Body boarding fail
Couple of years ago, I went body boarding in Cornwall with some mates. I've never been great at sporty things due to a condition called dyspraxia, a co-ordination dissorder, but I was with friends, so I was really just there for a laugh.

At the beach, clad in a wet suit which made my genitalia look like Han Solo trapped in carbonite and my body board strapped to my wrist, I headed out, ready to give it a go. Now, I wear contact lenses and was worried I would lose them in the sea, so was wearing a pair goggles. After a few attemps in the shallows, which didn't really work, I ventured further out to catch some bigger waves.

If your unfamiliar with body boarding, the basic idea is to go out to sea, wait for a good wave that hasn't broken, and paddle untill the wave can carry you. This involves walking out to sea, so you have to dodge the waves, either by ducking under, or trying to jump them, I was doing the latter. Far enough out that I can barly touch the bottom, I see a huge wave coming in, my chance to ride it! I jump up to the board but slip off, not having time to get in position, I try and ride over it and wait for the next. Facing the wave, I get ready to ride over it. The wave looks huge, a good 6 feet above my head, but as I have my board, I'll float over no problem. The wave is directly over me, I stare at it, admiring the power of the sea. Then I see white foam, the wave has broken, directly onto of me. Taking the wrath of the Atlantic was like being hit by a car. I was dissorientated and under water, not a good mix.

Slowly getting my senses back, Im very aware I need to go up, and realise I've no idea which way that is, looking around, I see my board floating, so swim up to it. I try to lift it out of my way but can't, I'm under water and have no way to lift it as i can't really push. I panic, try to swim around, but as it's tied to me I can't get passed, it follows. Panic starts to take hold, but I fight it, I know if I panic I'm dead. This seems to focus me more, and I realise I still have some slack on the rope, and I gently push my boardy board asside, it floats off and I get to the surface, taking huge gulps of air.

I was only under a few seconds, but it was rather scary, and gives you some perspective of how quickly things can go bad, and how important it is to keep a clear head. Dying body boarding would have been double gutting as even when I caught one perfectly, I didn't really enjoy it.
(Mong goose, Sat 21 Aug 2010, 23:18, 1 reply)

I live in Cornwall and I love bodyboarding. The power of the sea is pretty unexpected huh? Try getting caught in a rip. Truly terrifying.
( user_names_suck, Sun 22 Aug 2010, 14:39, closed)