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Bodyboarding is very popular, probably because to catch a wave on a piece of polystryrene is very easy!! If you are a child or a tourist you stand in the whitewater, stick the base of the board in your stomach, wait till the (broken) wave hits you up the bum and -take off! The sea is full of holiday makers in their cossies and goosebumps, freezing to death whilst clutching their flotation devices, merrily charging into other poor souls in a desparate attempt to take a ride. Hah! enough of the rant.....

Read on if you want help choosing the gear needed for this great sport!

Your first board, if you are only going to surf the white water then any old cheap board will do. However if you plan to catch the unbroken green waves..... read on...

Here are a few tips to help you find that perfect new bodyboard.

Never walk into a shop without doing a bit of research first, (why else are you reading this?) and have a budget in mind. don't get talked into buying something too expensive and unsuitable. Decide what you want the board to do. If you've got a ticket booked to Hawaii for the winter the board should be quite a lot different to one required to surf the north Devon and Cornwall waves in the summer. The board you buy needs to reflect your height, weight and riding style. If the board is too big you’ll find it difficult to control, if it’s too small then you’ll find it difficult to ride or you may well up up sinking!

Here are some rough guidelines concerning suitable bodyboard dimensions.

Size, Shape and Outline

Get the right size board, stand with the board next to you. The top of the board should come up to just below the waist, navel height or thereabouts

Generally flat boards are better for bodyboarding in UK waters. Only get a board with a rocker if you are heading to Hawaii or somewhere with big waves.

Get a board with the widest point half way down, when you are lying down the board turns from under your elbows, the boards wide point is there too. These boards work well in UK waters (ie smaller wave) and are good for lying (prone) and kneeling. With the wide point is nearer the middle of the board it becomes more stable when drop kneeing. Riding prone the board will turn aggressively, great for snappy turns.

Very generally a larger nose is better for prone, slightly smaller is better for dropknee bodyboarding.

Rails, Tails and Channels

Rail design falls broadly into two categories, the 60/40 rail or the 50/50. These ratios describe the angle of the rail and the rail chine. The 60/40 option displaces more water when in trim position and therefore offers more control yet is slightly slower. 50/50 rails offer less control and more speed.

A boards tail shape has a most effect on the look of the board but little effect on its performance.Tail options currently available are crescent shaped, square tails or bat tails. In theory crescent tails offer the comfiest design and the best holding power or bite when trimming. Square tails are touted to be a bit faster as they offer more volume to the board and therefore less drag. The bat tail offers increased manoeuvrability due to the loose tail design but should ideally incorporate channels to compensate for the loss of holding power in critical situations. When it comes to tail shape, you could just pick one you like the look of!

Whether or not to select a bodyboard with channels should be given some thought. Again for UK waters they offer little benefit. They give that extra bite in steep barrelling sections but they can slow you down and create drag. Beware of deep channels, go for shallow blended affairs if you go for them at all.