(above) I’m not sure if you can see it here in the tail area, but we went with something
akin to the old G&S ‘waterskate’ type rails. It’s all about the downrail, flat rock-skimming speed,
and this thing looks fast just sitting still. The deck is light opaque blue tint, wrapped around the rails and onto the bottom. I know the lighting here in my entry way isn’t the best….I’ve had some problems with the leash plugs located on either side, as the boards tended to tombstone from time to time… the center mount should banish that. If some of these spots weren’t so rocky, I’d forgo the leash entirely, but some are pretty bad, so I need one to preserve the board. After trying all manner of leash attachment, I’ve settled on a custom made ‘waist leash’, which both frees up my hands to paddle as well as my legs to kick. Sounds weird, but works super. With this board, it’s all about the pragmatic, and it’s a chance to reinvent the wheel on some level.
(above) Bellyboards in particular invite equal parts inquisition and amusement. For some reason, what was once a budding niche in the 60’s has disappeared completely, no doubt with the advent of the softer, flexible (*some say the key to it’s riding superiority) bodyboard. At this point in a 43 year surfing trail, I’m really past caring what any of it looks like. For me, this type of board offers something that I cannot get on any regular surfboard, and for those certain days (*quality, shapely surf) and those specific venues (*always isolated), the bellyboard experience has proven itself to be a truly viable alternative path. I’m not ready to give up regular surfing; far from it. But it’s nice to know that this or some like board is there when I need it, to bring back some youthful flashbacks as well as create something undeniably unique………when I need it.
You noted: “Bellyboards in particular invite equal parts inquisition and amusement. For some reason, what was once a budding niche in the 60’s has disappeared completely, no doubt with the advent of the softer, flexible (*some say the key to it’s riding superiority) bodyboard”.
Just the other day I was reading a section from Midget Farrelly’s ‘This Surfing Life’ from 1965. He wrote. " I think that peipos are likely to become very popular". Well while this prediction didn’t turn out exactly as predicted, bellyboards are making a very modest comeback. I think the interest in alaia probably has helped, as well as online forums that allow the communication of ideas about prone craft, whether they be wood, fibreglass, rubber/plastic or something else. If people are willing to experiment with such craft, they are a great alternative source of stoke.
I’ve had some problems with the leash plugs located on either side, as the boards tended to tombstone from time to time… the center mount should banish that.
As a firm detester of leashes I only use one if necessary, so I haven’t played around with location much through the years, and haven’t tried what I’m about to suggest…
Mounting a leash attachment on the nose and leashing to the arm/wrist like bodyboards.
Anybody out there tried that on hard bellyboards yet? Kneeboards? Obvious concern is safety but it seems like it’s close to a wash. I hated a standard leash and swimfins on my knee/bellyboard.
I’'ve played with every leash location you can think of…both wrists, ankles, knee leashes… in the end, the waist leash proved itself the least intrusive. Everything else just got in the way. Like you, I’d love not to wear one, but some of the loctions are too rocky to risk the board, hence the compromise. I’ve got a friend who has surfed OBSF for years and jacked his back up in the process. After much research, he found that it was the whitewater pulling on his leg that was causing the nerve issues. He went to a waist leash (used to be somewhat common in Hawaii…?), and it pretty much solved the cyatica thing. He’s been using one now for over 15 years, so I went with his basic design and it really seemd to improve all aspects of the prone device retrieval. Jeff
I’ve made several hard bodyboards for folks in my neck of the woods who ride those (and ONLY those) - they use a handle on the forward center area of the deck (two leash plugs connected by padded cord) and attach a leash to one end of that (other end on wrist or arm), when it’s big enough to warrant a leash. Pics are in the resources section if you want to look.
Kneeboarders around here usually put leash plugs in the back and wear leg leashes if need be.
In my kneeboard days on the North Shore, Makapuu and a little in town, I settled on a glass loop attachment on the nose. Putting a leash loop on the tail and attaching it to an ankle would get in the way too much, but lwrist leashing wasn’t much of an improvement.
The kneeboards I rode would tombstone either way. I firmly believe that it won’t matter which end of the board you tie to, or if it’s in the middle (maybe the worst place). When the board is set in the water with attachment point down, water moving away from you, you’ve initiated a tombstone and only board flotation and getting the attachment point up and out of the water will stop it.
I hoped to avoid tombstoning using the board nose and wrist attachment points. I reasoned that the nose had less area so less force. Also, the wrist attachment was supposed to be better than my ankle, six feet under and tending to pull the board down. Turns out, not much of an improvement if at all, but the thought(s) were there.
Kneeboarding at some of the places I’ve been, a leash is a must. It used to take me all night to patch after a single faux pas at Makapuu, only to go back the next morning and …oops I did it again.
I suggest with their superior floatation, booger boards tombstone somewhat less, but that’s of little use to us.
The blue board is 5’6" x 26" wide. Thickness is a little around 3" I think… It’s longer than what some folks are used to seeing in a bellyboard, but that’s only because it seems to work better for me…? I have a friend that has a smaller one, and he says he’s going to up-size it on his next go-round. I’ve found that in the beginning, I used to drag my legs in the water when I rode, trying to use the swimfins to aid in steering…? But the more I surfed, the more I found myself lifting my legs free of the water in many situations, and the accelleration really benefitted (*I’ve heard that many of the mat guys come to this same conclusion…). I don’t think I would be able to do that with a small’ish b-board. For me, somewhere in between 5.0 and 5-6 seems to be the magic length dimension. It would be different for all of us, depending on what type of waves you rode, your size, what feeling you were chasing, etc, etc. The whole bellyboard experience is a bit of a mind bender, as since almost no one is really pursuing crafting these types of vehicles any more, the design aspect of it is very open and ‘out of the box’. On the ones I’ve had built, I’ve just fumbled around with some of the dimensions, and for me, I think I’ve arrived at a basic type of design that seems to work the best for me.
Does it have any fins?? I ask because my uncle is raving about his fibreglass bodyboard, which i think is a paipo, though i surely could be wrong ( i havent seen it ). I wouldnt mind trying something similar.
Paipo/kneeboard Paul Gross made for me some time back…
5-0 dished out front half…I think it is 27 inches wide…I have rode it in some smallish weak waves…but have not put in the time to learn how to ride it…think it needs bigger and more power to get it going. Has alot of belly that seems to push water on the weak waves. Like to see a serious paipo rider give it a go in the right conditions.
That is one of the slickest looking bellyboards I’ve seen yet.
Roger - Not that I’m much of a bellyboarder, f you’d like to send it on up, I’ll give it a go. I’m sure it’s just a matter of paddling it in to the right wave. Does it have a fin(s)?
the doctor is looking green. what happened to the root beer color? that was/is one deadly flying machine. the only thing that could slow that thing down is a big-ass anchor!
Just found this thread, its a bit old but have been making/riding rad glass body/bellyboards for a while, fast as hell in a barrel and can get further back inside than anyone even boogers. Boards have lots of different design features and have taken about 3-4 years to get right. First prototypes were downright dangerous
