Body boarding is a water sport that is similar to surfing, only that body boarding involves riding waves while in the prone position. The boarders ride on a board that consists of a small rectangular piece of foam.

Unlike surfing, body boarding doesn't require powerful waves and can be enjoyed wherever there are waves that are tube-like in nature. Some of the most well-known body boarders are Ryan Abadir, Andres Enriquez and Hunter Shigley.

Bodyboarding was "invented" by a frustrated surfer, Tom Morey in the early 1970s (although it was arguable to say that Morey is the originator of the idea because research has found out that Polynesians have already ridden waves in prone on wooden boards for centuries).

He aims to find a fun and friendly way to make wave riding more accessible to the wider community. He used a short plank of foam scattered in his garage, coated it with protective shell of newspaper and shellac and hit the Hawaiian beach. His invention was latter named as the "Boogie Board" and was licensed to the toy company that also introduced the Frisbee, Wham-O.

Tom Morey's use of foam instead of wood as material for the board has led to other innovators to use polyethylene and polypropylene in their board design. Modern bodyboards usually have a hard, plastic bottom, known as slick, which not only helps the increase of speed and durability of a board but also helps prevent twisting and warping.

Although body boarding is often criticized by surfers since it appears too easy, in the contrary, this sport demands a great deal of strength, agility, style and form.

Most enthusiasts of this sport find the following locations as the most ideal for body boarding: United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and Spain. Competitions are held year round in these locations, catering many long-term body boarding enthusiasts competing in multiple contests each year. There are also contests that are geared more toward amateurs, and also for more advanced body boarders.