Doormat. Booger. Myna bird of the sea. Call bodyboarders what you want — Shane Ackerman doesn’t care. Despite his low brow status as a bodyboarder, he feels right at home in an ocean full of surfers, charging the waves others shy away from. But with few fans of bodyboarding and even fewer sponsors, Shane works the mines and uses every dollar earned to finance his next adventure — a cost Shane happily pays to do what makes him feel most free.

WATCH THE FILM

Bodyboarding vs Surfing

While both sports share the ocean, there’s a slight rivalry between bodyboarding and surfing. However, bodyboarders like Shane are proving they can still ride with the best of them. Here’s a look at the differences in the two sports:

The Board

Bodyboards are made of foam and are much smaller than surfboards, which are longer, heavier, and made of fiberglass and foam.

The Technique

Bodyboarding requires you to lie prone on your board, and utilize your bodyweight to maneuver through the waves. Surfing, on the other hand, requires you to stand and rely on balance. There’s also less propulsion in bodyboarding, so riders wear fins.

The Waves

Traditionally, surfing allows you to ride bigger waves, while bodyboarders are able to take on more hollow ones. However, if you’re Shane Ackerman, you’re not afraid to take on whatever wave comes your way.

Catch some bodyboarding in action.

WATCH THE FILM

YETI

A New YETI Presents Film