rodndtube.com's (OLD) MyPaipoBoards Forums. Reading but no posting on the OLD forums.

[eef]

I came across this picture of a grey bellyboarder somewhere in England walking confidently towards the breakers with a oldstyle bellyboard. And no fins as far as i can see.

Does anyone know how you get into waves like that in time without fins? Jon maybe?

greetings!


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[Nels]

I don't think I'd want to get into a wave like that, especially on a wooden plank...

[bluey]

[eef]

Hello Bluey,

thanks for the reply and the pictures! Looks like one of the purest forms of surfing i've seen!

Is there any video-footage on the internet that you know of? When is this yearly competition? Must be so much fun to attend.

greetings,

Eef
_________________
Increasing succes by lowering expectations

http://www.monsterboards.org

http://www.hugtheworld.net

[bluey]

Hi Eef

Seen a bit of early bellyboard riding on TV (none on the internet), last time was earlier this year when there was a repeat of a documentary on the life of John Betjeman (a UK Poet Laureate in the 1970s) and it had home movie film of him bellyboarding in polzeath in Cornwall, must have been late 50's/early 60's, must be more out there.

There's a bit on the competition on this site, also info;

http://www.siba.co.uk/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=351

Perhaps some the the cornwall / devon regulars on this site my have even been in the comp.

I have a small collection of these board, a pic of some of them bellow,



never riden any of them, mainly because I am a landlocked at the moment so when do get chance to hit the water want to ride something that can go aross the wave

cheers
bluey

[plypo]

I have a 30+yr old Piran Surf bellyboard which I regularly use mainly on flat days just to get in. I don't ride it in the classic way as described by bluey - I paddle out back with the loggers which tends to get a few double takes. I can trim and bottom turn but I'm never going to bust any airs - its just a real challenge to see how far you can push a bit of plywood. I think 5-6ft probably the biggest I have been out on this board. The mellow wave picture that Eef found would be ideal.

I believe the Annual Bellyboarding contests are held in September at Chapel Porth which is between St Agnes and Perranporth(my home break). I'd really like to do it but they don't let you wear wetsuits or fins(I think) which is a shame because I would love to demonstrate the capabilities of this type of board.

Its all wood!

[eef]

Hello Plypo!

thanks for the reply! I'm building a board at the moment that looks a bit like the old-style ones:

http://www.rodndtube.com/paipo/forum/viewtopic.php?t=435

can't wait to try how it goes, and maybe scare some logboarders here as well

I love the simplicity of boards like these.
_________________
Increasing succes by lowering expectations

http://www.monsterboards.org

http://www.hugtheworld.net

[bgreen]

Bluey or Plypo,

I'd be interested to see a side view of the boards to illustrate their thickness and the curve (if any).

Bob

[plypo]

Hi Eef and Bob

Eef your board should work - is it marine ply or are you going to coat it. I believe mine is marine ply. they are great for duck diving. if you are using fins and going out back you will have to really push down just behind the nose when you go to take off - you'll have fun! Bob the belly board is about 3/10 inch (7mm) thick. there is nose rocker in new boards but over the years mine has flattened out - the mellow wave board still has some rocker - I will try and post some photos

Eef are you on myspace?

[bluey]

plypo, great to hear that you are taking the boards to their limit , when I go down to Cornwall I always stay at St Agnes (tend to surf at aggy or Chapel Port), so hope to see you out on your board one day.

bgreen, no side view pics unfortunately (my boards are currently in storage at the moment), but from memory the more modern ply ones are quite thin (most less than 10mm), older solid wood ones quite a bit thicker (between 10 and 18mm).

[bluey]

plypo, great to hear that you are surfing the boards to their limit , when I go down to Cornwall I always stay at St Agnes (tend to surf at aggy or Chapel Port), so hope to see you out on your board one day.

bgreen, no side view pics unfortunately (my boards are currently in storage at the moment), but from memory the more modern ply ones are quite thin (most less than 10mm), older solid wood ones quite a bit thicker (between 10 and 18mm).

[eef]