@clarencepalencia1697]

can you show how to sit on a bodyboard

[@JayReale]

Someone else asked for that. Unfortunately, our community pool isn't heated in winter, so we will wait until we can find a heated pool.

[@clarencepalencia1697]

how do you go into the wave when you know it is going to break in front

[@eBodyboardingcom]

Sorry...let me make sure I understand what you're saying. Are you asking how you dip through the face of the wave and out the back when it closes out in front of you? Look up "Hawaiian Pullout".

[@clarencepalencia1697]

@@eBodyboardingcom hello I mean like well you are on the wave and you see up ahead and you do not want to get crashed, how do you go into it. If you know what I mean

[@duckdiver5549]

make love to that thing bro!

[@makanakaohelaulii2736]

🤙👍 raja dat

[@mjheiduk]

M in n

[@brandonclaypool1533]

Worst beach ever...Jay hate to inform you but it's flat! 😁

[@mycoolbeernuts6870]

50 years later - it's Wilbur Kookmeyer - on a Sponge - Without Glass you got No Class.

[@vickireale]

I hope things turn for the better for you MyCool Beernuts and you can enjoy life and love soon.

[@mycoolbeernuts6870]

@@vickireale You nailed it Vicki - Bullies give off their pain!

[@vickireale]

@@mycoolbeernuts6870 hang in there! Let us know if you wanna join us for a surf session! Sponge or fiberglass!

[@mycoolbeernuts6870]

@@vickireale only if Baldy Locks and the 3 hairs goes! - East Coast Virginia here! Larry is on the Way!