Slyde handboards?

I did a search for this on the forums but didn't come up with too much first-hand info. I saw one of these in a local surf shop and they look pretty neat. I have to admit, the promotional videos on YouTube make these things look awfully fun.

Has anyone actually tried one, and if so, what did you think?

And yes, I'm perfectly aware of bodysurfing with handplanes (I have one), McDonald's trays, or just plain ole hands. These Slyde boards just look like a lot of fun for those bodysurfing days, or just to goof around on.

Edit, lemme see if this works: mediocre bodysurfing pictures from when I lived in Hawaii.

 

LOL DP. No, I'm not planning on paddling the bay on one. Touche.

I stopped at the surf shop on the way home and quite literally had one in my hands. But, I decided to wait and see what the SI forum had to say on the matter.

They have a couple of different models, but the one I had in mind was their "gutless waves" model. Not the grom, but one step up. It looks like a Salt Creek handplane and a little kid boogie board had a baby. It's about 1.5' long or so, pretty thick, kind of like a whomper or so but a bit more fighter jet shaped.

I know what you mean about the handplane getting in the way while you're stroking into a wave, but I definitely feel like I bodysurf better with a handplane than just with my hand in average waves. These Slyde things are more like mini-bodyboards and seem like they'd work even better in 2' mushburgers like we had today...kind of uninspiring to surf, but perhaps rideable or even fun-zone for body surfing with the right gear.

I guess the only way to know is to be the guinea pig. They're extremely over-priced for what they are. I'll definitely report back if I get one.

 

^ Good stuff.

I've been watching some bodysurfing videos on YouTube. I pretty much suck at it; there is definitely some technique involved it you want to do it well. I don't know how to do that underwater thing where you ride just under the wave and get pulled along. I'd like to try that when the water is clear again (and warmer).

 

I can swim with my little orange hand plane, it feels like a big oversized hand.

I don't see how you could swim with one of those big Slyde boards, though.

 

Alright, I said I'd give a review if/when I got one. Well, I just went and stopped thinking about it and bought one today. There was this perfect little mushy peak just down the road from the surf shop, so I went, browsed the boards (some dude picked up a SICK Hamilton longboard) and then stopped over-thinking it and bought the damn Slyde.

By the time I got back to my usual O'side spot the tide had pretty much killed the peak. It was about 1' and totally garbage breaking 20' from shore. But since I had the Slyde I figured why not?

The boart is about 1'5 long (I'll measure it and post some pics later); with my hand in the strap it comes to my elbow or so; and pretty floaty. I think it's got some surfboardy stuff in it; it's hard on the bottom and I got the sense that you don't want to go banging the rails into rocks and such.

It is possible to swim with it, but it's pretty bulky so I found the best combo was to put both hands on top and "push" it by just kicking with fins. I did do some short swims with it using my arms, some sort of combo of the two felt best. I didn't have to swim any long distances since today was shore dump so when I get to more consequential waves with a longer swim I'll have a better idea of the optimum way to get around.

I was out for 45 minutes and got about 8-10 waves. It was really small, about 1' and not rideable on any other surfcraft IMO. The Slyde rides just like a mini-bodyboard. It's floatier than a handboard, but not as bulky as a regular bodyboard. I was able to get into waves a bit easier than I expected than with just a handplane. Once into the waves. the Slyde gives enough float that I could start gliding on the wave where, with just my hand, I'm pretty sure I would have bogged out. If you can imagine riding a wave on a shortboard, where there's just not enough push whereas with a longboard you'd make the wave, that's how it felt compared to a handplane or just hand. Similarly, I think that because there's less board, it was even better than a regular body board in the really small waves. It felt like there was a lot less weight and drag compared to a body board.

Overall, based on one short session, I think this is worth continuing to experiment with. I can see where this fills a niche on those days where you want to just whomp, but this will give you some actual long rides, without it being big enough to break out a proper long board. I'm curious to see how this rides in some decent surf, say like chest-head. I suspect that it will be just super hella-fun. Again, if you can imagine having this little body board in front of you, not so big that you have to heave yourself up on it, but floaty enough to take the weight off your shoulders and you're actually riding the board than your hands...that's how it felt.

I'll post more and try to get some pics soon. I'm heading back to the east coast (RI and CT) next week, so it will be a bit, but this thing is going to be money this summer I'm sure.