Some bodysurfing footage from Avalon Beach, Sydney Jan 2012

I’ve just posted a video of some bodysurfing footage shot over January 2012 at my local beach, Avalon (Sydney).

I predominantly used an *enjoy Handplane and a mounted GoPro camera.

I hope you enjoy!

Avalon Bodysurf Jan 2012 from David Archer on Vimeo.

 

I’ve been a long time body surfing addict.  I love it!  It’s not to say I don’t like other forms of surfing.  I regularly surf, body board, and lately I’ve been trying my hand at learning to use a stand up paddle board.

However, ever since I was given a ‘Taylor’s Mistake’ hand board at the age of 14, I’ve been addicted to body surfing.  And I still have the Taylor’s Mistake as my favourite body surfing hand board 28 years later!

The fact that my favourite hand board is approaching 30 years of age prompted me to look for a likely replacement.  So far, the search has turned up a big zero for something as good – and believe me I have looked!  My garage is now a graveyard of discarded hand boards as I retreat back to the relative safety of the Taylors Mistake.

So.  I have decided the only option left is to build my own.

 

Project Dangerfield Why ‘Dangerfield’?  Well, bodysurfer’s are (incorrectly) considered the bottom of the food chain.  One of US comedian Rodney Dangerfield's...

Project Dangerfield is my attempt at making my own premium bodysurfing handboard.

I’ve covered building my own balsawood fibreglass handplane in a couple of previous posts. I went a step further last week and added a GoPro camera mount. Below is my first attempt at filming a 4-6ft bodysurfing session.

The trailer looks fantastic, and it picked up some gongs at the NY Film Festival.  The only question is when does it come Down Under?

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/24573702

Bodysurfing handplanes seem to be springing up all over the world at the moment in various shapes and sizes.  I’m loving the resurgence in a past time I have enjoyed my entire life.  I started to wonder about the different design options and shapes and decided to document my thoughts.

Most importantly, it’s personal preference with many of the options below.  In the wine industry, they call it cellar palate … in that what you drink most, you tend to prefer.

Happy bodysurfing!

 

Size and Shape Handplanes seem to vary in size from something that barely covers an outstretched palm, to the two-handed marine plywood sleds.  The most common size seems to be between 30 – 42cm’s long (12” – 17”), and 18cm – 25cm wide (7” – 10”).  Thickness varies depending on material, hull and the shapers style.

Handplanes tend to fall into some distinct overall shape patterns:

Rocket shape – pointed nose, extending back to where the base is almost the widest point Turtle / Manta...

New Enjoy Handplane with fin setup