What is bellyboarding? And where can I try it in Cornwall?

Chris Porter, the visionary behind Bodmin based Moor Boards, offers his expert advice on the ancient sport of bellyboarding and the inspiration behind his eco-conscious wooden board creations

Cornwall, with its rugged coastline and pounding waves, has long been a haven for watersports enthusiasts. While surfing often steals the spotlight, bellyboarding has quietly been on the rise. Not to be confused with bodyboarding, bellyboarding’s roots can be tracked back to ancient Polynesian civilizations. In Cornwall, it has been slowly gaining popularity since the early twentieth century.

‘Bellyboarding is different to bodyboarding,’ explains Chris. ‘However, people often get them confused… bodyboarding really is more to do with the foam plastic boards, whereas bellyboarding is going back to the traditional, even ancient sport of just riding the waves on a piece of wood.’ The other thing to bear in mind is that unlike bodyboards, a bellyboard isn’t a flotation device. It is much thinner and allows you to plain across the water, whereas a bodyboard is designed to float atop the wave.

Wooden boards don't float like foam boards, so they allow you to ride through the wave (Image: Alice Bray)

Chris has been bellyboarding since he was a teenager. Originally growing up in Cornwall, he left for work in his twenties, and returned after thirty-five years. It was then that he decided to set up a workshop and create wooden bellyboards.

‘My dad made my original board and I wanted to start reproducing those and learn how to make them,’ he explains. ‘I was fortunate enough to be coming back down here as a retired person, so I set up a little workshop and got started.’

Chris spent the next five years experimenting through trial and error with different shapes of boards and different types of wood. Each is created in a retro style in his workshop on the edge of Bodmin Moor. ‘There's certainly more to bellyboarding than just the four foot long 11 inches wide board that we grew up with,’ he smiles. However, whilst Chris crafts boards in a variety of shapes and sizes, he is adamant they are all made from sustainably sourced wood.

According to Chris, there are two main reasons for using wooden boards: the first is to do with experience and the second is sustainability. ‘With a wooden board you’re more in the wave,’ he says. ‘You can feel the power of the wave all around you because you’re not floating on top… you can feel all the vibrations and I find it a far more organic experience... It’s just as fast as bodyboarding and it’s much more fun,’ he adds.

Chris has been enjoying bellyboarding since he was a child (Image: Alice Bray)

The second reason for working with wood is to reduce the negative impact of foam boards on the environment. Every year, an estimated 14,000 foam bodyboards end up as litter on beaches in Cornwall and Devon, either because their owners can’t fit them in the car, or because they are broken. ‘They blow away, get smashed up on the rocks and they're an environmental disaster,’ says Chris. ‘I'm happy in the knowledge that if I’m bellyboarding and I hit a rock and a bit breaks off, it's a piece of wood that's breaking off, not a piece of plastic.’ Sustainable wood is a key factor in the durability of belly boards too, making them a more cost-effective option in the long run. If treated correctly they can last for decades, making them far more environmentally and wallet-friendly than their disposable foam counterparts.

The North Cornwall coast has ‘without doubt the best surfing beaches in the UK,’ says Chris. With a large number of beaches facing directly onto the Atlantic swell, there are regular opportunities for bellyboarding. What sets Cornwall apart, however, is that ‘the water is nicer’ than other areas,’ explains Chris. ‘You can often find green, crystal clear, beautiful glassy waves which you just don't get anywhere else in the UK. Bellyboarding is also possible every month of the year, though the winter brings much bigger swells. With bigger waves you have to be careful because it can be a bit wild,’ advises Chris.

Having experienced decades of fun in the water, Chris is eager to share the joy with others. When he returned to Cornwall, he was shocked to discover there was no bellyboarding club, so he set one up with his friend Jay. The North Cornwall Sliders Belly Boarding Club was established less than 18 months ago and has quickly grown to nearly 400 members. They meet on the first Sunday of every month at a beach in North Cornwall. Current participants range from between 20 to 75 years in age, however families are welcome too. ‘With children it’s best if they’re over 8 years old and have some confidence in the water, because they might get bashed about in the waves,’ says Chris. The club welcomes anyone including complete beginners and will help them to catch their first ride. They also socialise for an hour afterwards whilst sharing coffee and cake. moorboards.co.uk

The North Cornwall Sliders Belly Boarding Club was established less than 18 months ago (Image: Alice Bray)

Getting started

Want to give bellyboarding a go? With these simple beginner tips, you’ll be catching your first wave in no time!

Choose a board: when getting started any shape board will do, so long as its length runs from the floor to about your bellybutton.

Safety: familiarise yourself with the beach conditions, what to do if you’re caught in a rip current and don’t go out in waves which are too big. Start by going with a bellyboarding club until you have built up your safety knowledge.

Positioning: walk into the water up to your waist and position yourself so you and your board are facing the beach.

Timing: watch the waves over your shoulder and jump onto your board just before it hits your bum.

Momentum: push yourself onto the board whilst creating some forward momentum to make sure you catch the wave. If you flop onto it without pushing forward, the wave may wash over you.

Enjoy the ride: catching waves is an amazing feeling, which helps you connect with your inner child. So enjoy the moment as you glide through the water and don’t forget to smile!