Weather data from Open-Meteo, refreshed every 3 hours.
How the score works
Every spot gets a composite score out of 10 using a multiplicative penalty chain. The wave height base is multiplied by steepness, wind, gradient and tide factors, then safety-capped.
Sweet spot is 0.8 to 2.5m. Bodyboarders handle powerful shorebreak better than stand-up surfers, so the ceiling sits higher before safety caps kick in.
Short-period, steep waves are rewarded rather than penalised. Bodyboarding thrives on punchy wind swell that surfers avoid. Periods of 6 to 9 seconds score highest.
Moderate onshore wind is acceptable because bodyboarders ride lower in the wave face. Penalties only start above 20 km/h, compared to 12 km/h for surfing.
Steep beaches produce dumping shorebreak ideal for bodyboarding. Tide sensitivity varies by gradient: steep beaches shift fast at low tide, gentle ones are more forgiving.
Frequently asked questions
How is bodyboarding scored differently from surfing?
The formula inverts two key factors. Steepness (short period swell) is rewarded instead of penalised, and wind tolerance is wider because bodyboarders sit lower in the wave. Safety caps are also more generous since bodyboarders can handle heavier shorebreak without the same wipeout risk.
What makes conditions good for bodyboarding?
Steep, hollow waves in the 0.8 to 2.5m range with short to medium period swell. A punchy shorebreak on a steep beach with light to moderate wind is the sweet spot. The score also factors in tide position, rain, and visibility.
What is the beach gradient?
Beach gradient describes how steeply the seabed rises towards the shore. Steep beaches produce powerful, dumping waves ideal for bodyboarding. Moderate gradients give a mix of hollow and rolling waves. Gentle gradients create slower, spilling waves. The gradient also affects how sensitive conditions are to tidal changes.
How often is this updated?
Every 6 hours when the conditions cron runs. We pull fresh swell, wind, tide, and visibility data for every spot and recalculate the bodyboarding score.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo Marine and Weather APIs. Swell height, period, direction, wind, visibility, and precipitation for every spot. Tide position from harmonic predictions.
Are these the same spots as the surf leaderboard?
Yes, the same coastal spots ranked by a completely different formula. A choppy, steep day that scores poorly for surfing can score highly for bodyboarding.
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