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The best bodyboarding wedges and slabs in the world
Thursday, 11 October 2012 15:28

Pipeline: vertical wave rides are the future of bodyboarding

Insane wave rides are part of modern bodyboarding. Decades after pulling consecutive tricks and moves on the face of the wave, the aerial armada is redefining the concept of close-outs, in impressive bodyboarding wedges and slabs.


Wedges and slabs are the new challenges of professional bodyboarding. Easy take-offs are part of the past. It's time to improve the chest muscles and land in the flats before bottom turning to recover the wave.

Trimming is hard in vertical bodyboarding wedges. The hardest and trickiest slabs in the world demand control, focus and experience of the wave.

Injuries are also part of the business. Huge air drops may hurt your bones but will certainly feature in the cover of the magazines.

While there's not "the" heaviest slab in the world, there are surely 10 bodyboarding slabs that can't be avoid, if you want to defy the gnarliest prone riding waves in the world.

Mandurah Wedge: backwash show in Australia

If you've survived a big bodyboarding day at Shipstern Bluff, in Tasmania, maybe you can carry on with the challenge. The wave also known for "Devil's Point" is considered by many the most dangerous spot in the world. Vertical, hollow, shark infested and many times impossible to ride.

Cyclops is not far away. In Western Australia, this waves offers you a razor sharp coral, thick lips and deadly drops. Cyclops demands the perfect bodyboard, a support boat and courage.

The Wedge owed its name to the phenomenon seen at Newport Beach, California. Add powerful waves and a random backwash force to create a unique bodyboard formula. Could The Wedge be part of the world bodyboarding tour? Absolutely.

El Fronton: deep, hollow and deadly slab

Wild mutant waves are expecting you at El Fronton, Gran Canaria, Spain. When you have 10-foot waves breaking in front of a rocky cliff, think twice. El Fronton is probably the king of Spanish bodyboarding slabs.

Nazaré has one of the heaviest waves in Europe. Once in a year, the most experienced bodyboarders head to the Portuguese village for a special big wave bodyboarding contest. Riders are not left alone in the ocean because it's dangerous. Jet skis back them up.

Pipeline is always Pipeline. The perfect wave gets deep and hollow in shallow waters. When the Hawaiian surf jewel gets angry, it's bodyboard time.

The Box: square wave for cubic bodyboarders

These day, Mandurah Wedge gets crowded. But that doesn't mean it is less powerful. When the Australian break hits the red button, prepare for epic drops and wipeouts. Mandurah Wedge has its secrets and deserves respect.

If Puerto Escondido was a drink, it would be a spicy tequila. The Mexican big wave spot is rapid, perfect and pumps heavy pits which demand skilled take-offs. Do not let the lip hit your head in Puerto Escondido.

In Arica, Chile, El Gringo gets super big in ultra shallow water. Do you know what it means in the bodyboarding wedge dictionary? Really, it's intimidating. The Chilean Pipeline is perfect A-frame wave breaking close to the shore.

The Box is square as a magic cube. One of Australia's toughest slabs, it sends riders to the hospital on a regular basis, in Margaret River. The Box is an exciting wave, but take our advice: don't get too deep in barrel.


 

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