How to Body Surf

Make like the playful seals or sea lions - swim with the wave and let its motion take you with it. But don't forget: Just like your finned companions, you can steer yourself.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Men's And Women's Swimwear
• Swimming Trunks
• Swimsuits
• Fins
• Surfing Wet Suits
• Swimming Goggles
• Swimsuits

1. Figure out where the waves are breaking and position yourself slightly beyond them.

2. Swim in the same direction as an approaching wave so that the wave overtakes you just before it breaks. Freestyle (crawl) is the best stroke for this.

3. Decide which direction (right or left) you want to ride once you feel the wave begin to grab you. It's OK to go straight, but a much better, longer ride is achieved by heading away from the breaking part of the wave.

4. Stop stroking, but keep kicking. Extend one arm forward (right if you're going right, left if you're going left), with your palm down and breaking the surface of the water.

5. Streamline your body and continue riding the wave as long as desired - or until your face is plowing through sandcastles.

Tips & Warnings

• Body surfing can be done without swim fins, but it is much easier and more fun with them, especially in larger waves.
• If your ride is done and the wave is beginning to pitch out, you can dive back down and into the wave to avoid being tossed. But then again, it's only water, and the crashes are often half the fun. Try tucking up into the hollow space beneath the lip of the breaking wave and looking down through the curl.
• Be very aware of the surface you are body surfing over. Body surfing in shallow water can be very dangerous. If you are unsure, ask a lifeguard.
• If you feel yourself beginning to pitch out with the lip of the wave, tuck your body into a ball. This is the safest position to crash in.
• Body surfing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.

Who Can Help:

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!

[MaxThrust]

on 3/13/2007 After you've caught the wave and you know you're going to wipe out, turn your body so it is parallel to the wave (and the shore). That way you roll as if you were rolling down a grassy hill instead of head-over-heels. Trust me, it will save a broken wrist, back or neck! If you make the turn hard enough and kick back into the wave you can even escape altogether out the back side of the wave.
- A guy that's been doing this lost art for 50 years.

on 8/8/2006 So that the wave has more of a chance to catch you up in it; curl up, bend your body slightly, once you catch the wave - straighten out.

on 8/8/2006 Swim hard till you´re on. Stick your arms to the sides of your body, lift your chin,bend your knees and steer left or right by separating just one hand from your body, keeping the rest of the arm to the side. It takes time, but with enough practice, you can do even 360´s!!

on 8/8/2006 First of all, you want to get out a little ways before the waves break. Then you want to explode with the wave until on it. Then extend either your right arm (if going right) or you left arm (if going left) and angle your body the way you want to go along the face. Try to get on the shoulder (not the middle) of where the waves are going to ensure a long ride. If your arms are not out you may break your neck by going over the falls. Keeping your arms out will insure that if you hit the bottom you hit with your hands and not you neck.

on 11/22/2005 Never try to catch whitewash while body surfing. Only go for unbroken waves. Swim fins help.