Surf Talk Guru

What is the war between surfers and bodyboarders? Why are surfers always making fun of those riding a sponge? Is bodyboarding so bad?

Bodyboarding is a good starter sport for young people or those learning how riding waves works. Bodyboarding is easier and takes less time to learn than surfing, but variations on the ride, like drop-knee and stand-up, will help make surfing easier in the future. Bodyboarding is also popular with those who have injuries and are not able to stand up and ride a surfboard like they used to.

You can see why there would be a bias against bodyboarding based on this description: it’s only for those who can’t surf. Surfers may feel superior to such people who “can’t stand up” on a board, but want to share the lineup. But what about those kick-ass bodyboarders, pros and Hawaiians who ride Pipe on a sponge? Nothing to laugh at there.

Bodyboarders have been known in Oregon to pull some pretty dickhead moves, like crashing surf contests, dropping in like crazy on everybody in their non-local surfspot, and generally egging on the rivalry. Since they’re definitely in the minority, maybe some bodyboarders enjoy being “different.” So the rivalry is continued from both sides.