Bodyboarding question.?

Question

When you're trying to catch a wave, should you paddle with your arms or kick with your feet?

I use my arms, but I see my friend catching waves I cant get enough speed for, using only his feet?!

Answer 1

I do both.  Most of it is just timing though, not how much speed you can get.  You need timing and patience.  You need to be able to tell when an incoming wave is going to break at just the right time.  You should catch it right before it breaks.  Too soon, and it'll pass right under you.  Too late (after it breaks) and it'll just toss you around and you won't go anywhere.

But I use my arms and feet.  Kind of like swimming freestyle but with a board under you.  I do mostly bodysurfing cuz I rarely have a board on me when I'm at the beach.

Answer 2

kicking with your feet is the idea. at least make sure your getting on the shoulder of the wave.

if you get bodyboard slippers they give you way more power and allow you to get loads of speed for big air and shooting across waves

Answer 3

if you use your feat you can hold the board fully making it way easier to jump on a big wave

Answer 4

this is why body boarders buy flippers they allow them to generate speed to catch and drop down the wave. using your arms causes you to wobble around instead of being centered on your board