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Advice for a newbie

  • Naughty_boy
    October 2008
    Hi

    I have decided to take up boadyboarding, it has always been something that I wanted to do, and I am getting a body board as a late birthday present.

    I would like to take it up as a sport instead of just a hobby that I do every once in awhile.

    Any advice on how I can go about doing that?

    I live in Parklands, Cape Town. :D

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18 Replies


  • October 2008
    wahoo nice one! where did you hear about sixty40?

    well you are in a perfect spot to get into it, the water isnt so cold and you have some really fun beachies around the area.... a lot of the guys even on here hit up eerstersteen / derdersteen all the time. Get a lot of the schools that go down on most friday afternoons so there are heaps of bodyboarders around the area...

    best is when you out there be friendly and chat to the guys in the water and make some friends at the local breaks.. you will get more stuck in with it and have a better time as will meet new guys and recognise guys in the water..

    sweet hope this helps a bit ;)

    keep us posted
  • Spy Dude
    October 2008
    Bodyboaridng isnt a sport, its a lifestyle.
    surf as much as possible and it will soon be a sport, the lifestyle part just follows naturally.
    Paaaarrkklin is the portal to the weskus. explore.

    get your hands on some DVD's they will help you with progression.
    Talk to other boogers and never be afraid to ask for advice.

    smile

    and always use sunscreen!
  • craigtrilivascraigtrilivas
    October 2008
    Yeah bro!
    Good advice allround & this is also most certainly the place to get it :wink:
    U stay close to some pretty good spots dood, and whats even better is that there is a good booger community representing there too.
    Spy is right, get ur hands on sum vids and get inspired :!:
    Decide what style u prefer,who ur fav riders are and even immitate 8)
    On those kuk and small days u'll be dying to get into the water after watching sum footage.
    Soon after a lil practice u'll be more than stoked.
    The bodyboarding community is a tight one so dont even feel embarressed to ask anything either.
    We're all here for one reason.

    It really is a lifestyle too man, I developed a huge shark pheobia and even that couldnt keep me outta the water, well it did for a lil while but it didnt last too long :lol:
    My boet has moved to Jozi and he says he just cant stop dreamin of going for a surf, shame.
    U see?
    It eventually consumes u moohahahaha :twisted:

    Once ur hooked on busting,spinning,rolling,pulling into thick lil nuggies and being spat outta tubes u'll realise......this is the real sport of KINGS :mrgreen:

    So now get ur gear, get out there and get stoked!


    B kiff.
  • Naughty_boy
    October 2008
    Hey

    Thanx for the advice :D

    I found the website by google'in "Bodyboarding, Cape Town" and as soon as I found it I signed up 8)

    Now I just got to wait till I get my board then Im off to the beach, and I cant wait :lol: :mrgreen: :lol: :mrgreen:
  • Naughty_boy
    October 2008
    I have another question.... :?

    Ive read some of the posts about boards ect, and besides the fact that my head is swimming with information.

    I still am not sure what type of board to get.

    When I say Im a "newbie" I mean that in everyway, the only time I have used a bodyboard was when I was 14yrs old and on holiday in J-bay. :(

    What board is reccomended for a beginner?
  • craigtrilivascraigtrilivas
    October 2008
    Ok here we go...

    It really depends on what ur skill level is right now hey.
    Like do u know the basics of trimming along the face of a wave ie-not going straight :mrgreen: ?
    If so I would say start there and also practice ur duckdiving.
    If ur starting out from the beginning & u wanna be learning how to spin etc... then I would go for a more prone orientated shape with a bat tail maybe cos the larger surface area makes it a bit easier to do that.

    But then again pretty much most of the guys I know started with a crescent tailed allround shape and so did I.
    From there u can decide what it is ur wanting to do and adjust ur board accordingly.
    U see with a normal crescent u can do the spins too,but u can also do the drop knee thing too which would maybe be a lil more difficult if u got a bat cos due to the extra surface u could end up sliding out and getting frustrated.

    Board size = should come just about up to ur bellybutton.Not over & not too far short.Say an inch

    Dood, if u wanna do urself a big favour, check out http://www.atdbodyboards.co.za
    Its Alistair Taylor's site.
    He's pretty much SA's Mike Stewart.
    There he tells u everything u really need to know about everything.
    And u could even make up ur very own custom board.


    Peace.

    Thats my 2 cents.
    Dont even get me started on channels LOL!!!
    If u must know, Im a big fan of them 8) really big & fat ones :mrgreen:
  • craigtrilivascraigtrilivas
    October 2008
    GOSH!!!

    The site is http://www.atdbodyboards.com

    Im such a doos 8)
    But its rad
  • byron777
    October 2008
    first off subscribe to the mag sixty40...thats the best way for a beginner to start off
  • Spy Dude
    October 2008
    Craig u wally!
    Science boards are the way to go :mrgreen:
  • lyle
    October 2008
    dont forget rossi is local to and been shaping for yeaars!! also nmd and versus are on top of their game!!! hahaha!!! they all good :wink:
  • craigtrilivascraigtrilivas
    October 2008
    Oi now lets get one thing straight here.
    I in no way endorsed anyone's brand of board in this thread.
    I merely stated that the naughty guy would be able to get a custom board if he so chooses.

    And the way the Rand is doin right now he could get a beginner stick from Al that hasnt been affected by the world's economic meltdown cos Al has said that his prices r stayig the same.
    I think theyr even less than a grand?

    I reckon thats pretty cool no matter what brand u choose :!:

    No reason for the guy to buy a MS1 u know what i mean?
    But ja Rossi is also there in the forefront :D
  • lyle
    October 2008
    i just poped that post in cause you tuned check out al, and in 10min and 20 posts all the brands wouldve been posted.. again!!! :mrgreen:
  • papa-dpapa-d
    October 2008
    Naughty_boy wrote:
    I have another question.... :?

    Ive read some of the posts about boards ect, and besides the fact that my head is swimming with information.

    I still am not sure what type of board to get.

    When I say Im a "newbie" I mean that in everyway, the only time I have used a bodyboard was when I was 14yrs old and on holiday in J-bay. :(

    What board is reccomended for a beginner?

    Give me a call if you're after advice, but you may just want to check out http://www.Factory7.co.za first to see what you might like, browse the site a bit, then call me on our Toll Free Number - 0800 FSEVEN (373836) and we can go over what you like and what we reckon will suit you.

    Look forward to getting you in the water...the best things are done lying down

  • October 2008
    Quote:
    Look forward to getting you in the water...the best things are done lying down

    derek is cool and right there and a really good guy....except he got the first part wrong, sometimes its better in other positions ;).............................like DK?

    now what were you guys thinking!?!
  • Len at ScienceLen at Science
    October 2008
    you can check out http://www.sciencebodyboards.co.za all info will be on it. the next 60/40 will have a buyers guide in on boards. you will have fun, welcome to the best sport!!!!!
  • Spy Dude
    October 2008
    Ok so you wanna know what board to get. Forget the brands, blerry vultures all waiting to pick your bones dry.
    You gotta ask these questions first.
    How tall are you and how much do you weigh.
    Like i am 80kg at 176cm, so for me a 42" works sweet. Basically if the board is to your bellybutton, that should be the correct size.

    Start off with a cresent tail, wrist leash and a good wetsuit (if you a kaapie)
    You will also need a good pair of fins, but thats another debate in total, but straight down the line old school makapu churchils should do the trick, persoanlly i am a fan of the Tech 1 fin, but i know lank okes hate them.

    End of the day, when i started, ALL THE BOARDS WERE KUK, by todays standerds, you just gotta hop on, ride and see what works for you.

    I ride Bat tails for the last decade and have recently migrated back to cresents and loving it.
    hope that helps.
  • craigtrilivascraigtrilivas
    October 2008
    Well there u go dood :shock:
    Hope ur head is doin ok LOL!!!

    So there it is all laid out infront of u guy.
    Every post on this thread has solid advice.
    Its up to u know to make up ur mind :idea:

    But u know what, Im sure when u see something u like u will know straight away.
    It could be the colours, it could be the shape or even just a gut feeling who knows.

    Its ur first "real" board & u gotta start somewhere.
    From there u can see wat it u like or dont like about ur gear and go forward.

    But just do one thing tho, and its become a creed of some sorts among us boogers......and that is...........SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT BODYBOARDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Stay kiff 8)
  • Naughty_boy
    October 2008
    Thank-you to every one who replied to the post and answered all my questions :D

    I have to go in for an operation on on my arm this coming Wed, so if I'm quiet its not coz Ive lost interest but more coz Im unable to do anything, I wanna get into the water asap :P

    Have a great weekend :mrgreen:

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