The Best Bodysurfing Brands: WAW Handplanes

Let me start by clarifying that this blog is by no means a product testimonial or review.

Wave After Wave (WAW) Handplanes make great gear, and they have already earned plenty of 5-star product reviews — no need for me to add another.

Rather, I am writing this article to share my stoke about WAW Handplanes as a bodysurfing brand, and highlight the reasons why you, the consumer, should be stoked on them too.

This blog will discuss the top three reasons why WAW Handplanes is one of the best bodysurfing brands in the market. Let’s dive in!

What is a bodysurfing handplane?

A bodysurfing handplane is a small board worn on the lead hand of the bodysurfer to enhance their wave-riding experience. The handboard works by providing lift and reducing drag as the bodysurfer glides along the face of the breaking wave.

“Once riding the wave, the handplane offers increased control as its rail edge cuts into the face of the wave, as well as suction created by the board’s concave. This enables the bodysurfer to keep the desired ‘highline’ for more speed.”

WAW Handplanes

Although bodysurfing handplanes are not absolutely necessary for the sport of bodysurfing, they can greatly improve the quality and length of ride.

One of the exciting aspects of using a bodysurfing handplane is that you can easily make one for yourself out of repurposed materials.

And this is exactly how WAW Handplanes came to be. Owner Rikki Gilbey started hand-shaping wood handplanes out of recycled and reclaimed timbers in his Sydney-based garage workshop back in 2014.

Fast-forward to 2022, and Rikki has scaled his small business into an internationally recognized bodysurfing brand. WAW Handplanes has been praised for its quality and innovation by National Geographic, Amazon Launchpad, The Sydney Morning Herald, and the Australian Financial Review.

3 reasons to like WAW Handplanes

Sure, their bodysurfing handplanes are great, but what we really like about WAW Handplanes, a 1% for the Planet certified bodysurfing brand based in Sydney, Australia, is the way they do business.

You see, unlike the massive multi-billion dollar surf industry, bodysurfing brands are few and far between. In fact, there’s almost no money to be made in bodysurfing when you compare the sport to its far more lucrative cousin, board-surfing.

One of the things we like most about bodysurfing is that it requires almost no equipment — swim fin and handplane companies are the only major stakeholders in the sport.

Therefore, the “big” bodysurfing brands (like WAW Handplanes) have a major influence on how the market will continue to develop in the future.

Thankfully, WAW Handplanes is not in business simply to make money or capitalize on a burgeoning market trend. They are here to do business the right way, by placing equal importance on people, planet, and profit (the triple bottom line).

How do they achieve this, you might ask? Here are the top three ways:

1. They care about protecting the environment
2. They strive to educate their consumers
3. They focus on building community

Now, let’s dive a little deeper into each bullet point.

WAW Handplanes mitigates its environmental impact

“GET BARRELLED. LEAVE NO TRACE.”

WAW Handplanes

As a 1% for the Planet and B Corp certified surf school, we believe in the value of teaching bodysurfing as the most accessible and eco-friendly version of wave-riding in existence.

We have been teaching bodysurfing lessons and hosting bodysurf retreats since 2020, and therefore have a vested interest in supporting brands that will continue to grow the sport in a sustainable way.

Considering that bodysurfing offers a stripped-down, minimalist approach to wave-riding, any company making money off the sport should reflect this simplicity and soulfulness in its business model.

We are happy to report that WAW Handplanes is doing just that.

Let’s start with the fact that WAW Handplanes is a member of 1% for the Planet — commiting 1% of gross sales each year to approved nonprofit partners.

These vetted nonprofit partners tackle a wide range of issues that affect the broader surfing world, such as plastic pollution, wildfire aid, and environmental justice.

Since 2016, WAW Handplanes has been working with Carbon Positive Australia to accomplish its One Handplane, One Tree policy — planting one tree for each Timber Fish handplane sold. To date, WAW Handplanes has planted over 7,000 native Australian trees through this initiative.

Furthermore, WAW’s BadFish bodysurfing handplanes are made from 99.9% post-consumer recycled plastics, including ocean plastics collected from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This initiative has recycled over 10,000kg of plastic to date.

Even WAW’s handplane straps are environmentally friendly, using Yulex Pure 100% bio plant-based rubber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Rainforest Alliance.

And last but not least, WAW Handplanes values durability in its products, exemplified by its “WAWRRIORS” warranty, which covers all mechanical failures for up to two years from the purchase date.

WAW Handplanes educates consumers

“IF YOU CAN SWIM, YOU CAN BODYSURF.”

WAW Handplanes

One of our favorite things about WAW Handplanes is their commitment to educating consumers about the sport of bodysurfing.

One good example of this is the “Bodysurfing Tips+” page on the WAW Handplanes website, which provides detailed information and pro tips for beginner and intermediate bodysurfers who are new to the sport.

This “how to bodysurf” guide covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Equipment selection
• Where to bodysurf
• How to catch/ride waves
• How to use the bodysurfing handplane
• How to perform basic bodysurfing tricks and maneuvers

Additionally, WAW Handplanes hosts “do it yourself” handplane building workshops to teach participants how to make their own bodysurfing handplanes out of responsibly harvested timber.

During these private one-day workshops hosted in Sydney, Australia, participants will:

• Be taught the design principles behind handplane shaping
• Design a handplane suited to their bodysurfing style
• Be guided through the use of the woodworking hand tools required to build a performance handplane
• Cut, shape, sand, stain and oil a custom designed handplane
• Learn how to attach a fully adjustable bio yulex rubber strap system to the handplane

But if you’re unable to attend one of these workshops, you can easily follow WAW’s step-by-step instructional guide to make your own handplane at home.

WAW Handplanes builds community

In addition to their DIY handplane workshops, WAW Handplanes also host the Australian Bodysurfing Classic — the largest bodysurfing event in the country. This event is held annually on the east coast of Australia and attracts over 140 global competitors.

The 2022 Australian Bodysurfing Classic will be hosted at Maroubra Beach on September 17th, during which participants will be judged for their wave-riding ability: “The bodysurfer who performs at the highest degree of difficulty with the most style, flow, and grace will receive the highest score for a ride.”

The event will also include an awards ceremony and after party hosted at a local brewery — no doubt a great opportunity for bodysurfers to socialize and share their stoke for the sport.

WAW Handplanes has also built a community of sponsored bodysurfers who are pushing the sport to new limits. One of the best ways to get inspired and improve your bodysurfing skills is to watch how the “pros” do it. By creating a community of sponsored athletes, WAW Handplanes has provided aspiring bodysurfers a means of finding these elite bodysurfers to watch and learn from.