THE CURRENT IMAGE OF BODYBOARDING
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THE CURRENT IMAGE OF BODYBOARDING
Hey everyone I want to open this up to the public after me and my mates have had a lot of discussion about this lately. Firstly I want to say that I’m a dedicated bodyboarder and have been so for 8 years now. Keep that in mind as you read on please. Also keep in mind that these are my personal views only and I love constructive criticism so if you’ve got some, show some.
My friends and I have been arguing a bit lately, some in agreement with me and others against, but I believe there is a major problem with the current image of our sport (that is how it is portrayed to others and the widespread community).
Now I know some people are proud to keep it semi quiet and not let people really know what we are all about, but going down this track is only going to lead to an inevitable end to our sport. So to me that is not a great idea.
I believe we need to try to have maximum exposure, especially through the major media outlets (T.V etc) but this isn’t new and everyone is screaming for this but it just isn’t happening at a good rate of knots. I don’t think we will get far until the current image changes. If you look at Pro surfing, sure the young guns are clowns and mess around similar to us, but they know when and were and understand that if that was the perceived image of their sport, and the front of pro surfing, well they would be getting $6,000 for every contest they won instead of $40,000 like they currently are. When the Pro surfing guys have to turn it on professionally they do a bloody good job of it. They have been professionally trained in HOW to speak when in contact with the media, something all our top athletes are lacking, or at least not excelling at.
I hate to say it but Standup surfing has gone were we want to go. And to me the fact that they have been around longer and we are still young is a lame excuse, (I heard on the news last night how a 21 yr old is a multimillionaire but then 40 yr olds are still struggling, so age has nothing to do with it, drive and motivation does). So doesn’t it make sense to use the success of Pro Surfing as a model for us to move up? If we use their model then we need several more competition legs in the WST, our athletes need specialist training in how to be professional and the overall image of our sport needs to shift from a bunch of kids goofing around jumping out of trees and running through shopping centres to a professional outfit that pushes into an extreme realm that no other surf craft is currently doing.
Now don’t get me wrong, there is always room for having fun and goofing round, but the perception of our sport in the public eye needs to change. Now my lovely Girlfriend works in sports marketing for either channel 7, 9 or 10, ill keep which one quiet, and apparently she is unaware of any contact on behalf of the IBA to get footage of our competition legs onto the sports and news reports. This left me dejected and wondering how professional is the top end of our sport conducting business when they aren’t even making regular contact with the sports marketing departments of ALL our major T.V channels??
Atleast in the worst case scenario we will always be able to get out there for a few pits, even if the professional end of the sport withers and stagnates, but I’m hopeful, I’m real hopeful and im going to do everything I can to change things. Luckily I am in a position that will soon allow me to have a direct impact on the sport and hopefully if all comes together I will be able to have a hand in changing the WST and the direction and perception of this sport in the widespread population. But for those guys who arent in a position like me but you get out there and ride everyday, remember YOU are contributing to the image of our sport, so have fun, goof around, but know when and were it is appropriate and when it is not. Lets show the world what we can really achieve and push boundaries like none other. Not only do I want our sport to match the professionalism and everything that comes with it of Pro Surfing, I want us to surpass them, and set a new bench mark in what is truly possible.
Yours in good barrels
James.
My friends and I have been arguing a bit lately, some in agreement with me and others against, but I believe there is a major problem with the current image of our sport (that is how it is portrayed to others and the widespread community).
Now I know some people are proud to keep it semi quiet and not let people really know what we are all about, but going down this track is only going to lead to an inevitable end to our sport. So to me that is not a great idea.
I believe we need to try to have maximum exposure, especially through the major media outlets (T.V etc) but this isn’t new and everyone is screaming for this but it just isn’t happening at a good rate of knots. I don’t think we will get far until the current image changes. If you look at Pro surfing, sure the young guns are clowns and mess around similar to us, but they know when and were and understand that if that was the perceived image of their sport, and the front of pro surfing, well they would be getting $6,000 for every contest they won instead of $40,000 like they currently are. When the Pro surfing guys have to turn it on professionally they do a bloody good job of it. They have been professionally trained in HOW to speak when in contact with the media, something all our top athletes are lacking, or at least not excelling at.
I hate to say it but Standup surfing has gone were we want to go. And to me the fact that they have been around longer and we are still young is a lame excuse, (I heard on the news last night how a 21 yr old is a multimillionaire but then 40 yr olds are still struggling, so age has nothing to do with it, drive and motivation does). So doesn’t it make sense to use the success of Pro Surfing as a model for us to move up? If we use their model then we need several more competition legs in the WST, our athletes need specialist training in how to be professional and the overall image of our sport needs to shift from a bunch of kids goofing around jumping out of trees and running through shopping centres to a professional outfit that pushes into an extreme realm that no other surf craft is currently doing.
Now don’t get me wrong, there is always room for having fun and goofing round, but the perception of our sport in the public eye needs to change. Now my lovely Girlfriend works in sports marketing for either channel 7, 9 or 10, ill keep which one quiet, and apparently she is unaware of any contact on behalf of the IBA to get footage of our competition legs onto the sports and news reports. This left me dejected and wondering how professional is the top end of our sport conducting business when they aren’t even making regular contact with the sports marketing departments of ALL our major T.V channels??
Atleast in the worst case scenario we will always be able to get out there for a few pits, even if the professional end of the sport withers and stagnates, but I’m hopeful, I’m real hopeful and im going to do everything I can to change things. Luckily I am in a position that will soon allow me to have a direct impact on the sport and hopefully if all comes together I will be able to have a hand in changing the WST and the direction and perception of this sport in the widespread population. But for those guys who arent in a position like me but you get out there and ride everyday, remember YOU are contributing to the image of our sport, so have fun, goof around, but know when and were it is appropriate and when it is not. Lets show the world what we can really achieve and push boundaries like none other. Not only do I want our sport to match the professionalism and everything that comes with it of Pro Surfing, I want us to surpass them, and set a new bench mark in what is truly possible.
Yours in good barrels
James.
image
I think the problem that bodyboarding and professional bodyboarding has in growing beyond its current size, is that is just not seen by the general public as a "cool" sport. I have asked alot of people over the years about this ( both surfers and non surfers) and most see bodyboarding as a kind of soft version of surfing. Even surfing as a televised show is not that interesting to non-surfers compared to other fringe sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding and bmx. While bodyboarding, with its participants laying, or dropkneeing on soft foam boards just doesnt look cool or exciting to non-bodyboarders. Its a sad fact as bodyboarding has a pretty cool culture and some great personalities. but you never know!
Yeah i agree with you Citizen. I have never seen tv footage of chicks bodyboarding, only rare videos. I don't know many chicks who bodyboard because like you said, it's not cool. My close mate who surfs won't go surfing at narrabeen with me when i decide i want to bodyboard that day because of the image factor.
It's sad.
It's sad.
Hey James, Citizen and Chonie ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
If it's ok by Sweaty's standard's that i may talk to much well, but here's my Opinion's and Insight
For all whom have posted before me, i agree and disagree why? James i myself have also been bodyboarding for almost half my growing up life, i started in Tasmania, so maybe from experience's and what i have seen will acually mean and people will listen!![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
Bodyboarding to people the people i know and myself is a compassionate sport on all different level's, ranging from the Grom to the underground (the underground that keep's it top secret) it's a sport that has that huge amount of Adrenylian it's a Sport where if you do it, you can understand it, such as Car Racing and Bike Racing you can never really understand why people watch it, well people watch it because they have done it... people who watch let's say Tau Wui charging down a wave bottom turn to forward spin to barrel, it looks cool but also because it is a very technical sport people think ahh they are to good i can't do that!, but like Surfing it look's fairly simple therefore people think they have more of a chance...... also surfing has this Culture behind it, whom therefore people outside Surfing who are watching it see this Culture, as being famous, geting hot chick's and being rich, the Media itself make's it seem like it is the life, a way of living the best way of living life travelling around the world, geting richer, meeting hot girl's and surfing some of the most beautiful spot's in the world, now when you open a stand-up magazine what do you see ?girl's? they portray you, why do you think the majority of male's are in the surf huh? because they believe that they can get hot girl's get rich and live the life that's why it is so popular and that is why also there aren't any girl's in the sport, well hardly anyway thus, when you acually look at the surfing community, we aren't well financed, big partied night's involving Drinking and Drug Substance's.... this is why the majority of the Surfing community doesn't thrive it would be bigger if there wasn't so much Drug's and big party night's involved, you watch Video's one bit it has a sick wave, next hot girl's and the next is going out and geting smashed having a great time with more girl's? and when you see girl's surfing, you think fuck she is one hot mother, got the looks and can surf! majority of girl's do it for the attention
Now for Bodyboarding, because there is no money, not many girl's involved (because it isn't cool to them) and the lack of Brand's and like James said media people, and again our culture isn't really interesting to the outside world as we are more of a quiet lot.. who just care about surfing wave's and boosting big and geting slotted bigger and badder, like surfing and geting big prize money and lot's of fame does change's people's interest on the sport that they play EXAMPLE: football players etc
anyway Bodyboarding at Pipe is more popular than surfing so....
By the way i bet your GF is working at channel 10?![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
, mate bust hard but i'll give a bit of advice the IBA and WST know everything so keep your focus, focus and don't get distracted and i hope you know what i mean
Maybe you can start by contributing to helping Comp's etc, starting writing review's etc, article's etc i used to surf with Nick Brennan who is now a Contributer to FLUIDZONE, he's moved to Perth now but he was a champ and he used to be the webmaster of bbnet
get into the Community and give it a sick image ![rofl :D](./images/smilies/rolf.gif)
My Conculision damn gotta work in 30 mins eekk! some wise shit here, let the Bodyboarding do the talking i always try to get people involved but they never seem to know what i am talking about
though hopefully my sister will soon be busting with me as she love's to watch me ride wave's, it will happen for a reason but remember look at Surfing and just have a look at its image
for me, i'll Support my local bodyboard shop and i will Support the brand's with my hard earn money but in no way do i want this Sport to be commericalised, i want people to do the sport because they want to, not because of the cool-factor
Till next time, take care guy's and hopefully i'll see you out there!![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
Chonie, ah! give it half a year to a year and you'll see more girl's being exposed, check the new edition of RIP-TIDE with the girl edition! and there is a new girl video out that you might wanna check out, by the way there are a few girl's who bodyboard at lil-narra so maybe you should go there when there is some swell![rofl :D](./images/smilies/rolf.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
If it's ok by Sweaty's standard's that i may talk to much well, but here's my Opinion's and Insight
For all whom have posted before me, i agree and disagree why? James i myself have also been bodyboarding for almost half my growing up life, i started in Tasmania, so maybe from experience's and what i have seen will acually mean and people will listen!
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
Bodyboarding to people the people i know and myself is a compassionate sport on all different level's, ranging from the Grom to the underground (the underground that keep's it top secret) it's a sport that has that huge amount of Adrenylian it's a Sport where if you do it, you can understand it, such as Car Racing and Bike Racing you can never really understand why people watch it, well people watch it because they have done it... people who watch let's say Tau Wui charging down a wave bottom turn to forward spin to barrel, it looks cool but also because it is a very technical sport people think ahh they are to good i can't do that!, but like Surfing it look's fairly simple therefore people think they have more of a chance...... also surfing has this Culture behind it, whom therefore people outside Surfing who are watching it see this Culture, as being famous, geting hot chick's and being rich, the Media itself make's it seem like it is the life, a way of living the best way of living life travelling around the world, geting richer, meeting hot girl's and surfing some of the most beautiful spot's in the world, now when you open a stand-up magazine what do you see ?girl's? they portray you, why do you think the majority of male's are in the surf huh? because they believe that they can get hot girl's get rich and live the life that's why it is so popular and that is why also there aren't any girl's in the sport, well hardly anyway thus, when you acually look at the surfing community, we aren't well financed, big partied night's involving Drinking and Drug Substance's.... this is why the majority of the Surfing community doesn't thrive it would be bigger if there wasn't so much Drug's and big party night's involved, you watch Video's one bit it has a sick wave, next hot girl's and the next is going out and geting smashed having a great time with more girl's? and when you see girl's surfing, you think fuck she is one hot mother, got the looks and can surf! majority of girl's do it for the attention
Now for Bodyboarding, because there is no money, not many girl's involved (because it isn't cool to them) and the lack of Brand's and like James said media people, and again our culture isn't really interesting to the outside world as we are more of a quiet lot.. who just care about surfing wave's and boosting big and geting slotted bigger and badder, like surfing and geting big prize money and lot's of fame does change's people's interest on the sport that they play EXAMPLE: football players etc
The Media won't have nothing to do with it until they see big money and big hit's on TV, there has been Bodyboarding on TV and it hasn't showed much interest to viewer's, now the subject about talking to the Media it only come's down to experience and research because remember they can ask you spontanous question's about anything and they put you on the spot you have to have a great knowledge of the Sport and what's around you, Take Damian King for example he talk's to the media like he's been doing it for yonks! he could be a leader if the community want's to become CommericalI believe we need to try to have maximum exposure, especially through the major media outlets (T.V etc) but this isn’t new and everyone is screaming for this but it just isn’t happening at a good rate of knots. I don’t think we will get far until the current image changes. If you look at Pro surfing, sure the young guns are clowns and mess around similar to us, but they know when and were and understand that if that was the perceived image of their sport, and the front of pro surfing, well they would be getting $6,000 for every contest they won instead of $40,000 like they currently are. When the Pro surfing guys have to turn it on professionally they do a bloody good job of it. They have been professionally trained in HOW to speak when in contact with the media, something all our top athletes are lacking, or at least not excelling at.
Use surfing as a path? heh i wouldn't want to use that path! it already has enough Negative thing's about it as it is! for example, Surf Rage because Surfing is so popular, you find when something negative come's accross they will blame surfing? because what's more popular? when the acual surf rage is agains't Bodyboarder's, Stand-Up's and Mal's , i'd like to see Bodyboarding being a struggling industry doing it the way by people who have a great compassion about the sport and do it by they're on two leg's without the Stand-Up's helping!So doesn’t it make sense to use the success of Pro Surfing as a model for us to move up? If we use their model then we need several more competition legs in the WST, our athletes need specialist training in how to be professional and the overall image of our sport needs to shift from a bunch of kids goofing around jumping out of trees and running through shopping centres to a professional outfit that pushes into an extreme realm that no other surf craft is currently doing.
Bodyboarding is about having fun, if you ask alot of Pro's they do it because they love the Sport and when you get to that level, it get's rather boring because there is no competition so to keep the competition level up they have to bodyboard agains't other pro's etc, it's just all about having fun and hangin out with mate's that's what our image is, the IBA is American owned so an Australian company trying to get an American Orgainisation so publicity isn't all that crash hot they think Pipeline, etc is the mecca which it clearly isn't it's long passed as a mecca therefore they rather publicity from American Television's! and maybe the Pro Comp's etc don't want too? for a good reasonNow don’t get me wrong, there is always room for having fun and goofing round, but the perception of our sport in the public eye needs to change. Now my lovely Girlfriend works in sports marketing for either channel 7, 9 or 10, ill keep which one quiet, and apparently she is unaware of any contact on behalf of the IBA to get footage of our competition legs onto the sports and news reports. This left me dejected and wondering how professional is the top end of our sport conducting business when they aren’t even making regular contact with the sports marketing departments of ALL our major T.V channels??
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
By the way i bet your GF is working at channel 10?
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
Mate, i like your attitude it's fucken gnarliPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:09 am Post subject: THE CURRENT IMAGE OF BODYBOARDING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey everyone I want to open this up to the public after me and my mates have had a lot of discussion about this lately. Firstly I want to say that I’m a dedicated bodyboarder and have been so for 8 years now. Keep that in mind as you read on please. Also keep in mind that these are my personal views only and I love constructive criticism so if you’ve got some, show some.
My friends and I have been arguing a bit lately, some in agreement with me and others against, but I believe there is a major problem with the current image of our sport (that is how it is portrayed to others and the widespread community).
Now I know some people are proud to keep it semi quiet and not let people really know what we are all about, but going down this track is only going to lead to an inevitable end to our sport. So to me that is not a great idea.
I believe we need to try to have maximum exposure, especially through the major media outlets (T.V etc) but this isn’t new and everyone is screaming for this but it just isn’t happening at a good rate of knots. I don’t think we will get far until the current image changes. If you look at Pro surfing, sure the young guns are clowns and mess around similar to us, but they know when and were and understand that if that was the perceived image of their sport, and the front of pro surfing, well they would be getting $6,000 for every contest they won instead of $40,000 like they currently are. When the Pro surfing guys have to turn it on professionally they do a bloody good job of it. They have been professionally trained in HOW to speak when in contact with the media, something all our top athletes are lacking, or at least not excelling at.
I hate to say it but Standup surfing has gone were we want to go. And to me the fact that they have been around longer and we are still young is a lame excuse, (I heard on the news last night how a 21 yr old is a multimillionaire but then 40 yr olds are still struggling, so age has nothing to do with it, drive and motivation does). So doesn’t it make sense to use the success of Pro Surfing as a model for us to move up? If we use their model then we need several more competition legs in the WST, our athletes need specialist training in how to be professional and the overall image of our sport needs to shift from a bunch of kids goofing around jumping out of trees and running through shopping centres to a professional outfit that pushes into an extreme realm that no other surf craft is currently doing.
Now don’t get me wrong, there is always room for having fun and goofing round, but the perception of our sport in the public eye needs to change. Now my lovely Girlfriend works in sports marketing for either channel 7, 9 or 10, ill keep which one quiet, and apparently she is unaware of any contact on behalf of the IBA to get footage of our competition legs onto the sports and news reports. This left me dejected and wondering how professional is the top end of our sport conducting business when they aren’t even making regular contact with the sports marketing departments of ALL our major T.V channels??
Atleast in the worst case scenario we will always be able to get out there for a few pits, even if the professional end of the sport withers and stagnates, but I’m hopeful, I’m real hopeful and im going to do everything I can to change things. Luckily I am in a position that will soon allow me to have a direct impact on the sport and hopefully if all comes together I will be able to have a hand in changing the WST and the direction and perception of this sport in the widespread population. But for those guys who arent in a position like me but you get out there and ride everyday, remember YOU are contributing to the image of our sport, so have fun, goof around, but know when and were it is appropriate and when it is not. Lets show the world what we can really achieve and push boundaries like none other. Not only do I want our sport to match the professionalism and everything that comes with it of Pro Surfing, I want us to surpass them, and set a new bench mark in what is truly possible.
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Maybe you can start by contributing to helping Comp's etc, starting writing review's etc, article's etc i used to surf with Nick Brennan who is now a Contributer to FLUIDZONE, he's moved to Perth now but he was a champ and he used to be the webmaster of bbnet
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![rofl :D](./images/smilies/rolf.gif)
My Conculision damn gotta work in 30 mins eekk! some wise shit here, let the Bodyboarding do the talking i always try to get people involved but they never seem to know what i am talking about
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
for me, i'll Support my local bodyboard shop and i will Support the brand's with my hard earn money but in no way do i want this Sport to be commericalised, i want people to do the sport because they want to, not because of the cool-factor
Till next time, take care guy's and hopefully i'll see you out there!
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
Chonie, ah! give it half a year to a year and you'll see more girl's being exposed, check the new edition of RIP-TIDE with the girl edition! and there is a new girl video out that you might wanna check out, by the way there are a few girl's who bodyboard at lil-narra so maybe you should go there when there is some swell
![rofl :D](./images/smilies/rolf.gif)
ive been banging my head against the wall saying this, but here goes again....
riptide and its former competitor aust bodyboarder portray it as a kids and teenagers sport, and seem to ignore any riders over 25.
stand up surf mags love to rave about older "legends" and that also tells the advertisers that real grown men ride surfboards.
how many times do you read about the original bodyboarders in a magasine?
yeah theyre styles might be outdated but the have some great stories to tell.
this i think is the problem with the image, the manliness of our sport.
and ultimately riptide and the bodyboarding industry will be hurt be this image that they have made.
how many jim beam adds do you see (not that we'd want those brands in a mag) but they dont think bodyboarders are a market to advertise to because the dont see adults doing it.
riptide and its former competitor aust bodyboarder portray it as a kids and teenagers sport, and seem to ignore any riders over 25.
stand up surf mags love to rave about older "legends" and that also tells the advertisers that real grown men ride surfboards.
how many times do you read about the original bodyboarders in a magasine?
yeah theyre styles might be outdated but the have some great stories to tell.
this i think is the problem with the image, the manliness of our sport.
and ultimately riptide and the bodyboarding industry will be hurt be this image that they have made.
how many jim beam adds do you see (not that we'd want those brands in a mag) but they dont think bodyboarders are a market to advertise to because the dont see adults doing it.
Oscar Wilde - "I am not young enough to know everything"
Yup, I agreee
Yeah your totally right Marcus and heres my theory... Now we all agree that our sport is quite demanding physically right, keep that in mind ok
From the clothing to the magazines, everything is made for 25 and under. Its a shame too. I was thinking though to keep on lidding all your life your body has to be in pretty good shape, right...you gotta stay hell flexible, more so than stand ups especially in your back. Now I see the majority of kids these days not giving a stuff about their health, they go out drinkin or jumpin off roofs for a laugh and dont have any form of fitness regime.
Now when they get to around 25, 28 if theyre lucky and you combine everything their bodies have been through PLUS the DAILY stresses of bboarding, its no wonder they give it up. The only guys I know who are 25 or above and are still going actually care for their health. They stay fit and stretch dialy because they understand the demands and know what they have to do to keep it up. Its funny you read how dedicated groms are today, not like 10-12 years ago, but then you see em wrecking their bodies ever so slowly doing the stupidest things, and I always think, in 10 yrs he'll be sorry cause he wont be able to handle those big swells and those big drops anymore....
And that is my theory as to why all the mags, clothes etc are aimed at 25 and under, cause thats who dominate the sport cause by the time theyre 25ish or above generally their bodies are ratshit and cant handle serious surfing, sure they might get a few surfs and be able to manange, but the dream of doing it serious goes down the drain all because they dont take care of themselves BEFORE its a problem. It is an age old issue, prevention is the answer not cure, but no one bothers with prevention, ppl only get off their arse and stretch their back once it starts to niggle and annoy, but by then its way too late.
Everyone should think about their health, take care of their bodies and stil be charging when theyre 45, look at Stewballs for example, now how much effort does he put into taking care of himself just so he can keep on going, bags full I tell ya...
Keep fit, stay strong, bust big.
Jamie
From the clothing to the magazines, everything is made for 25 and under. Its a shame too. I was thinking though to keep on lidding all your life your body has to be in pretty good shape, right...you gotta stay hell flexible, more so than stand ups especially in your back. Now I see the majority of kids these days not giving a stuff about their health, they go out drinkin or jumpin off roofs for a laugh and dont have any form of fitness regime.
Now when they get to around 25, 28 if theyre lucky and you combine everything their bodies have been through PLUS the DAILY stresses of bboarding, its no wonder they give it up. The only guys I know who are 25 or above and are still going actually care for their health. They stay fit and stretch dialy because they understand the demands and know what they have to do to keep it up. Its funny you read how dedicated groms are today, not like 10-12 years ago, but then you see em wrecking their bodies ever so slowly doing the stupidest things, and I always think, in 10 yrs he'll be sorry cause he wont be able to handle those big swells and those big drops anymore....
And that is my theory as to why all the mags, clothes etc are aimed at 25 and under, cause thats who dominate the sport cause by the time theyre 25ish or above generally their bodies are ratshit and cant handle serious surfing, sure they might get a few surfs and be able to manange, but the dream of doing it serious goes down the drain all because they dont take care of themselves BEFORE its a problem. It is an age old issue, prevention is the answer not cure, but no one bothers with prevention, ppl only get off their arse and stretch their back once it starts to niggle and annoy, but by then its way too late.
Everyone should think about their health, take care of their bodies and stil be charging when theyre 45, look at Stewballs for example, now how much effort does he put into taking care of himself just so he can keep on going, bags full I tell ya...
Keep fit, stay strong, bust big.
Jamie
Hi all,
Money in the sport only provides 2 benefits as far as I am concerned:
1. It lets a very few lucky, talented and dedicated folk bodyboard for a living. Nice work if you can get it.
2. It encourages companies to invest in R&D and the resulting technical improvements in the equipment (anyone compared an orginal morey boogie board to a current day lid recently?). This to me is the biggest advantage of popularity and money in the sport.
As you know lids have their niche in the surf, being able to fully utilise short, sharp shoredumps or heavy shelving (or redicuously shallow) reefs that other surf equipment are unable to handle.
Apart from the benefits of technical development, who cares what the image is, surfing is a way of life not a promoitional activity. The ocean matters more than the kit used to ride it, if lids are your poison, so be it.
Good surfing,
David
Money in the sport only provides 2 benefits as far as I am concerned:
1. It lets a very few lucky, talented and dedicated folk bodyboard for a living. Nice work if you can get it.
2. It encourages companies to invest in R&D and the resulting technical improvements in the equipment (anyone compared an orginal morey boogie board to a current day lid recently?). This to me is the biggest advantage of popularity and money in the sport.
As you know lids have their niche in the surf, being able to fully utilise short, sharp shoredumps or heavy shelving (or redicuously shallow) reefs that other surf equipment are unable to handle.
Apart from the benefits of technical development, who cares what the image is, surfing is a way of life not a promoitional activity. The ocean matters more than the kit used to ride it, if lids are your poison, so be it.
Good surfing,
David
Respect the waves, respect each other
-
- regular
- Posts: 110
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 2:44 pm
- Location: Headlands and the rest of the world
Maybe
what ever happens ill beable to go out and get a wave....so in the end it wont hurt me that much whatever happens.
one of the problems with the bbing industry is that it doesnt cater to the older booger at all.....once we reach about 22 we may still bodyboard everyday but we dont go the prems and we dont buy the cloths etc etc (although this is changing) how many times have you been to a vid premiere that isnt full of groms at some town hall giving aways stuff to groms......i went to a standup premiere in a PUB drinking beer and it was aimed at older surfers and hell it was fun..........
plus the constant carrying on by the pros and the companys..."support the ones that support you"......whenever ive met pros out in the city ive never seen them wearing booger brands so GET stuffed...why would i buy your stuff if you wont even wear it ( although i do only wear booger brands for some reason....must be just hoping) and these pros who im supporting then come surf down at our spots and snake and drop in and be rude..etc etc so am i paying to support this? in a way yes. how hard is it so say gday and share the waves ( sorry to the guys who arent like this alistair,winchester and a few others....)
anyways sorry bout that rant...just looking to see the reaction
one of the problems with the bbing industry is that it doesnt cater to the older booger at all.....once we reach about 22 we may still bodyboard everyday but we dont go the prems and we dont buy the cloths etc etc (although this is changing) how many times have you been to a vid premiere that isnt full of groms at some town hall giving aways stuff to groms......i went to a standup premiere in a PUB drinking beer and it was aimed at older surfers and hell it was fun..........
plus the constant carrying on by the pros and the companys..."support the ones that support you"......whenever ive met pros out in the city ive never seen them wearing booger brands so GET stuffed...why would i buy your stuff if you wont even wear it ( although i do only wear booger brands for some reason....must be just hoping) and these pros who im supporting then come surf down at our spots and snake and drop in and be rude..etc etc so am i paying to support this? in a way yes. how hard is it so say gday and share the waves ( sorry to the guys who arent like this alistair,winchester and a few others....)
anyways sorry bout that rant...just looking to see the reaction
lidding
b.b'ing functionality with respect to waves & the b.b'ing image.
standup surfing has the ability to generate more power in small waves and to me looks better in small waves for this fact. B.b'ing comes to the fore in stupidly heavey waves e.g. box, shark, zone ...the list goes on, with the lidders getting deeper barrels and busting big due to the natural power
.
So often both stand up & B.b'ing comps are held in shit wave conditions and surfing looks better in small waves. The comps are were the TV media will be and obviously surfing is more appealing in these conditions.
So all us jo blows can only do is paddle in to the stupidists possible situations, grab your balls and take the drop like your possed
Hopfully people are watching and go "shit that was crazy I got give that a go"
standup surfing has the ability to generate more power in small waves and to me looks better in small waves for this fact. B.b'ing comes to the fore in stupidly heavey waves e.g. box, shark, zone ...the list goes on, with the lidders getting deeper barrels and busting big due to the natural power
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
So often both stand up & B.b'ing comps are held in shit wave conditions and surfing looks better in small waves. The comps are were the TV media will be and obviously surfing is more appealing in these conditions.
So all us jo blows can only do is paddle in to the stupidists possible situations, grab your balls and take the drop like your possed
![Twisted Evil :twisted:](./images/smilies/icon_twisted.gif)
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same hey.. i started reading then just got over... plus who cares about the current image.. it's sick and i don't want it to change.. it's already getting hell populated with kooks and shit and northern beaches is just way too crowded i don't want no one else to start cause it's getting fucked out there.
yeah, well, its not always the focus on the sport that affects the older Bb'ers. I myself started in 83 and still going now.
If you want this to succeed as a business or marketable entity, then you need to plan your movements, publicity, etc. Who do you want to appeal to? - everyone, everyday - soz, cant be done.
If you want BB'ing to have the same appeal as mainstream surfing, you got to look at the stand-out aspects. an example is: Ben Harper - skating/surfing and Jack Johnson - Surfing culture.
what is the common theme with body boarding, and how does it relate to surfing - can you encourage the same culture; or does it exist now and yet undiscovered and not marketed.
What im trying to say; is that maybe the current path that surfing takes is a worn and tired one. Perhaps what you might want to do is to carefully remove bodyboarding from its percieved niche and find a more exposed/desirable one. This may have more beneficial effects, given that it could be promoted as a more accessible sport or that it is not what it seems.
anyway, been a long day.
If you want this to succeed as a business or marketable entity, then you need to plan your movements, publicity, etc. Who do you want to appeal to? - everyone, everyday - soz, cant be done.
If you want BB'ing to have the same appeal as mainstream surfing, you got to look at the stand-out aspects. an example is: Ben Harper - skating/surfing and Jack Johnson - Surfing culture.
what is the common theme with body boarding, and how does it relate to surfing - can you encourage the same culture; or does it exist now and yet undiscovered and not marketed.
What im trying to say; is that maybe the current path that surfing takes is a worn and tired one. Perhaps what you might want to do is to carefully remove bodyboarding from its percieved niche and find a more exposed/desirable one. This may have more beneficial effects, given that it could be promoted as a more accessible sport or that it is not what it seems.
anyway, been a long day.
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- Grommet
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Hi folks, this is the best written topic I've seen on Bodyboarding - don't worry about the image too much. I's suggest that one of the reason's that the sport has an image of only appealling to teenage dropkicks is becaus they tend to be the loudest representatives of the sport. BUT having said that I have a video about Ryan Hardy and he must be one of the most prefeessional and talented sportpeople on the planet. I would imagine that most or all of the top players a re similarly dedicated and professional, but they tend to be drowned out by the oboxious clowns resent at most of our breaks. I'm looking at my 50th birthday next year and can confirm that the body starts to react very badly to a beating. You'll see me bailing out way early, avoiding slabs etc -- but always having a great time. I shoul dget invovled in the sport - anyone able to telll me about a master's competition? But hey, with the sort of considered thought we have seen in this topic's posts we'll get there.(BTW on tthe vid above Hardy throws a 360 at Teahupoo - I've never seen a stand up do anything approaching that. )
Don't leave your crap on the beach, Stay well, Get involved...
(I'm taking typing lessons nexr weel)
(I'm taking typing lessons nexr weel)
- streetdaddy
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Re: THE CURRENT IMAGE OF BODYBOARDING
For me, the above sentence pretty much sums up how I view lids. If a loudmouth bunch of idiots screech into the carpark frothing about crap waves and generally acting like dicks, you can pretty much guarantee that they'll be lids. Why is it so? Sure I've met a few who are much more casual about the whole thing, but why does bodyboarding generally attract all the A.D.D. kids? There must be a simple explanation for it and based on that I guess the current image is unavoidable and will probably stay like that for good.Jamieshunt wrote:the overall image of our sport needs to shift from a bunch of kids goofing around jumping out of trees and running through shopping centres
THE IMAGE OF BODYBOARDING IS GOOD
I THINK THAT THE IMAGE OF BODYBOARDING ISNT THAT BAD. WE DONT NNEDTO FOLLOW STAND-UPS, WE CAN GO OUR OWN WAY. WE ARE EASY GOING PEOPLE, WE ARNT ALL RAGED OUT IN THE SURF, WE CHARGE DEEP AND HARD. WE ARE THE GUTSY ONES THAT SURF HEAVY REEFS AND CRAZY SHOREYS. BODYBOARDERS DONT CARE ABOUT THE LIMELIGHT AND WE STAND ON OUR OWN TWO FEET. TO ME BODYBOARDING = UNDERGROUND. WE ARE COOL IN OUR OWN WAY, EVENTUALLY THE MEDIA WILL REALISE WHAT BODYBOARDING IS ALL ABOUT, SO WHO CARES? JUST GO OUT AND SURF INSTEAD OF WORRYING
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