Body surfing and specifically body surfing with a hand plane is, if you have not already tried it, just about as close as you can get to the raw, unrestricted force of the sea. Unlike surfing or body-boarding you're not supported on the wave, your right down in there getting dirty. When you first try it you'll get all shades knocked out of you, feeling beaten and battered from all sides but it's a slide you'll go on to take many times. In time you will get it right and done right it's a sweet ride, you with wave.
Not a great deal is recorded about the actual origins of bodysurfing, although its thought that man looked to elegant wave riding mammals for inspiration. Animals like dolphins and seals have a natural grace through the water, be that underneath or planning across the surface. It's is almost certain that bodysurfing predates board surfing, and that is something estimated to date back to 2000BC.
The truth is you have probably already bodysurfed. As a nipper you'll remember those family trips to the seaside, long hours playing at the edge of the sea. No doubt you caught a wave or two then, whether intentional or not. You've probably swam in the surf and allowed it to carry you to the shore, that's bodysurfing.
Including a hand plane when you bodysurf really enhances the experience. It's the same basic principle but the Hand plane gives you a greater planning surface, which gives more lift and less body drag in the wave when done right. Hand planes, unlike surf boards and body boards, tend to have neutral buoyancy, meaning they float at the surface rather than on the surface. The whole purpose of a hand or surf plane is to use the larger flat face of the board as a hydrofoil, giving you lift while you travel along the face of a wave.
At Sacred we love the surf and are big into body boarding but the draw of body surfing and hand planning has been irresistible. It does take some practice but it is something almost everyone can do. But what we really love about bodysurfing with a hand plane is the simplicity of it. The kit needed to get your stoke is minimal and can be taken pretty much anywhere, without all the hassle of bulky board bags. Chuck your favourite surf plane and pair of fins in your bag and your set.
Crafted surf planes are Sacred to us
A surf plane isn't intended to be a floating device in the same manner as a surfboard, sup or body-board. A surf plane, as the name suggest, is intended to plane across the wave and needs to have a neutral buoyancy. The unit needs to float but be able to cut through the water easily while swimming.
At Sacred we craft each and every board from recycled materials, upcycling them to form what we believe are some of the sweetest looking surf planes on the market today.
Wood has been a source of material in construction of water craft for ever and ancient Hawaiians have used various woods to shape their wave riding crafts. We use a selection of solid wood, as well as offer a range of ply wood boards, made from exterior/ marine ply, all sourced from recycled material.
We take great care in hand cutting, shaping and finishing all our boards. Every details of the board has been crafted by us in our small workshop in South Wales. Crafted to the highest quality using mainly recycled- upcycled materials so that you can be sure the board you receive will be ready for hours of endless stoke at your local surf post.
