California Surfcraft Bodypo Review
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:02 pm
Bodypo inventor Dave Hahn gave me the opportunity to test ride some of his boards at OBSF this past weekend. The boards we picked for the test were both 42" long slimmed down bodyboard style shapes with max widths of 19.5". One board had a bat tail, the other a crescent. Bodypos have a distinct up kick in the nose, but are dead flat throughout the rest of the board. On land, both Bodypos showed some ability to flex, even with their hard fiberglass bottoms. Picking up the boards, they felt feather light compared to my 7+ lb plywood paipos, and only slightly heavier than a bodyboard.
Waves on the test days were about 1-3ft Hawaiian size, 3-6 ft faces mainland scale, with offshore to light & variable winds. Water temps were in the mid to upper 50's. Wave quality ranged from clean throwing A-frames to double up dumpers breaking with decent power, helped by the built up inside sandbars combined with an outgoing tide.
Paddling out, the increased buoyancy of a Bodypo over a traditional paipo was noticeable, but the extra buoyancy wasn't enough to float above the soup or allow arm paddling; at least for me at 5'10" and 175lbs. Just like a traditional paipo, hanging off the back of the board and kicking is the way to do it. Duck diving required slightly more effort than a plywood board, but it was still easy to get under and completely through hard breaking waves that would be difficult to clear on a surfboard or bodyboard. The cork rails were comfortable to grip, and the cork deck provided a wax-less no slip surface. The distinctive center hump on the deck of the Bodypo - an additional layer of cork for strength - was unnoticeable, at least under a 4/3 wetsuit. The center hump also provided an alternate hand hold when kick-paddling out. Once out the back and in smooth water, I found I could position myself as you would on a bodyboard and leg kick if I wanted to. Sitting on the Bodypo, the water came up to around bicep level. On a plywood board, the water would be up almost to my chin.
I lined up a nice looking set left for my first wave. I held the Bodypo out and kicked into the wave like on a traditional paipo; pulling myself forward and onto the board in a conventional bodyboard style riding position as soon as I was on the wave. Setting the rail and bottom turning felt smooth and effortless. The first section of the wave unexpectedly crumbled, but I was able to easily get around it and glide over a slow spot into the inside reform. The wave hollowed out and I was presented with a barreling end section. I tucked in briefly, then instinctively aimed for the lip and hit a clean roll, landing in the flats. Basic “Bodyboarding 101” stuff that I've done countless times on a conventional foam bodyboard, but not bad for a first run on a board made of CORK.
Although paddling and takeoffs are like a traditional paipo, riding the Bodypo feels closer to a bodyboard. Over 2 solid sessions of testing, it was clear that the Bodypo's composite cork - fiberglass construction was providing a beneficial flex & recoil action similar to foam bodyboard cores. The Bodypo is stiffer than a bodyboard, but it does flex; and that flex combined with the nose kick allows it to scoop into hollow waves and drive up to and off the lip in a more bodyboard like fashion compared to a flatter, stiffer plywood paipo. On one stand out A-frame, the wave sucked up hard and vertical on take off, but I was able to easily scoop into it and pull up the inside corner of the nose to flex the board and slot into the barrel just like on a bodyboard. That was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. During the course of the test sessions, I was able to pull forward and reverse spins, rolls, even rollo takeoffs, and snag a bunch of clean in and out barrels. I would have complete confidence taking the Bodypo out in larger surf, and I'm hoping to get the opportunity to do that soon. The Bodypo showed no signs of stress or over flexing in the closeouts or during the harder landings. I wanted to try some rides drop knee, but my rusty DK skills didn't allow it. The paipo take off into a DK stance is tricky, but it can be done. The only major critique I have is the max board width of 19.5”. I was told this is due to current limitations on the max width of cork sheets. The narrow width might be an issue for bigger riders, for DK, and in some wave conditions.
Overall, the Bodypo is just as advertised – a hybrid between a traditional paipo and a bodyboard, built from environmentally sustainable materials. The ride experience incorporates elements of both kinds of surf craft. It's truly a fun and functional wave riding vehicle, with loads of unexplored potential. I can easily imagine the future development possibilities of a cork – fiberglass composite board: different shapes, sizes, stand up versions, etc. I'd say Dave is definitely on to something with these boards. http://californiasurfcraft.com/products/bodypo
Waves on the test days were about 1-3ft Hawaiian size, 3-6 ft faces mainland scale, with offshore to light & variable winds. Water temps were in the mid to upper 50's. Wave quality ranged from clean throwing A-frames to double up dumpers breaking with decent power, helped by the built up inside sandbars combined with an outgoing tide.
Paddling out, the increased buoyancy of a Bodypo over a traditional paipo was noticeable, but the extra buoyancy wasn't enough to float above the soup or allow arm paddling; at least for me at 5'10" and 175lbs. Just like a traditional paipo, hanging off the back of the board and kicking is the way to do it. Duck diving required slightly more effort than a plywood board, but it was still easy to get under and completely through hard breaking waves that would be difficult to clear on a surfboard or bodyboard. The cork rails were comfortable to grip, and the cork deck provided a wax-less no slip surface. The distinctive center hump on the deck of the Bodypo - an additional layer of cork for strength - was unnoticeable, at least under a 4/3 wetsuit. The center hump also provided an alternate hand hold when kick-paddling out. Once out the back and in smooth water, I found I could position myself as you would on a bodyboard and leg kick if I wanted to. Sitting on the Bodypo, the water came up to around bicep level. On a plywood board, the water would be up almost to my chin.
I lined up a nice looking set left for my first wave. I held the Bodypo out and kicked into the wave like on a traditional paipo; pulling myself forward and onto the board in a conventional bodyboard style riding position as soon as I was on the wave. Setting the rail and bottom turning felt smooth and effortless. The first section of the wave unexpectedly crumbled, but I was able to easily get around it and glide over a slow spot into the inside reform. The wave hollowed out and I was presented with a barreling end section. I tucked in briefly, then instinctively aimed for the lip and hit a clean roll, landing in the flats. Basic “Bodyboarding 101” stuff that I've done countless times on a conventional foam bodyboard, but not bad for a first run on a board made of CORK.
Although paddling and takeoffs are like a traditional paipo, riding the Bodypo feels closer to a bodyboard. Over 2 solid sessions of testing, it was clear that the Bodypo's composite cork - fiberglass construction was providing a beneficial flex & recoil action similar to foam bodyboard cores. The Bodypo is stiffer than a bodyboard, but it does flex; and that flex combined with the nose kick allows it to scoop into hollow waves and drive up to and off the lip in a more bodyboard like fashion compared to a flatter, stiffer plywood paipo. On one stand out A-frame, the wave sucked up hard and vertical on take off, but I was able to easily scoop into it and pull up the inside corner of the nose to flex the board and slot into the barrel just like on a bodyboard. That was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. During the course of the test sessions, I was able to pull forward and reverse spins, rolls, even rollo takeoffs, and snag a bunch of clean in and out barrels. I would have complete confidence taking the Bodypo out in larger surf, and I'm hoping to get the opportunity to do that soon. The Bodypo showed no signs of stress or over flexing in the closeouts or during the harder landings. I wanted to try some rides drop knee, but my rusty DK skills didn't allow it. The paipo take off into a DK stance is tricky, but it can be done. The only major critique I have is the max board width of 19.5”. I was told this is due to current limitations on the max width of cork sheets. The narrow width might be an issue for bigger riders, for DK, and in some wave conditions.
Overall, the Bodypo is just as advertised – a hybrid between a traditional paipo and a bodyboard, built from environmentally sustainable materials. The ride experience incorporates elements of both kinds of surf craft. It's truly a fun and functional wave riding vehicle, with loads of unexplored potential. I can easily imagine the future development possibilities of a cork – fiberglass composite board: different shapes, sizes, stand up versions, etc. I'd say Dave is definitely on to something with these boards. http://californiasurfcraft.com/products/bodypo