Jay and his friend and Bodyboard Holidays owner Rob Barber discuss the current state of the sport in mid-2024 and how it's changed over the years.  Who's doing it, what happened to print media, and local competition, and what's happening with the IBC World Tour?  

They cover all the important topics.  

Joe Evans, Scott Evans and Roger Waller are the unsung legends of bodyboarding.  They were among the sport's first-ever professional bodyboarders in the 1970s, when "The Boogie" was first manufactured.  They are three of a small group of riders that represented the brand, working with Morey promoter Patti Serrano to spread the stoke all over the USA with the Morey Boogie Challenge series, and did it all for the love of the sport.  

This is their story.  

Jay and Vicki, veteran wave pool aficionados, break down the nuts and bolts of the three most popular wave pools in the USA- WacoSurf, Surf Ranch, and Palm Springs Surf Club.  

They cover logistics, booking, the facilities, the vibe, and of course the waves at each venue.  Bottom line, if you are considering joining one of their wave pool trips, or going on your own, this is a must-listen!  

http://www.wacosurf.com
http://www.kswaveco.com
http://www.palmspringssurfclub.com

https://www.ebodyboarding.com/pages/bodyboarding_travel

Thumbnail photo:  Tony Prince

Patti Serrano, one of the architects of our sport's early days, discusses the creation of the BIA competitive tour as well as her insatiable appetite for self-growth and improvement and where that has led her in life, including how it has all circled back to bodyboarding and her relationship with bodyboard inventor Tom Morey. 

http://www.pattiserrano.com

Some might call Patti Serrano one of the many unsung heroes of bodyboarding.  She was there in the beginning!  Tom Morey hired Patti in the late 70s to sell and promote the "Morey Boogie" and she took it from there.  

She built the early Morey team, including riders that became household names in the sport, organized and ran events and clinics and ran some of the very first bodyboarding events ever.  

Later, she started BIM Magazine and ran the BIA competitive tour.  

This is Part 1 of her story. 

GT gives us the goods on how he became a North Shore lifeguard and talks about his brand, GT Boards.  

Jay finally corners 6-time World Champion Guilherme Tamega for a sit down to discuss not only his incredible success as a bodyboarder and icon in the sport, but his endeavors as an Ironman triathlete, businessman , father, husband and North Shore lifeguard.  

The Brazilian madman has done it all, but that isn't stopping him from always searching for a new challenge.  See what makes him tick.  

Part 2:  From pro bodyboarder to publisher, to tv presenter, to entrepreneur, to professional off-road racer and father of two,  Cameron Steele has ticked all the boxes, but he's not done yet.  Jay and Cameron recount the glory days of the sport and talk about what he's up to these days.  

Part 1:  The very first "bad boy of bodyboarding", San Clemente, California's Cameron Steele and Jay chat about their more than 3 decades as friends.   Cameron covers his early days as a pro bodyboarder in an off-road-racing family dynasty and how his path took him from roll cages to rollos and back again, with a pit stop as a publisher, all culminating in a big win at the Baja 1000, the super bowl of off-roach racing.  

This one is a 2-parter!  

The "Godfather of Bodyboarding", 9-time World Champion Mike Stewart sits down with Jay to give his insights into many of life's mysteries as they relate to bodyboarding.  

He reveals a spiritual journey he's undertaken and talks about his motivation to keep competing in his 60s, as well as his ethos behind his successful Science and Gyroll brands.   

You don't want to miss this one!  

South Africa's Pam Bowren has been holding it down for her nation competing in national and international (ISA Games) events  for many years, but recently burst on the international scene with a runner-up spot in 2022's Walker Bay Pro IBC World Tour event.  As a result, she's having a go at the 2023 IBC World Tour, and Jay sat down with her during the 2023 Visit Maldives Pro in August, 2023 to see where she's headed in her quest to make an impact on the pro bodyboarding scene, and find out what life is like back in Capetown, her home. 

Instagram:  @pambowren

Portugal's Joana Schenker became that country's first-ever wave-riding World Champ in 2017 and holds multiple national titles in Portugal,  and has created a diverse set of skills that of course include being one of the top bodyboarders in the world, but also a side gig as a model, but more importantly, raising awareness with young people on environmental issues by working with Oceanario De Lisboa doing tours of schools.   

She's the full package, and continues to rank in the top of the IBC World Tour rankings.  Jay sat down with her during the 2023 Visit Maldives Pro to get the scoop on what makes her tick. 

https://www.oceanario.pt/
Instagram:  @joana_schenker
Joana's signature model

You may not know who Ryder Jalbert is, but you should.   This Maui born-and-bred bodyboarder been quietly charging some of Hawaii's biggest swells in recent years and is on a mission to raise his big-wave game through training, equipment design.  

Jay grills him on the finer points of what got him to this level and where he's headed.  

Jay sits down with 2017 World Champ Iain Campbell.  The South African bodyboarding wizard has gone through some life changes, and continues to excel when he competes, and offers one of the most complete collection of instructional videos on YouTube.  

We wrap up our deep dive into bodyboarding legend Pat Caldwell's career and personal life as he prepares to close another chapter in the book of life and start a new one.  

We continue with our interview with el rollo inventor Pat Caldwell covering the middle part of his bodyboarding career as he transitions out of judging and into "real life".  

Bodyboarding legend and the man of many firsts in our sport, Pat Caldwell sat down with me for my first non-in person interview (pardon the technical glitches) to get an in-depth history of one of bodyboarding's first full-time pro bodyboarders.  Hear about how Pat changed our sport forever, and is still getting after it in his 60s!  

Jay interviews Kathy and Jeff Phillips from his hometown of Ocean City, Maryland.  Kathy and Jeff were the directors of the Delmarva Eastern Surfing Association district in Jay's early competitive career and became two of his biggest advocates in moving through the ranks of the ESA, eventually launching him into his pro career.  They were among the first in that organization to embrace bodyboarding and were key to the sport's growth on the east coast.  

Kathy is in the East Coast Surfing Hall Of Fame and is a rare recipient of the "President's Award" honoring all she's done for wave riding on the east coast.  

Long-time Maryland bodyboarder and surfer Brian Stoehr has accomplished so much in his wave-riding life.  US Pro Champ, world traveler, entrepreneur, and now owner of one of the east coast's most successful surf schools, Brian has figured it out spending his winters in Florida, but always returning to where it all began, Ocean City, Maryland.  He's equally at home plumbing pits on his boogie, soft top, Beater, or anything else that floats and his bodyboarding style is as versatile as he is- prone, DK, or standup.   Here's his story. 

Jay interviews the man who helped start it all back in 1980.  Ocean City, Maryland surfing legend, and founder of BB Bombers Surf Shop, Jack Crosby.  Jack's shop was iconic in the Ocean City, Maryland surf scene through the 80s into the early 90s and supported Jay at the beginning of his bodyboarding life, including introducing him to industry leaders that lead to Jay eventually turning pro and moving to California in 1987.  

Jay and Vicki tell the story of how Tribe Boards began, including it's little-known original name (before it was "Tribe") and how they come up with the designs, colors, and features on the boards, and other products under the Tribe brand. 

Tribe on eBodyboarding.com

@bodyboard-holidays Rob Barber joins Jay and Vicki to give his impression of the 2023 Tavi Tube Tour, and discuss travel stories and bucket list surf trips.  

Jay and Vicki, fresh back from Tavarua, Fiji give the details of their two weeks in paradise, including two cyclones, epic waves, and wild boat rides.  

Tavi Tube Tour 2023!  

Jay sits down with Dave during the waiting period for the 2024 Itacoatiara Pro in Brazil to discuss his 10 World Titles,  his rivalry with Sammy Morretino, how he stays at the top of his game in his early 40s, board design, and what's in store for him.

https://www.ebodyboarding.com/collections/hubboards

Jay Reale and Vicki Reale are still bodyboarding at a high level into their later years and want to share with you how they do it.  

They talk about their daily health and fitness regimes and the mindset that gets them moving every day keeping their minds and bodies in a "youthful" frame of mind.  

Keepin' It Reale Vlog:  Episode #1- Pura Vida
https://youtu.be/f1sjPG_07Ac

http://www.ebodyboarding.com

Matt "Mave" Davies is a bit of a renaissance man.  I met him through his involvement as a part-time instructor with Rob Barber's "Bodyboard Holidays" company, but Mave has lived a lifetime in his years on this planet.  World travel, international living, ultramarathoning, environmental activism and business building.  Truly an international man of mystery, but at his core, bodyboarding has driven all of his life decisions. 

Jay reviews what went down in bodyboarding from his perspective in 2022 including board design, competition, social media, business, podcasts and more.  

We wrap up our conversation with Keith Sasaki, dropknee legend to discuss his move out of the bodyboarding world, back to his roots in Hawaii, and where he is now in his life, and what his legacy is in the sport.  

I finally catch up with old friend and bodyboarding legend Keith Sasaki 18 months after the first two "Keith" episodes to continue where we left off.   

Keith discusses his transition out of full-time competitor and his life-altering move to the south of France.  

Bodyboarder Craig Whetter is Orange County, California's prodigy and has been at the forefront of the next generation of up-and-coming rippers in Southern California.  But Craig goes the extra mile putting out content online that will hopefully inspire more kids to take up our sport and bring it back to the Glory Days of yesteryear.  

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/breaking-even-movie-premiere-tickets-440113831317

https://www.youtube.com/@Sackchat

Legendary photographer Aaron Loyd was one of the most prominent surf photographers of the late 80s/early 90s and turned his lens toward the top bodyboarders of the day more than most.   He is responsible for some of the most enduring images of that golden era of our sport.  

Jay talks to Aaron about his beginnings, those iconic days, and what he's up to now.  

http://www.aaronloyd.com

Jay and Vicki get together with 2022's bodyboarding "power couple" and get the details of their life stories and how they are building a small bodyboarding dynasty.  

Jay Reale sits down with 2-time World Champ Pierre-Louis Costes to get his take on life, competition, fatherhood, and how to balance everything.  

Plus, he reveals his secret to the backflip, one of his signature moves!

Jay Reale takes a deep dive into the life of 3-time World Bodyboarding Champion Jeff Hubbard.  Jeff, at age 47 at the time of this interview, remains at the top of his game a quarter of a century after embarking on his pro career and is the CEO of his own company, holds a master's degree, and is a father.   

Shot just two days prior to his win at the 2022 Gran Canaria Fronton King bodyboarding event.  

One of the most iconic rippers in the sport during the 90s and early 2000s,  Santa Barbara's Jacob Reeve had all the talent and skill to be a dominant figure on the world stage.  But his sponsors had other ideas.  Jacob tore the bag out of his local spots and together, helped cement the reputation of a group of riders north of Los Angeles as...to use a cliche...a force to be reckoned with.  

Jacob talks about his bodyboarding days, including his first time pulling off an ARS, BEFORE Eppo introduced it to the world, and how he came up with the idea, and spans his more recent life as a business owner, father, husband and a man deeply committed to his faith.  

Jay is back from the final event on the IBC World Tour- the Gran Canaria Fronton King.  He gives a full recap of the event with Vicki.  

One of the sport's absolute pioneers, California's Tony Prince was one of the first-ever sponsored bodyboarders, inspiring riders all over the USA on his numerous promo trips with Patti Serrano and the Morey company in the late 70s and early 80s.  In addition, he quickly became one of the early documentarians of our sport through photography, responsible for some of the early ad and poster photos, a passion which he continues to this day!  

Jay and Vicki sit down with Amy Hunt, director of sales and marketing for one of the world's premiere wave pool destinations, and site of eBodyboarding.com's Texas Tube Tour to discuss the WacoSurf wave pool, it's history, and her role in guiding guests into making epic memories through wave riding.  

The unofficial "voice of the World Tour of Bodyboarding", Begonia "Bego" Martinez talks about her early life in Venezuela, her adventures in the USA, and her eventual planting of roots in Chile where she operates a successful retail business when she's not traveling the world as a World Tour webcaster and competing on the Tour as well. 

The two-time Reunionnaise World Champ reflects on his long professional bodyboarding career including relocating to the Canary Islands and how his family and business all fit together.   He sits at the pinnacle of the sport thanks to his commitment to health and fitness.  

The 5-time World Champion has made a comeback to the sport in her mid-40s and has proven that experience counts for a LOT as a professional bodyboarder!  Her daughter Luna just became the World Junior Women's Champ (as of Sept. 2022) making them the first-ever mother/daughter World Champs in the sport! 

America's top competitive bodyboarder sits down with Jay to discuss his history as a grom prodigy and how that led to him being one of the top riders on the IBC World Tour. 

Jay gets the scoop on current World Number One and reigning World Champ (as of August 2022) Sari Ohhara.  She's fun and bubbly, but underneath, she's a serious competitor!  

During the 2022 Visit Maldives Pro, I took a few moments to sit down with current World Champ and 2022 IBC World Tour leader Tristan Roberts to see what makes him tick.  

I apologize in advance for the poor audio.  

Vicki's mother Carol is an interesting character!  Athlete, entrepreneur, grandmother, golfer, fisherman, and much, much more!  

Jay corners all the bodyboarders on this year's 2nd week of the Tavi Tube Tour to find out a bit about them and why they jumped on this year's trip. 

The island paradise of Tavarua Island Resort produced perfect surf yet again for Tavi Tube Tour 2024!  Want more info on how to join a future trip?  Click the link below:

Bodyboarding Travel

If you were a bodyboarder in the 90s, you no doubt knew the name "Buckwheat".  One of my oldest friends and my very first bodyboarding buddy, Buck made a big impact on the North Shore of O'ahu in the 90s, hobnobbing with the world's top riders as well as making friends with some of the North Shore's most feared heavy hitters.  He's living back in our hometown of Ocean City, Maryland, but we had to get together on my June 2022 visit and recount those great memories.

Formerly the editor of both Riptide and BodyBoarding Magazines, Australian Simon Ramsey's contribution to our sport in the 90s makes him one of the unsung heroes of bodyboarding.  

Chad Stickney is on a quest to be the first bodyboarder to ride waves in all 50 US states!  He's nearly halfway there as of the date of this interview in May, 2022!  

NOTE:  PG-13 LANGUAGE IN A COUPLE OF SPOTS.

Jay discusses his life as a "serial" game show contestant.