Story time. I ride a paipo, here in Oregon, after a session, swimming in, now walking, ai saw a small wave, tossed myself into it, and caught the smallest wave ever. Went left on 2-3 inch ripplet. I laughed myself silly. Still one of my most memorable, and fun rides
What a beautiful vibe this film is.. really felt fully part of his world for the duration and after.. let go of ego for a session every now and again - ride prone 🙏🏼😊
Absolutely amazing video. I am so glad you are bringing the high quality design concepts to belly boards/prone surffing that Greenough, Paul Gross, Dale Solomonson, Mark Thompson and friends brought to surf mats. I gave up my boards six years ago, along with my ego as a surfer, and switched to mat surfing.These have been the happiest surfing years of my life!
Thanks a lot for you kind words, they are much appreciated :) I can only agree with you. Surfing has become much more fun since I started riding mats and paipos.
I caught my first wave on a plywood paipo board in Kailua shorebreak in 1965. You learn to read the wave, place yourself behind the bowl and time your take off for a speedy line across the face. The precursor to the boogie board...
Paipo boards blew boogies out of the water though. Yeah catching the wave is almost like catching a wave bodysurfing because a paipo has next to no flotation but once you get moving it's like flying.
Great video. The closest perspective to my own experience having gone from mostly surfing to then mainly bodyboarding and bodysurfing. Everyone surfs where I live I have never seen anyone else bodysurfing and only two people bodyboarding in the last 3 years! It is a fact that you seek a different type of wave even on the same break.
Such a satisfying testimony to having fun at all ages and ability and ultimately to life. I’ve a belly board but usually go for the bodyboard on bigger days. But you’re spot on, smaller days with your friends are the best ❤
Wegener is a gem of an artist! You can feel the love he puts into his craft and into riding. I have an Albacore alaia. They are difficult to master but the stoke is real. I have 40 years wave riding experience and I am always open to a challenge. I will give this a shot.
It is top notch this like, can still have fun in all conditions and stop in longer too! Hats off to Mr Oldfield also for planting the seed in my mind when I saw Tommy Weg in the prone zone on Seaworthy 🙏👍
My brother gave me a Wegener paipo, solid polonia. I'm more of a bodysurfer and didn't think that anything could beat the stoke of bodysurfing... but after a few goes on the paipo, everything clicked and I became addicted! Prone IS the most fun that I can have on a board, that first lock up after the initial slide when the rail catches... that's the shiz.
A friend gave me one of his paipos shaped by Jon Wegener. Once I started using it I had a similar experience as you. And yes, prone surfing is the shiz ;-)
So cool. I WANT ONE!!! 66 and still riding everything from 5-10 to 9-6 and every time out I grab a few waves prone. I think I need something designed just for that. Where do I get one? 🤙😎
@@FRINGESURFERTV no flotation has two benefits... a gentle push down of the nose and you submarine under any break... and if you bail out of a wave you bellyboard will resurface not more than 10 metres away
Thanks a lot for your offer :) A trip to the Hawaiian islands has been on my bucket list for a long time. Once the pandemic is under control I can make plans. I'll let you know when it's time.
A wooden board barely floats, so duck diving is super easy. It is also stiffer, thus faster down the line. It is thin so the rail engages easily without having to do a strong leverage effect. I would say that for a classic "down the line" style a wooden paipo provides more speed, more glide, more fun. But a regular bodyboard is probably a better fit for aerials, big barrels etc.
You should design some articulated flippers with recycled rubber foot pockets. Utilising the dolphins tail By adding surface area to your feet it gives you so much more speed steering and eliminates "pearling"
i have always used swim fins,, since 1964,, much more comfortable than those pretentious strap bodyboard fins... ideal for cruising around out the back, power when needed and bigger surface area when planing
Wouldn't comparing this type of prone (belly) riding be more appropriate to paipo or Bodyboarding, rather than to longboard or shortboard? It really is two different worlds altogether anyhow.
Hi Carlos, you are right. Stand up surfing and prone surfing are very different worlds. I think the point Tom is making is that many people don't even see prone surfing as a viable option when they actually could have as much fun riding a waves on their belly. In my opinion it's all just surfing and enjoying the ocean. The cool thing is that we have so many options and this is what I want to show in this film. Thanks a lot for commenting :)
@@FRINGESURFERTV thanks for your response! I love Tom's videos and the ton of light he sheds based on the years of experience and love for the ocean. We need more like him. You're right, the ocean is that place on our planet which unites all of us who enjoy riding whatever gives us that special RUSH! Cheers!
make your own... get a 4' x 2' sheet of marine ply and jigsaw out a shape... route in a fin or two,, a bit or marine paint.. my first lasted me 1964 to 1994 ($20),, got stolen.. and my current one is still going strong since 1994 all up $70
"Bellyboard" ...yes! thats what it is called... been riding mine since 1964 (Newport, NSW) , You summed it all up to a tee!... PS want to see an example of bellyboard speed th-cam.com/video/xBmAqQ_64u0/w-d-xo.html at 2:40
I've been bodyboarding Over 32 years.
And still love it.
Story time. I ride a paipo, here in Oregon, after a session, swimming in, now walking, ai saw a small wave, tossed myself into it, and caught the smallest wave ever. Went left on 2-3 inch ripplet. I laughed myself silly. Still one of my most memorable, and fun rides
What a beautiful vibe this film is.. really felt fully part of his world for the duration and after.. let go of ego for a session every now and again - ride prone 🙏🏼😊
another good guy from BI!!
Leave the ego behind and try this, it’s a life changing process. Brilliant film ❤
Absolutely amazing video. I am so glad you are bringing the high quality design concepts to belly boards/prone surffing that Greenough, Paul Gross, Dale Solomonson, Mark Thompson and friends brought to surf mats. I gave up my boards six years ago, along with my ego as a surfer, and switched to mat surfing.These have been the happiest surfing years of my life!
Thanks a lot for you kind words, they are much appreciated :) I can only agree with you. Surfing has become much more fun since I started riding mats and paipos.
Mats, hand boards, paipos, waveskis…. Adding another level (depth?) to your surf availabilities is AWESOME.
I caught my first wave on a plywood paipo board in Kailua shorebreak in 1965. You learn to read the wave, place yourself behind the bowl and time your take off for a speedy line across the face. The precursor to the boogie board...
Paipo boards blew boogies out of the water though. Yeah catching the wave is almost like catching a wave bodysurfing because a paipo has next to no flotation but once you get moving it's like flying.
@@alexcarter8807 That's exactly the way I feel it, flying !
Great video. The closest perspective to my own experience having gone from mostly surfing to then mainly bodyboarding and bodysurfing. Everyone surfs where I live I have never seen anyone else bodysurfing and only two people bodyboarding in the last 3 years! It is a fact that you seek a different type of wave even on the same break.
Such a satisfying testimony to having fun at all ages and ability and ultimately to life. I’ve a belly board but usually go for the bodyboard on bigger days. But you’re spot on, smaller days with your friends are the best ❤
Wegener is a gem of an artist! You can feel the love he puts into his craft and into riding. I have an Albacore alaia. They are difficult to master but the stoke is real. I have 40 years wave riding experience and I am always open to a challenge. I will give this a shot.
Living the dream ❤❤❤❤
Looks great , can sew them being a lot of fun
Lovely video. This is really what most folks should try, rather than standup surfing.
I totally agree with you.
Yesssss
congrats!
It is top notch this like, can still have fun in all conditions and stop in longer too! Hats off to Mr Oldfield also for planting the seed in my mind when I saw Tommy Weg in the prone zone on Seaworthy 🙏👍
great vibe, nice boards
Amazing story and that shape looks excellent for prone
Wonderful wonderful video and such inspiring words
What a joy to see you enjoying the waves, the surfing and making your own boards!
Yes, there is something really special about building your own surf craft and surfing it.
Yes I understand that very well l hope I will be able to build one myself one day.
That sidewards slide...man you control that and it's the best part!
Got the biggest wave, of my life! On a bord. That I bilt. That made it, even better. ChaaaawwweeeeEE
My brother gave me a Wegener paipo, solid polonia. I'm more of a bodysurfer and didn't think that anything could beat the stoke of bodysurfing... but after a few goes on the paipo, everything clicked and I became addicted! Prone IS the most fun that I can have on a board, that first lock up after the initial slide when the rail catches... that's the shiz.
A friend gave me one of his paipos shaped by Jon Wegener. Once I started using it I had a similar experience as you. And yes, prone surfing is the shiz ;-)
Got a Paipo from Jon W and IT IS AMAZING. No foam in the Jon Wegener board, but very very VERY pleased.
Great job Tom
So cool. I WANT ONE!!! 66 and still riding everything from 5-10 to 9-6 and every time out I grab a few waves prone. I think I need something designed just for that. Where do I get one? 🤙😎
Simple joy
Fantastic!!!
Hi Graham, thanks for commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)
What a beautiful paipo, or is that an allia
Right on
Question. How do they handle in big waves. 8+ Hawaiian?
I had a paipo board, it was a blast. No flotation, but once I got on a wave I flew
Yes, paipos have almost no flotation and feel very weird when paddling out but once you catch a wave they are a blast :) Thanks for commenting :)
@@FRINGESURFERTV no flotation has two benefits... a gentle push down of the nose and you submarine under any break... and if you bail out of a wave you bellyboard will resurface not more than 10 metres away
Hey Bro if you ever make it to Maui look me up. OK ill take you to some killer spots. Aloha Harry
Thanks a lot for your offer :) A trip to the Hawaiian islands has been on my bucket list for a long time. Once the pandemic is under control I can make plans. I'll let you know when it's time.
How does this differ from a typical quality boogie board?
A wooden board barely floats, so duck diving is super easy. It is also stiffer, thus faster down the line. It is thin so the rail engages easily without having to do a strong leverage effect. I would say that for a classic "down the line" style a wooden paipo provides more speed, more glide, more fun. But a regular bodyboard is probably a better fit for aerials, big barrels etc.
@@pantone95330 Thanks, Tom. How much do they run and do you have a website?
@@peterburkard6586 I m not Tom 😂
I want one ❤
You should design some articulated flippers with recycled rubber foot pockets.
Utilising the dolphins tail
By adding surface area to your feet it gives you so much more speed steering and eliminates "pearling"
i have always used swim fins,, since 1964,, much more comfortable than those pretentious strap bodyboard fins... ideal for cruising around out the back, power when needed and bigger surface area when planing
Prone like Stallone!
Wouldn't comparing this type of prone (belly) riding be more appropriate to paipo or Bodyboarding, rather than to longboard or shortboard? It really is two different worlds altogether anyhow.
Hi Carlos, you are right. Stand up surfing and prone surfing are very different worlds. I think the point Tom is making is that many people don't even see prone surfing as a viable option when they actually could have as much fun riding a waves on their belly. In my opinion it's all just surfing and enjoying the ocean. The cool thing is that we have so many options and this is what I want to show in this film. Thanks a lot for commenting :)
@@FRINGESURFERTV thanks for your response! I love Tom's videos and the ton of light he sheds based on the years of experience and love for the ocean. We need more like him. You're right, the ocean is that place on our planet which unites all of us who enjoy riding whatever gives us that special RUSH! Cheers!
agree,,, its the intimacy and the sense of speed being so low
Do you have a shop to purchase these?
make your own... get a 4' x 2' sheet of marine ply and jigsaw out a shape... route in a fin or two,, a bit or marine paint.. my first lasted me 1964 to 1994 ($20),, got stolen.. and my current one is still going strong since 1994 all up $70
"Bellyboard" ...yes! thats what it is called... been riding mine since 1964 (Newport, NSW) , You summed it all up to a tee!...
PS want to see an example of bellyboard speed th-cam.com/video/xBmAqQ_64u0/w-d-xo.html at 2:40
Hi Gary, thanks for sharing the video. I watched it and really like it.
You making customs for sale ?
For those who couldn't