Bodyboard Wise Beginner Boarder

Overview

Catch your first waves with confidence! The ASI Bodyboard Wise Beginner Bodyboarder level is your launchpad into surf sports, designed to identify the core ocean safety and bodyboarding wave-riding skills.

Aim

Trim and perform small turns along the bottom peeling waves up to 1½ feet (½ metre).

Locations and Conditions

  • Beach break with sand bottom

  • Peeling waves

  • Surf 1½ ft (½ metre)

  • Water depth of chest deep or less

  • Free from rips and hazards

Equipment

  • Bodyboard

  • Fins (flippers)

  • Arm leash

Knowledge & Skills

Pre-requisite

  • Swim 50 metres

  • Able to tread water for 5 minutes

Bodyboarding Environment

  • Identify bodyboarding hazards

  • Identify personal bodyboarding hazards

  • Identify suitable weather conditions for bodyboarding

  • Identify the types of waves suitable for bodyboarding

  • Choose a safe bodyboarding location

  • How to look after the surf environment

Equipment

  • Choosing a beginners bodyboard

  • Waxing, caring, carrying and storing your board

  • Identify suitable types of wetsuits and surf clothing

  • Demonstrate ability to walk in fins (flippers)

Bodyboarding Skills

  • Choose a safe place to enter the water

  • Negotiate small waves using a variety of techniques

  • Paddle and kick correctly with board in trim

  • How to select and catch waves with safety

  • Trim and turn along wave

  • Wipe-out safely

  • Apply bodyboarding etiquette, drop in rule, snaking, ethics

Bodyboarding Manoeuvres

  • Trim (angle) and ride waves