Bodyboard size : A rule of thumb says that the standing board can reach about the level of the navel. The width of the board should be such that you can just tuck it under your armpits when carrying it. Of course, it not only depends on your size, but also on your weight. Many manufacturers provide information about which size is suitable for whom.

Elements of a bodyboard : As with the surfboard, there are also different shapes with the bodyboard. The shape of the board doesn't change that much, it's more the individual elements that differ. Here are two elements that affect the properties of the bodyboard, among other things.

Tail : A key element when it comes to bodyboard shape is the tail. In general, the wider the tail, the more control. In return, a narrower tail makes the board more agile and therefore more suitable for tricks.

Bat-Tail : Shaped like a bat wing. This tail shape provides extreme flexibility and is great for doing tricks. Bat-tailed bodyboards often have indentations on the underside of the board to allow the board to glide more smoothly. Ideal for belly riders.	Crescent Tail : Shaped like a "u", partially pulled over the entire tail. Gives the board stability when riding and glides more smoothly through the water. This makes it suitable for beginners as well as for steep waves. So if you want to ride on your knees or in tubes, you're going with a Crescent Tail.

Rails: Similar to the surfboards, the type of edges is also decisive for the bodyboards. The same applies here: the flatter the edge angle, the faster the board and the steeper the angle, the more grip you have in the wave. After all, it is always an edge that hangs in the wave and thus keeps you in the direction of travel. There are 3 types of rails, which are distinguished by the ratio of the edges separated by the edge:

60/40: The most popular rail design. The portion below the edge is slightly larger than the top. Offers good control and proves to be the optimal solution in all conditions	50/50: This type of rail is intended to provide more speed and is suitable for larger and steeper waves. The edges ensure that the board digs into the waves extremely, but this makes riding in smaller waves more difficult.

Installing the leash: The better bodyboards are delivered without a leash and can be ordered separately. Where you attach the leash is up to your preferences. However, most will install the leash in the front center. The procedure is as follows:

• Drive down about 20cm from the tip and use a screwdriver to push straight through the board to the slick (underbody). It's easier if you heat up the screwdriver with a lighter beforehand.

Note: If the board contains a middle stringer, simply choose the puncture hole about 3cm to the left or right of the stringer.

• To pierce the slick, all you have to do is hit the screwdriver. Now insert the plug into the shaft and screw it tight.
• Make sure that the plug presses slightly into the material so that everything is sealed watertight.

Wearing a leash: There are two ways to attach the leash. Either it's the wrist or around the upper arm. Most people wear the leash around their upper arm, which makes it less annoying, but a bit more difficult to attach.

Bodyboard Fins: Bodyboarding without fins is almost impossible. They will help you with every aspect of bodyboarding. Paddling out, paddling into the waves, steering and controlling the board. The fins are your fins, paddle and oar at the same time. Besides the board itself, the fins are certainly the most important thing. Of course you can also jump into the white water in knee-deep water without fins, but at some point you just want to go to the waves.

Materials: Today's bodyboard consists of rigid foam polyethylene (PE for short) or polypropylene (PP for short).

• PE is more suitable for colder waters and is therefore more suitable for European waters. Exists in different degrees of hardness and is the most common material. In order to achieve the desired rigidity, manufacturers use specially designed cores.
• PP is a denser material and more suitable for warmer waters. In cold water, the rigidity of the PP board increases, which means that the necessary flexibility can be lost. Due to its density, PP is less sensitive to water penetration and more durable than PE. But the material is extremely expensive.
• EVA (foam polystyrene) is the cheapest material and, depending on the processing, can be used to manufacture bodyboards. The replicas from the supermarket are only suitable for bodyboarding to a limited extent and are not suitable for waves.