I know fins may look silly and feel awkward but wearing these will change how you approach the ocean forever.
Do you need to wear swim fins when you use a bodysurfing handboard? Even though you do not need to wear flippers, it is highly recommended because fins will help you:
- catch more waves
- make swimming easier
- provide better control
- conserve energy
- possibly save your life if you’re caught in a rip current
For the longest time, I thought fins were unnecessary and made your feet hurt. A lot has changed regarding fin technology and comfort, which has changed my mind and now they are an essential part of my bodysurfing arsenal. Here’s why…
#1 more fun
Besides looking funny on your feet and making people laugh when you walk like a duck, these fins are actually fun to use. Below you will see my simple definition of fun. It is my equation for maximizing the most out of your bodysurfing experience!
More fun = catching more barrels + minimizing fatigue + increased swim speed + ultimate maneuverability
If it is your first time wearing fins, you will be surprised how much faster and farther you will move through the water with a simple kick. When I wore fins for the first time, I felt like a torpedo cutting through the ocean.
#2 catch more waves
In order to catch a wave, you need to be able to propel yourself quickly into the barrel. Without fins, you will have to kick extra hard and hope the wave picks you up.
From my experience, I catch any wave I want when I wear my fins. They provide the extra propulsion needed to drop into the wave fast.
If you intend to ride fast breakers, then fins will play a critical role in surfing those types of waves because they provide the thrust necessary to catch those barrels. Fast shore break can be challenging to master in general. Without fins, you will be putting yourself at a disadvantage.
#3 swim out easier
If there was one part of bodysurfing that frustrated me the most, it was swimming out past the break line. It seems easy when you are standing on the beach watching others but when you are out there it is a whole different story, especially if the ocean is producing some gnarly conditions.
When the waves break quickly, it adds a whole new dimension to your journey out past the line. I used to duck under one wave and resurface for air only to be met by another quick break that would push me back to shore.
This was so frustrating. There was no way for me to recover my distance quickly. The ocean had already pushed me too far backward, which discouraged me from continuing to bodysurf. If only I could swim underwater faster to get past the breakers!
This is where wearing fins came in handy. To make my swim out past the surf break easier, I decided to finally buy a pair.
Wearing fins enabled me to swim underwater much faster and conquer the wave break effortlessly. If the ocean did drag me back a little, I was able to recover the distance much faster while wearing fins. Never again did I get beached like a whale!
#4 better control
I never thought this was a benefit of wearing fins. I only thought these help you swim farther and faster. Therefore you can understand my surprise when I realized I could easily maneuver my body while in the barrel of a wave!
In addition to the hold my handboard produces on the wave face, I now experience even more control with my feet. Wearing fins helps to re-align and stabilize yourself when necessary.
This also goes for swimming too. If you see a wave to your left or right, you will be able to quickly utilize the power of your fins to make a sharp turn to catch that wave. Having that extra length added to your foot makes a huge difference.
#5 increased swimming speed
It’s all about speed and acceleration when it comes to catching more waves. The faster you can propel yourself forward the better chance you have of dropping into the barrel.
You will notice a drastic increase in the percentage of waves you ride during each bodysurfing session when you wear fins compared to when you don’t. Wearing fins simply gives you the power and thrust needed to conquer the ocean.
#6 jumping a wave
Want to get airborne while you bodysurf? Wear some fins so you can jump like a dolphin!
Wearing a pair of fins will give you an extra boost into the air that your feet can’t provide by themselves. With a few simple flicks of your leg, you can get the airtime you are seeking!
#7 lifesavers
Believe it or not, swim fins can save your life when you are out in the ocean. One of the main concerns of any bodysurfer is getting stuck in a rip current. I wrote a guide on rip current survival that teaches you how to get out of one if it ever happens to you.
Rip currents are a hazard to bodysurfers because these currents can drag you very far out to sea. If you get caught in one while wearing fins, you will easily and quickly be able to swim out of the fast-moving current and back to shore.
Wearing fins can also help you exit waves just as quickly as they can help you enter them. This is convenient in case you end up inside a super gnarly barrel that is hungry to eat you alive.
#8 conserve energy
If you are not a strong swimmer like me then you probably get fatigued easily while in the ocean. Before I started bodysurfing, I thought I was in good shape. Wow was I wrong!
I could not believe how tired I became after doing only a few runs. The amount of strength and energy it took me to swim out and catch the waves left me exhausted and barely able to crawl back to shore.
This left me with two insights: (1) I have to start performing some bodysurfing workouts to better prepare myself. (2) figure out a way to make my swimming more efficient.
You can check out my post on some of my favorite bodyweight exercises for bodysurfing that will get you in amazing surfing condition.
However, to make myself a more efficient swimmer, I decided to purchase bodysurfing fins. This allowed me to paddle out past the break effortlessly. Now I’m a more energized bodysurfer and can stay out in the ocean for hours instead of minutes!
If you are thinking of buying some fins then check out my swim fin guide, which shows you what size and brands to buy.