How To Catch Your First Wave On A Bodyboard - Bodyboard Holidays

I’ve been bodyboarding for more than 20 years now but with every wave, I still get the same rush as I did as kid being hurtled up the beach at Fistral on my annual summer holidays. In this video, we lay the foundations as to how you can effectively and consistently catch your first waves, and perhaps sow the seed for 20 years of exhilaration.
Step 1 - Beach assessment
When you arrive at the beach, take the time to assess the conditions and surroundings. Is there a lifeguard on duty? Are there any rocks? Where are the safer sandier areas? Are there any rip-currents? What is the tide doing, rising or falling? Where are other beginners catching broken waves? If you are unsure, ask the lifeguard or local surfers for advice.
Step 2 - Make your way into the waves
At this stage you don’t need your swim fins, so leave those on the beach or in the car. Next, fasten your leash and walk into the surf with one rail of the board pressed into your hip and one hand holding the opposing rail.
The further you get into the surf, the more powerful the waves will become, so it’s key to aggressively step through the oncoming waves to prevent yourself from being bowled over.
The most efficient way is to stand sideways on to the breakers and with your knees bent slightly to absorb the energy of the wave when it hits. If you stand straight on to the oncoming waves, you have less stability and are more likely to be knocked over backwards. Nobody wants that!
Step 3 - Catching a wave
Once you are out into waist depth water, it’s time to catch your first wave. Now, stand sideways on and looking over one shoulder at the oncoming waves, holding the board out of the water and with the nose of the board pointing to the shore.
Now, just a split second before the oncoming wave makes contact with the tail of your board, you must bend your knees, push off with your feet and gracefully slide onto your board.
At this stage, your positioning on the board is the key to success. If too much of your weight is over the tail of the board, you’ll get bogged down in the water and the wave will pass over you. But too far forward on the board and you’ll nosedive under the water.
The position you need to adopt, is to have your shoulders and upper torso over the front third of the board. Keeping your head up and back arched. - This will also help prevent you from nose diving.
Step 4 - Riding the wave
Woohoo! The wave has picked you up and you’re hurtling toward the beach in which will become an addictive thrill. So, to prolong the ride, ensure you maintain the body positioning from step 3 as well as keeping your legs straight, with knees and ankles together.
Once you are confident and have already caught a number of long rides to the beach, experiment with looking and leaning in one direction (left or right) and you will start tracking across the broken wave.
Once you’ve mastered all the above, it’s time to catch your first unbroken wave, which you can learn more about in our next video.
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If you want to learn or improve your bodyboarding or come along to a weekend, camp or bodyboard holiday check out Bodyboard Holidays; bodyboard-holidays.com

[@jasonfrye8790]

It’s hard to explain to someone who has never caught a wave, the genuine thrill that comes from feeling the wave’s energy underneath you! I advise anyone who is thinking about doing, to just give it a try, and don’t give up, you want regret it! Great teaching video here! Happy bodyboarding everyone!!

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Well said!

[@user-ek1uz1pf4k]

Today I understood this comment...🎉

[@jasonfrye8790]

@user-ek1uz1pf4k Awesome!!

[@samlichtenstein2754]

I've been bodyboarding since I was 12 years old, and that's how I started. Then I started to improve on bodyboarding to the point where I got to wear fins and bodyboard on bigger waves.

[@madvillain139]

That's awesome man🤙🏾

[@AsteroidSoda]

I’ve caught so many waves yet I still watch this.. epic

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Thanks!

[@LisaLikesPhotographySanDiego]

Great video for first timers. Really nice to help build confidence for beginners. Super job of explaining everything. Thanks for sharing.

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Glad you like the video!

[@MrMaximisation]

After seeing my daughters bodyboard for the first time with the biggest smiles on their faces, I am determined to learn this so we can enjoy the summer times and get them (and me lol) using the right techniques. Thank you for this video!

[@bodyboard_holidays]

So stoked to hear this. We're glad to be a part of your bodyboarding journey and you have so many amazing memories to be made ahead of you! Please let us know if we can help with anything else. 🙌

[@sean6387]

Excellent! Clear and thorough instructions. Thanks a lot.

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Glad it was helpful Sean! Let us know if we can help with anything else. 🤙

[@deannas6468]

So excited to try this soon ❤ great video for me thanks

[@bodyboard_holidays]

You’re welcome. Let us know how you get on 😊

[@adrianwyszkiewicz761]

Great video for a quick lesson while I'm on vacation here. Thank you so much for the step by step instructions! Love it!!

[@bodyboard_holidays]

You are so welcome, have fun!

[@Andrewscottmusic]

Thanks for the great tips.

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Our pleasure!

[@eugene8402]

Thanks for these videos, for some reason there are very few educational videos about bodyboarding on youtube. Waiting for the next part about catching unbroken wave!

[@webbiestoak2888]

I keep checking every day to see if they've uploaded the tutorial for unbroken waves. bought a pair of fins not so long ago but still using an eps core board, definitely will upgrade to take my riding to the next level

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Have you checked out the rest of our videos? We are adding regular content every Sunday at 8pm. Be sure to check it out. ✌

[@eugene8402]

I sure have! I would appreciate a lot if you make a video about how to catch a rolling wave. Like where to start, how to not fall off the wave down, if it makes sense. Also please announce if you ever plan to come to SoCal, I would definitely try to attend one of your events!

[@anthonyjones2712]

Wish I had clocked this before going to Fiscal last weekend 😆! Will try these very helpful pointers when we go to Widemouth Bay this weekend!

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Glad it was helpful!

[@meltdown6672]

This was helpful thank you

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rcppop3090]

I’m a 44 year old beginner 😂 just caught my first real waves last weekend! Broke my cheapo Morey board in half on the second/last day of riding and immediately bought a Science Tanner LTD delta tail bodyboard! Can’t wait to go back! Maybe next week unfortunately it’s about an hour and a half drive but it’s close enough for day trips!

[@bodyboard_holidays]

That is awesome!

[@AlexSokolovsky]

Great video. Cheers

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@benjamino76]

Good, useful info

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Glad it was helpful!

[@420Jon69]

Great tip turning your body sideways to not get pushed back by the waves walking out

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Absolutely!

[@LIQUIDE]

I played race on the foam when I started.

[@bodyboard_holidays]

🤙

[@annalee7570]

😊❤

[@bodyboard_holidays]

🙌

[@ashishrevankar3214]

I caught my first wave today, felt like I was flying🪽

[@bodyboard_holidays]

That's great to hear! It's addictive aye?

[@marvinsorto4870]

What beach is this?

[@bodyboard_holidays]

This video is shot during our El Salvador trip. You can find out more here..... bodyboard-holidays.com/destinations/central-america/el-salvador/

[@fahdder]

2:45

[@bodyboard_holidays]

🤙

[@candykizz3z68]

I’m 30 and don’t know how to swim. Doesn’t help that I’m really short . 😭 I’m scared to be dragged out !!!

[@bodyboard_holidays]

If you are looking to get in to bodyboarding, please learn how to swim first.

[@nicolecato634]

I'm a skateboarder and want to surf. Is this a good start to surf?

[@bodyboard_holidays]

Bodyboarding is the perfect way to start your surfing journey. It will help you grow an understanding of how to catch and read different waves. It's also amazing fun and who knows, you may just stick to bodyboarding. 😉