The Best Way to SUP in the Ocean - Learn How to Bodysurf!

In order to begin your journey into SUP surfing, it can be important to start slow with learning how to bodysurf.

Stand up paddle boarding in the ocean is an exciting part of the sport that we believe everyone should give a try. The thrill of making it past the breakers with the taste of salt on your lips and the sun on your face is an unforgettable experience. 

However, the progression from flatwater paddling to ocean paddling, and finally to SUP surfing can be long. And it can be difficult. But there are ways you can shorten the struggle sessions. Increase your SUP skills in a new environment. And paddle in the ocean without beginner struggles

One such way is to learn how to bodysurf before you even begin to think about paddling in the ocean. 

In this article we’re going to discuss why this is an important way to begin your journey into paddling the great expanse of the ocean. We’ll cover how to do it properly. Why it’s a great way to begin. And how it will translate into catching a wave on your SUP! 

Why Bodysurfing is a Great Way to Learn How to Ocean Paddle

What is Bodysurfing?

Bodysurfing is the act of riding ocean waves without the use of any board or flotation device. Unlike traditional surfing, where surfers rely on a surfboard, bodysurfers propel themselves forward using only their bodies, hands, and fins. This sport is widely acknowledged as the most primitive and straightforward method of wave riding, having a history that predates modern surfing equipment by centuries.

To put it simply, when you know how to bodysurf, you know how the ocean works. But what do we mean by that? 

Understanding Bodysurfing: The Purest Form of Wave Riding

When beginners learn how to paddle in the ocean, they believe their skills on the flatwater translate to this new environment. They believe that since they can stand on a flatwater, easily maneuver their boards, and move their feet from front to back, that they’re prepared for the ocean. 

This is not always the case. The ocean is a wild experience compared to a calm flat body of water. On flatwater, wind is usually your biggest obstacle. In the ocean, wind also plays a huge factor. But so does the tide, the wind direction, speed, the wave size, and what lies on the  ocean bottom - reef, rocks, or sand. 

It can be a dangerous environment if you’re not familiar with it. And it should always be treated with high amounts of respect. 

When you immerse yourself in an ocean environment by learning how to bodysurf, you will understand the strength of the waves and how they feel when they propel you forward (without the danger of a board hitting you or others!), how the tides affect the surf in your local break, what type of bottom is under the waves (sand, reef, rock), what it feels like to be kept underneath the wave if you go over the falls (as well as how long you can hold your breath while down there), and how to read a wave when it approaches.

But beyond these personal experiences, bodysurfing also teaches essential ocean awareness skills that every beachgoer should master:

1. Reading Waves: You'll learn to read waves, understanding their formations and predicting how they will break.
2. Diving Techniques: Master the art of diving beneath waves, which is crucial for navigating the ocean safely.
3. Wave Catching: Develop the skill of timing and positioning to catch waves effectively, giving you a deeper connection with the ocean's rhythm.
4. Navigating Surfers: Gain the ability to move around other surfers and swimmers, ensuring safer and more enjoyable ocean sessions for everyone.
5. Identifying Hazards: Learn to spot rip currents and other potential dangers, arming you with the knowledge to stay safe in various conditions.

By combining these technical skills with the sensory experiences of bodysurfing, you build a comprehensive understanding of the ocean environment. This dual approach not only enhances your enjoyment but also significantly boosts your safety and confidence in the water.

Why is it the Purest Form of Wave Riding?

1. Direct Connection with the Ocean: Bodysurfing facilitates an unmediated relationship between the individual and the wave. There are no barriers—like a board—separating a bodysurfer from the ocean, fostering a more intimate understanding and appreciation of wave dynamics.
2. Skill Development: Mastering bodysurfing often translates to improved overall ocean skills. Before the advent of the surfboard leash in the 1970s, surfers who lost their boards during a wipeout had to rely on bodysurfing techniques to swim back to shore. Thus, knowledge of bodysurfing was a survival skill for early surfers.
3. Enhanced Confidence: Engaging in bodysurfing builds confidence in one's swimming abilities and comfort in the ocean. By directly interacting with the wave's power, bodysurfers learn to read the water, making them adept at navigating various ocean conditions.
4. Simplicity in Equipment: Because bodysurfers only use their bodies and perhaps a pair of fins, the focus remains on the natural interaction between the individual and the wave. This simplicity aligns with the essence of surfing as a sport that harmonizes human agility and oceanic force.

In summary, bodysurfing is considered the purest form of wave riding due to its direct engagement with the ocean, historical significance in developing surfing skills, and minimal reliance on equipment. These elements combine to offer an unmatched, authentic wave-riding experience.

Before the surf leash was invented in the 1970s, bodysurfing was an essential skill for surfers. Without a leash connecting the surfer to their board, wiping out often meant the board was carried away by the waves. In such situations, surfers had to swim after their boards to retrieve them.
This pursuit required strong swimming abilities and a good understanding of wave dynamics—skills inherently honed through bodysurfing. Bodysurfing provided surfers with the necessary expertise to navigate the surf efficiently and safely while chasing down their boards.
For centuries, the interconnectedness of these skills meant that any serious surfer also needed to be adept at bodysurfing. It wasn't merely an optional practice; it was a fundamental component of the surfing experience, dictated by the practical realities of the sport at the time.

Reading a Wave (Left, Right, Point Break)

Waves either break left, right, they’re a point break, or they are closing out. 

When a wave breaks left, that means you will be surfing left in the direction of the wave. The opposite goes for right hand waves. A point break is a wave that breaks down the center and allows surfers to either catch a right or a left. And a close out is when the waves break at once, straight down. Trying to surf closeouts is not fun. 

By being in the water bodysurfing you will get used to picking out the right wave on the horizon. You will be able to see the wave build, get into the correct position to catch it, and determine if it is left breaking, right breaking, a point break, or a closeout. Knowing how to understand what the waves look like before they begin to break is a huge advantage for the beginner SUP surfer. And it can be the biggest obstacle towards success if you don’t know how. 

By familiarizing yourself with the ocean and eventually reading it correctly you will be ahead of the game. 

How to Catch a Wave Bodysurfing

After you’ve become familiar with reading waves, you’re ready to catch your first one bodysurfing. As you see the wave build, determine which way it’s going to break, it’s time to put your back towards the wave and use your feet to push off the ocean bottom.

Swim as fast as you can using your arms and legs to gain momentum. As soon as you feel the wave lift you up, stop kicking, push one of both of your arms in the direction you want to head and take a deep breath. 

Next, put your head down in line with your lead arm. This is usually your dominant hand. Stiffen your entire body from your lead hand fingers to your feet, so that it mimics a board, and push all your weight onto your lead arm to create a forward/downward momentum. About half of your body should be out of the water in order to catch the wave correctly - you cannot be completely submerged. As you do so, you will feel the wave propel you forward. 

What Are the 6 Simple Steps to Learning How to Bodysurf?

1. Master the Streamline Position in White Water Waves

Start by getting comfortable in the water with the streamline position, which involves extending your arms above your head and keeping your body straight. This position helps you move efficiently through the waves.

2. Practice With Swim Fins

Add swim fins to your routine to increase your propulsion. Continuously practice the streamline position while using fins to get accustomed to the added speed and power.

3. Use a Handboard to Kick Out to the Lineup

A handboard can be a great tool for learning. Use it to kick out to the lineup, the area where the waves begin to break. This will help you gain confidence in navigating through the surf.

4. Catch Green Waves With a Handboard

Once you're comfortable with the basics, start practicing how to catch green, unbroken waves using the handboard. This stage focuses on timing and positioning to ensure you catch the waves just right.

5. Swim Without a Handboard

Now, it’s time to leave the handboard behind. Use only your swim fins to paddle out to the lineup. This helps you rely more on your body and improve your core strength and technique.

6. Bodysurf Across the Face of a Breaking Wave

The final step is to bodysurf across the face of a breaking wave without any additional equipment. Aim for fluid motion and balance as you ride the wave, feeling confidently connected to the ocean.

By following these steps, you’ll gradually build the skills and confidence needed for successful bodysurfing. Happy surfing!

How to Position Your Body to Catch Whitewater Waves Effectively

Mastering the art of bodysurfing starts with perfecting your body position to catch whitewater waves. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get it right:

1. Prepare to Catch the Wave

Stand in water that reaches your thighs. Keep an eye on the horizon, watching for a large wave breaking at a distance. As the wave draws closer, it should form a fast-moving wall of whitewater.

2. Turn Towards Shore

When you see a promising wave, turn back towards the shore, glancing over your shoulder occasionally to track its progress. Take a deep breath to oxygenate your body, which enhances buoyancy.

3. Get Into Position

As the wave is about to make contact with your back, bend down so your chest touches the water. Extend your arms in front of you, and gently kick off towards the wave to leap in front of it.

4. Adopt the Streamline Position

Your body should be long, straight, and buoyant—think of it as a "superman" pose with a few tweaks:

• Keep your spine straight. Your neck and back should form a straight line.
• Position your arms. Extend them forward with your biceps close to your ears.
• Press hands and feet together. Ensuring both your hands and feet are snug helps in maintaining a streamlined form.

5. Maintain Buoyancy and Direction

Submerge your face slightly, releasing a gentle flow of air through your nose to prevent water from entering. Your body should ride atop the wave, rigid and straight like a surfboard.

6. Steer with Precision

Your hands and feet act as your rudders:

• Engage your hands and feet. By making small adjustments, you can steer effectively and guide your path as you ride the wave.

By following these steps, you’ll position yourself optimally to catch and ride whitewater waves with confidence and skill. Enjoy the ride!

Advanced Bodysurfing Tips for Improvement

Looking to take your bodysurfing skills to the next level? Here are four advanced tips to help you improve:

1. Master Your Timing with the Waves

• Observation is Key: Spend time studying the wave patterns and breaking points. This will help you predict the best time to catch a wave.
• Positioning: Stay in the sweet spot where the wave is about to break. This gives you the most power and speed.

2. Enhance Your Kick Technique

• Flutter Kick: Utilize a strong, consistent flutter kick to gain speed and maintain momentum.
• Alternate Kicks: Experiment with different kicking styles like the dolphin kick for better propulsion.

3. Perfect Your Hydrodynamics

• Streamline Your Body: Keep your body as straight and streamlined as possible to reduce drag.
• Arm Positioning: Place your arms in front, with one hand over the other to slice through the water efficiently.

4. Improve Your Breathing Practices

• Hold Your Breath: Practice breath-holding exercises to increase your lung capacity and comfort underwater.
• Controlled Breathing: Learn to control your breathing rhythm to remain calm and focused even in turbulent conditions.

Incorporating these advanced tips into your practice will not only improve your performance but also enhance your overall bodysurfing experience.

Key Strategies for Catching Green Waves Without a Handboard

Catching green waves without the aid of a handboard requires precise timing and efficient use of your energy. Here are the essential steps:

1. Focus on Positioning:
   • As the wave approaches, use a sidestroke technique, extending one arm out in front. This will help maintain balance and efficiently guide you into the right spot.
   • Make sure to keep your eyes on the wave's peak to gauge where it will break. Position yourself ahead of this spot.
2. Minimize Energy Expenditure:
   • Avoid unnecessary swimming efforts. Instead, let the wave come to you. Overexertion can deplete your energy, making it harder to catch subsequent waves.
3. Effective Kicking:
   • Use your legs to kick yourself into position. Strong, controlled kicks will propel you forward without wasting energy.
4. Timing is Everything:
   • Catching the wave at the perfect moment is crucial. Wait until the wave is right behind you, then give a powerful kick to catch its momentum.

By focusing on these techniques, you can maximize your chances of catching green waves effortlessly, even without a handboard.

Expert Tips from Mark Cunningham on Wave Positioning for Bodysurfers

Renowned bodysurfer Mark Cunningham shares key advice on how to position yourself optimally when riding a wave. His detailed guidance is invaluable for anyone looking to perfect their technique.

1. Find the Right Spot

To catch a wave effectively, Cunningham emphasizes the importance of positioning yourself in the top third of the wave's peak. This strategic location allows you to synchronize with the wave’s energy.

2. Become the Surfboard

Imagine yourself as the surfboard during takeoff. This mental visualization helps in aligning your body correctly and maintaining balance.

3. Master Left and Right Turns

Left Turn:

• Arm Extension: Stretch your left arm ahead to guide yourself.
• Body Position: Keep the left side of your body in the water, acting as the rail.
• Balance: The right half of your body should be out of the water, with your right hand dragging behind like a skeg.

Right Turn:

• Reversal Technique: Mirror the left turn technique with the opposite arms.
• Arm Extension: Stretch your right arm.
• Body Position: Keep the right side of your body in the water and the left side out, with your left hand dragging.

4. Fine-Tune Your Balance

Maintaining a balance between both halves of your body by keeping one in the water and the other out ensures smoother rides. Your head should stay above water for optimal control and visibility.

By following these expert tips from Cunningham, you can significantly improve your bodysurfing skills and ride waves with greater confidence and precision.

Why Releasing a Gentle Stream of Air from Your Nostrils is Crucial While Bodysurfing

When you're bodysurfing, maintaining proper breathing techniques is essential to enhance your experience and safety in the water. One key practice is releasing a gentle stream of air out of your nostrils.

Prevent Water Ingestion

By exhaling slowly through your nose, you create a small barrier that prevents water from entering your nasal passages. This is crucial for comfort and to avoid the irritation that can lead to coughing or choking.

Enhance Focus and Performance

A steady exhalation helps you maintain a calm and controlled state while riding waves. Proper breathing ensures oxygen flow to your muscles, boosting your stamina and overall performance.

Promote Relaxation and Safety

Consistent breathing patterns can help you stay relaxed. This relaxed state reduces tension, making it easier for you to adapt to the changing dynamics of the waves. Relaxation also improves buoyancy and helps you stay afloat more naturally.

Steps to Practice

1. Get Comfortable with the Technique: Start by practicing gentle nasal exhalation while floating.
2. Incorporate it Into Bodysurfing: Once comfortable, use this technique as you catch waves.

Mastering this practice enhances your bodysurfing, making your time in the water both enjoyable and safe.

Increase Stamina and Swimming Strength

Just like regular surfing, body surfing also increases your stamina and especially your swimming strength. These are both important attributes if you want to be a successful SUP surfer. With an increase of stamina you will be prepared for a long session. And with extra swimming strength that comes with bodysurfing, you will be physically (and mentally) prepared should anything go wrong in the ocean - leash breaks and you have to swim back to shore, you get taken over the falls and kept underneath the water, etc. 

How to Conserve Energy While Swimming Out to the Lineup

Conserving energy on your swim out to the lineup ensures you're ready to catch waves effectively. Here’s how:

Choose the Right Stroke
Opt for efficient swimming strokes like head-up freestyle, breaststroke, or sidestroke. These strokes allow you to keep an eye on the horizon, helping you navigate through oncoming waves with less effort.

Stay Calm and Steady
Maintain a steady breathing pattern. Avoid rapid or shallow breaths, which can lead to fatigue. Instead, focus on deep, controlled breathing to maintain your stamina.

Dive Under Waves
As a wave approaches, dive down just before it reaches you. Swimming deep allows you to bypass the wave’s breaking energy, conserving your strength and making the swim out smoother.

Monitor Your Pace
Conserve energy by pacing yourself. Avoid sprinting; a steady, moderate pace ensures you don’t burn out before reaching the lineup.

Use Buoyancy to Your Advantage
Remember to make the most of your body's natural buoyancy. This can help reduce the effort needed to stay afloat and move forward.

By following these tips, you’ll reach the lineup with energy to spare, ready to catch the perfect wave.

Optional Equipment

Handplanes: Handplanes are not essential to learn how to bodysurf but they will enhance your experience in the water. A handplane is basically a small board that is attached to your lead hand. It is used to get onto the wave earlier and stay on longer. Think of it as a mini surfboard that will help guide you through the waves. 

Swim Fins: Fins are used to increase your power in the water when you’re swimming. This will help you to catch more waves over the course of your time in the water. It is important to give different pairs a try - some bodysurfers like stiff fins, others loose. Test out what works best for you! 

Wetsuit: A good wetsuit will keep you warm in the water. It depends on where you plan on bodysurfing, the temperature of the ocean, and how long you will remain in the water. It is always best to start with at least 2-3mm and work up from there if need be. 

Boogie Board: Another option is to skip right to boogie boarding. A boogie board is the middle ground between a handplane and a surfboard. Instead of it being attached to your hand, the board is big enough to support your body. However, it’s not large enough to stand on. Instead, you lay flat on your stomach and ride the waves in a similar fashion as you would bodysurfing. 

The natural progression from ocean paddling into SUP surfing can sometimes follow this flow - bodysurfing, bodysurfing with a handplane and swim fins, boogie boarding, ocean paddling, and SUP surfing. 

If you do happen to follow that progression, your time in the water will be safe and fun! 

Techniques for Duck Diving Under Oncoming Waves with a Handboard

To effectively duck dive under oncoming waves with a handboard, follow these key techniques:

1. Position the Handboard Correctly: Hold the handboard out in front of your body with both hands. This alignment helps streamline your body and reduces resistance as you approach the wave.
2. Shift Your Weight Forward: As you move towards the wave, lean your body weight forward onto the handboard. This action helps sink the nose of the board beneath the water's surface.
3. Dive Deep: Bring your hips up towards the surface while simultaneously pushing the handboard downward. Your goal is to get as deep as possible to avoid the turbulence of the breaking wave above you.
4. Streamline Your Body: Keep your body in a straight line, aiming to resemble an arrow. This positioning minimizes drag and allows you to move more smoothly through the water.
5. Timing: Perfect your timing. Start your dive just before the wave reaches you to ensure a smooth pass under it without getting caught by the force of the wave.

By practicing these techniques, you'll enhance your ability to duck dive efficiently and maintain forward momentum even in challenging surf conditions.

Using a Handboard to Kick Out to the Surf Lineup

When you're ready to take your bodysurfing to the next level, mastering the use of a handboard can be a game-changer. Here’s how you can use a handboard to efficiently kick out to the surf lineup:

1. Starting in Shallow Water

Begin in the shallow water zone to get accustomed to the handboard. Practice your kicks while maintaining a streamlined position. Feel the added buoyancy and propulsion that the handboard provides.

2. Moving Deeper

Once you’re comfortable, swim out a bit deeper. Rather than launching yourself into waves from an upright position, use your legs to kick into the waves. This method will help you build up speed and navigate through the water more effectively.

3. Positioning the Handboard

Extend the handboard out in front of your body, gripping it with both hands. This will help you to steer and maintain direction while you kick. Proper positioning is crucial for controlling your movements and navigating through various wave conditions.

4. Duck Diving

As waves approach, you’ll need to duck dive to get past them. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Shift your weight forward: Lean into the handboard to submerge the front.
• Sink the board underwater: As you push down, bring your hips and butt to the surface.
• Dive deep: Aim to get under the breaking wave. The deeper you dive, the better you can avoid the wave's impact.

5. Reaching the Lineup

After successful duck dives, you’ll find yourself past the breaking waves. At this point, you can take a moment to rest. Float on your back if needed, but stay alert for incoming sets.

6. Treading Water and Waiting

Once past the impact zone, tread water and position yourself for an optimal take-off. Keep an eye out for the next surfable green wave.

By following these steps, you'll be able to efficiently use your handboard to reach the surf lineup, making your bodysurfing sessions more enjoyable and productive. Happy surfing!

Conclusion

Bodysurfing is an important stepping stone towards being a successful ocean paddler and eventually SUP surfer. It is a safer way to understand how the ocean works, how your body feels being propelled by a wave, and it will make you more comfortable in an environment that requires a great deal of respect in order to stay safe. We recommend you try bodysurfing before your first SUP surfing lesson for these reasons. If you do, we know your first SUP surfing session will be a success.