his sport can be as simple as buying
one of the lower end boards at a local variety store or online and heading for the water. At
the same time it can be as complicated as trying to master a variety of trick
moves and go on to win a competition.
The most common usage at the Jersey
Shore is casual "boogie" boarding with standard boards as
described above. Any
beach will provide hours of fun, with different beaches providing unique
experiences. A gently sloping beach as found at Seaside
Heights will allow a gentle long ride at low tide and the steeper drop
off at high tide in places like Belmar
will push you around and down into the sand more often.
Other than being a good swimmer, there
are no real requirements for casual body boarding, but lessons are
offered all summer long at Shellem's
Surf Shack in Ventnor, if you're nearby and would like to get an edge
up.
Safety Tip:
Many beaches have designated areas for body boarding. In addition to getting in
trouble with the lifeguards, the safety of the smaller swimmers is an
important reason to be sure you don't drift out of those areas.
