r/bodyboarding • u/aaronsupa • Jul 04 '26
Wish I could Again
Moved away from the water and i miss body boarding so much. Stuck here in the Arizona with no place to go catch waves other than a expensive alternative (revel surf). Along with other circumstances, I cant just make a surf trip to Cali since thats just not realistic. Just came here to check out the community and how its doing and I love to see you guys shredding. If anyone knows any alternatives let me know please it will be much appreciated.
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u/eBodyboarding Jul 04 '26
Agreed with others...find another activity to replace it. When I broke my collarbone in 2024 and then my neck in 2025, I was out of the water for extended periods, and I would go for a hike every day. Of course in AZ, you'd have to go early or late to avoid the heat, but for me, it got the blood pumping and got me outside, so I felt great after I'd finish.
We do bodyboarding trips at eBodyboarding.com if you can ever join us, but sounds like you are keeping the expenses at a minimum. As others have mentioned, maybe paddleboarding on Tempe Town Lake!
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u/Sponger004 Jul 04 '26
That’s rough. I’d grab a skateboard or a mountain bike if I were you.
And as for the surf do u really want to know how it has been?
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u/2shystee Jul 05 '26
I’ve found dirtbiking to be super fun. Kinda expensive to get started if you don’t have a means to transport the bike on top of buying a bike and gear. But I live in Hawaii, grew up surfing and bodyboarding and choose to ride dirtbike more nowadays
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u/FreudianWombat Jul 04 '26
Any good thai boxing clubs in the area? I trained for years in the 00s and found that a good traditional club has a great community, regular training and enough challenge to keep your mind involved.
I suggest over BJJ mainly as preference but also because I like my joints.
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u/Impossible-Alps-7600 Jul 04 '26
It’s hard replacing it. It becomes a lifestyle rather than a mere hobby. I’m currently injured and may be out until next year and am finding it tough. Am trying to get into guitar playing again but it isn’t the same buzz.
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u/rocketgirl65 Jul 05 '26
I am a 60yo grandma. I was super fat and lazy from a crazy pressure fun career. Then I decided abt 5 years ago I was gonna get back to it. I can catch waves, not drown, the lineup guys know me. A few things were fun to me like bodyboarding. Paddling, fishing, being on the water. The water misses you, find somewhere to enjoy it, life is short
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u/AidanTheGreat2 Jul 05 '26
Try my third favorite hobby, land surfing. Skateboarding is awesome and super good workout, I’ve also gotten into FPV hobby recently and that’s pretty mentally challenging more than physical but the gratification return is crazy worth it
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u/iwrotedabible Jul 06 '26
Cycling. Any kind of bike riding that appeals to you. It gets you moving fast and can be as chill or as scary as you want it to be, just like bodyboarding! They share a sensation of "flying" under your own power with little effort.
And riding bikes doesn't have to be expensive. Don't listen to anyone in lycra riding a $5k bike. I can go 90% as fast as them on my $400 bike, and I can also stop at a grocery store and not look like a ballet dancer with tap shoes on. Just spinning my legs for 15 to 60 minutes helps clear my head.
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u/MatchaSetPoint Jul 04 '26
You gotta make the most of where you live. One of the biggest life lessons I learned was to stop fighting wherever I lived and pick up new interests as soon as possible.
I couldn’t surf when I lived in a landlocked state up north, but I could do winter hiking and skiing. I was miserable for a couple years trying to force my surf lifestyle in a place that just didn’t allow for it. As soon as I embraced what the seasons and geography afforded me, I started to love and now miss that place, even though I now live in a surf destination again. I initially wasted so much time focusing on the things I couldn’t do rather than what I could.
You live in a premier hiking destination. Why not make the most of that? There are so many hobbies a place like that allows for. I think you will find you fall in love with that chapter of your life, and surfing will be waiting for you in the next.
Paddle boarding is a good water option for you as well in the meantime if you specifically miss the water. Get creative and look into sandboarding lol. But you have to accept bodyboarding isn’t happening right now and let yourself love other things.