Bodyboard advice (asking for a friend)

Booger advice needed!

There is a surfer somewhere in the world that owns two custom Dick Van Straalen bodyboards made of timber. Twin futures if you want to use fins and they absolutely fang. Without a doubt the best looking bodyboards I've ever seen, the workmanship was something else. I made an offer years ago if this person ever wanted to sell one, give me a yell. Glad I didn't hold my breath on that one haha..... Maybe DVS might make another one???

As an aside, if the owner of those boards ever reads this, offer still stands haha. And maybe post a pic of them up on swellnet so others can drool...

Bummer! Your friend just missed out.

https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2020/08/06/bodyboard-se…

Haha Ben. I did send her that link. Yeah,nah!

Hey Terminal, check Dicks Instagram account for today you’ll not be disappointed

etarip - I'm dodgy surfer who occasional de-evolves and lies on stomach and flaps arms and legs about on a esky lid.

Get some more info off your neighbour:
What's her budget - some boards can be over $500 - and that is just off the shelf - don't go too cheap, they just end up folding. Don't go sport store or department store boards if at all a little serious

How big is the amigo - I'm 90kg and 50 but also an ex waterpolo player so a strong paddler - I think the board I was given by a mate is a 46 and it floats me okay and ridden it in some 6ft+ surf. I think its a Nomad and seems pretty good, my mate upgraded to a VS. There are a few good brands - talk to a shop.

What is he planning to do with it? fast straight line, spins, flips - if its just straight go longer and skinnier.

Didn't know he had one, gs. Thanks! Wow, board porn. That balsa quad skate! I've got a poxy one and love it to bits but wish it was a bit heavier. I reckon heavier boards with swing weight in the right place are the go...

Thanks slugfrog.
Appreciated. He’ll definitely be in the trim and speed category, not the flip and ARS (?)

I’ll get his height / weight etc. done a bit of research about board design / differences. I think a high end EPS or low end PP will suit - he’s probably going to be wanting some durability and stiffness.

Once I get a sense of that it would be great to get some views on different brands and any to avoid or recommended.

So my mate is 172cm and 70-75kg. Looking at some of the sizing guides he’d be looking at a 41” or 41.5” board. There’s a few sales on that have some decent boards, but most only to 40”. Can anyone tell me if that 1” makes a big difference to an average booger? (Paging Gary G!)

I have done a bit of a scan and something like these seem OK:
- Nomad Faction D12PP (~$220)
- Nomad Lachlan Cramsie D12PP (~$200)

Nomad - Aussie company, made in Taiwan. Any thoughts or alternate recommendations appreciated.

I retired from the lid 15 years ago but no 1" doesn't make a massive difference and like surfing I'd err to the bigger / longer side of what you posted for the occasional slider.

Some years ago I was hanging out up at my old mates farm in cowongala surfing the shark bite territory on the coast from there when I realised that on the east coast you can't compete with the grommets for waves anymore so I invested in gumtree boogers cheap in good condition normally they come with a bag leash and sometimes fins I have never spent over $60 for them and not so bad when you get axed by a thick lip and crease it as they are trash after that. So while new is nice second hand for the likes of me is the go that way you can get a few the old manta I have has copped a beating and survived some heavy wipe outs it was $15 had it since 2015 where as others have been creased in lesser conditions

It also depends on where you will surf heavy sucking pits can handle the shorter thinner booger gentle smaller waves you will need the floatation thicker longer
Just starting out go for something that is a bit longer than what you have written

winter time you should get some reasonable price boards with accessories

Good luck they are great fun and you can get lots of waves

Seriously?

Thanks Cowabunga. Appreciate the suggestion. will pass it onto my neighbour.
Haven’t been on a bodyboard for 25+ years... my go to if I’m not on a surfboard is a handplane. So much fun in Shoreys and on the odd occasion I take it out into surf up to 4ft.

I do ride a 5’10 soft top on occasion. One of the greatest joys of my life to date was watching my 4yo paddle into a wave (tiny whitewash) and stand up to ride it into the beach (about 20m) a few weeks ago on that soft top. I’m not known for being emotional but I was almost in tears.

Yes etarip getting them out there when they are young gives them the feel for it and improves ballance water skills even if they don't take it up like my kids decided they still have good ocean awareness

D12 stands for a certain density of core. D12 best suited to the colder water climates along the south coast of OZ. where will he surf? looking at his weight and height I would go a 41.