Question: What are other Forms of Surfing?
Answer:
Bodysurfing
If you can swim, you have all you need to bodysurf. It’s surfing’s most pure element. No board, all you need is the skill to swim fast enough to catch the power of a passing wave and then use your body’s natural planning surface to glide to the beach. Highly skilled bodysurfers can get barreled and ride huge waves like Pipeline, Hawaii and The Wedge, California.
Bodyboarding
Many surfers learn the basics of wave riding on foam bodyboards, but others build their bodybuilding prowess to incredible levels. To watch bodyboarders spin, flip, and thread giant barrels in heavy surf is an exciting experience. The use of flippers, the low center of gravity, and the flexible board give bodyboarders an advantage in big hollow waves.
Kitesurfing
This progressive step from windsurfing has become a hot sport anywhere the wind howls. Strapped to a small board and harnessed to a large kite, kitesurfers can fly along flat water or launch off waves for full aerial stunt maneuvers.
Windsurfing
A blend of surfing and sailing, windsurfing has been around for decades. While its big boards and expensive equipment make for a little more baggage than other surfing-based sports, the intense work-out and insane possibilities for speed on both flat water and on waves is well worth the effort.
Kneeboarding
I haven’t seen many kneeboarders in the water in quite a while. The sport is essentially surfing…on your knees. Using short, wide boards, kneeboarders can get tubed like it’s nobody’s business with their low center of gravity, but this tightly packed position doesn’t allow for the fully extended carving of stand up surfing.
Wave Skiing
A wave ski resembles a kayak. However, the rider sits on top instead of inside the ski and (using a paddle) catches the wave and rides the face just like a surfer. Cut backs and insane aerial rolls are part of the wave ski repertoire. Talented riders will blow your mind.
Stand-up Paddleboarding
Standup Paddleboarding (SUP) is THE hottest surfing variation right now. Using a massive 12+ foot board and an oar, a stand-up paddle boarder can paddle over flat water or glide into waves way before anyone else has a chance of catching them. You can ride an SUP anywhere from Lake Michigan to Makaha, and the work-out is sick.
