Bodyboards discuss (the soft paipo)

[krusher74]

As nels had started discussion on the stagnation of design in bodyboards in another thread I thought i would restart that discussion here.

Nels said "As one who has been involved since the 70's it has been no end of frustration that the designs have stayed so near to the original"

So has it stayed so similar to the original because that was the best design? Water is water and we are roughly the same sized people. So the task of the board isnt changing and there isnt a new problem to be solved.

I would actually say that have changed a lot take a look at NO1 (47" by 25")

here are some recent variations on the design

There is also a fund raiser for Mr moray if anyones interested https://www.youcaring.com/tommorey-929933

[Pes78]

I like the yellow bottom board. Is the stagnation of the bodyboard based on the materials used and how they're made? I think Toobs is the only bodyboard company making boards here. Don't want to make it a political statement here but I will. The problem is these companies want to make the most money they can make on each board, firewire's markup is huge and the way they flood the shops with boards is nuts. Also the majority of people are sheep and just want to go with the crowd. Heck I'm glad I found this site otherwise not sure what I would be doing in regards to shaping. Krusher your boards are close to a bodyboard shape and that works for you. I'm getting lost in my thoughts now. I like different. I seek out weird boards. My latest is a pretty safe shape because I was trying to keep it simple. My bodypo I shaped I said to myself that I wanted to shape something that was out of the norm of what was being shaped. Maybe it's just as simple as saying "don't try to reinvent the wheel"?

[Nels]

So has it stayed so similar to the original because that was the best design? Water is water and we are roughly the same sized people. So the task of the board isnt changing and there isnt a new problem to be solved.

That may be "it" in a nutshell with regard to the bodyboard. The materials and construction are applicable to standup boards as well as bellyboards/paipos. Perhaps there just isn't that much "change" to be had.

That gets a bit tough to take for some geezers like me who were around for standup surfing's shortboard revolution. Seeing magic happen once maybe spoils the expectations further on.

I have thought that some kind of cosmetic customization for bodyboards might freshen the odd whiff of staleness...it's that or endless travel for different waves and that just isn't always realistic to do. All about finding balance I guess...just like any other form of surfing. Sticking with something long after most compatriots have drifted off or worse creates challenges..."first world problems" to be sure...

Nels

[nomastomas]

Also to be considered is the nature of the materials used in construction. Extruded Polypropylene (EPP) is an extremely pliable and durable material. EPP foam has a rubbery quality; it bends but doesn't break. Most abrasives bounce over it. It is much harder to shape than Polyurethane (PU) or Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foams. The band saw has replaced the hot-wire as the weapon of choice to do the bulk of the shaping. It is both difficult (some would say impossible) and time-consuming to shape compound curves with a straight-edge tool. The end result is no round rails, or convex/concave bottoms, or convex-to-flat-to-concave bottoms, or concave decks. (Note: the small rounded channels found on the tails of some BBs are the one exception) I marvel at the construction techniques of the modern body board builder; various density polyvinyl sheeting, heat produced bonding, carbon fiber tubing, etc. But, in the end, the shaper has to make do without multiple compound curves or a static rocker curve, and with the unavoidable flex. True, there can be a positive side to flat surfaces, variable rocker and flex, and the modern body board rider has learned to exploit these "features".

In the end, there are many ways to get from Point A to Point B in the water.

[Nels]

Also to be considered is the nature of the materials used in construction...But, in the end, the shaper has to make do without multiple compound curves or a static rocker curve, and with the unavoidable flex.

Yeah, that's all true with bodyboards. Maybe it's an insurmountable divide when it comes to crossover with the paipo world, certainly a commercial chasm to deal with.

For me it's all surfing...if you ride waves, you surf. The bodyboard world is the closest thing to the paipo world. I can't put it into words but it seems to me there is some kind of opportunity in there, some kind of potential as yet untapped. I'm clueless, maybe it's materials or maybe design...or maybe it's no big thing anyway.

Nels

[Nels]

Just to blur the lines, muddy the waters, or let business travelers sneak in a few...the inflatable bodyboard!

https://www.surfertoday.com/bodyboarding/14062-meet-the-boog-mat-an-inflatable-bodyboard-by-hubboards

First one I saw was from Sea Eagle a couple of years ago, found this last night, and there's a couple of others on Amazon. There are a couple of action shots on the video below the article.