How to Buy Boogie Boards

In the early 1970s, Tom Morey took a buoyant foam board called the Morey Boogie Board and marketed it to the Wham-O toy company. An explosion in popularity followed and continues. Everyone is riding the waves with these simple crafts.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Pick the right height for your body board. A general rule of thumb is to select a board that is no more than an inch above or below your bellybutton.
2. Shop for an inexpensive board when you're first learning this activity. Regular foam boogie boards are available at general retailers that carry sporting goods.
3. Choose a boogie board with a good core. Pick a flexible Dow/polyethylene core for cooler waters. Opt for a polypropylene core for warm-water areas.
4. Buy a board with a carbon (rather than wood) stringer to prevent flexing or bending in challenging water conditions. The stringer is a rod running down the center of the board that adds stiffness.
5. Shop for a boogie board with "channels" that make for a larger surface area. These channels make for excellent wave control and promote the ability to "hold" on to a wave longer.
6. Buy a board with a crescent tail when you are ready for steep waves. This tail allows for good holding ability and is preferred by body boarders who surf in the drop-knee position.
7. Check the bottom of your boogie board for thick, plastic lamination. This is called "slick" and is the feature that gives boogie boards their speed. Buy a board with "surlyn slick" for best performance.
8. Check an inexpensive board for "warp" by laying it flat on the floor.
9. Look at the shape of the boogie boards you are considering. If you are going to ride prone on the board, you will want the wide part of the board to be close to the nose. If you are a drop-knee rider, choose a board with the wide point centered in the board.
10. Upgrade to a high-end model of boogie board after becoming an experienced rider. You can see some of the most popular boards on the Custom X, Vortex and Morey websites (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Beginners and larger riders (190 lb and up) should choose wide boards.

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