Take your Bellyboarding to the Next Level

Here's a quick how-to guide. Whether you're a complete novice or looking to improve we'll have you riding waves with style in no time.

Beginnners

Be Safe! Always bellyboard at a lifeguarded beach, between the red and yellow flags.

Bellyboards are NOT floatation devices - always to be used by proficent swimmers and/or under adult supervision.

What is bellyboarding?

How riding wood is different.

Our bellyboards are made from sustainable plywood and are around 9mm thick - Bellyboards have no floatation, they act as a planing surface on top of water.

They are different to a foam boogie board which is designed to float you - bellyboarding sits between riding a foam boogie board and body surfing. Its the best feeling!

Read our Step by Step Guide:

Step 1

Stand In thigh deep water

Always bellyboard at a lifeguarded beach, between the red and yellow flags. Be safe!

Ideally you need to be in thigh deep water, this allows you to get a strong push off the bottom.

Push the tail of the board into your hips, while holding the board as close to the nose as possible. You may have to stick your bum out a little! Practice this at home if you need to get used to it :)

Step2

Wave Selection

Getting a good ride is all about wave selection and timing. It’s important to choose a good, powerful looking wave that will propel you forward with speed.

Try and choose a wave thats recently broken and has power left in it. Wave selection needs to be learnt over time and this comes with experience.

You’ll soon be picking the best waves of the set!

Step 3

Timing

As the wave is just behind you (about 1 second before it hits you), you need to jump forward and out onto the water in front of the wave. If timed correctly, the wave will push you along and you’ll be bellyboarding!

Timing is everything! Too early and you’ll sink and the wave will pass over you. Too late and you will miss the wave. This can take a few attempts if you’ve never tried before!

You should hold the nose of the board with your arms stretched out-front of you. Your belly and chest should be on the lower half of the board.

Step 4

Enjoy the ride

Wave riding is a lot of fun, enjoy the ride, turn around and have another go! That's Bellyboarding for beginners covered, we’d love to hear how you get on!

Improvers

You've progressed past the white water and looking for more of a challenge? No problem, we've got you covered.

What you need

Bellyboard Starter Kit

Your Dick Pearce Bellyboard, some flippers and some wax is all you need to get started.

Buy Now

Step 1

Find a green wave

Using flippers, head out into deeper water where the waves are breaking. You will need flippers to head out into deeper water, don’t try without!

Step 2

Wave selection

Try and pick a wave that will not ‘close out’ - you want a good unbroken wave to ride along.

As the wave approaches, get yourself in position and board ready. Hold the board in the exact same way as normal (hands on the nose, chest/belly in the lower half)