Do I need to be able to swim?

Yes. You are in moving water, so you need to be a confident swimmer. Beginner sessions stay in shallow white water near the beach.

Is it easier than surfing?

To start, yes. Riding lying down skips the hardest part of surfing, so most people catch waves in their first session.

How fit do I need to be?

A reasonable level of fitness for the swimming and kicking. Fins do a lot of the work.

A wetsuit, usually provided, along with the board and fins. In warm water, swimwear may be enough.

Surfed within your ability at a sensible beach, yes. Coaches teach you about waves and currents to keep you safe.

They help you catch waves and stay in control, and are normally provided with a session.

Bodyboarding in South West England

Bodyboarding gets you riding waves fast. You lie on a short foam board, kick with fins, and let the wave carry you toward the beach. Because you are not trying to stand up, the learning curve is gentle, and most people are catching and riding white water within their first session.

Do not mistake easy-to-start for basic. In bigger surf, bodyboarders take on steeper, faster waves than most surfers dare to, pulling tricks and dropping into proper barrels. There is plenty of room to progress.

The coaches on adventuro run sessions for all levels, with boards, fins and wetsuits usually provided. It is one of the quickest ways to feel the magic of riding a wave.