Why More Over-50s Are Picking Up a Bodyboard - And Loving It. Bodyboarders the world over continue to grow old disgracefully.
Matt ‘Mave’ Davies takes a deep dive in to this growing phenomenon.
A couple of weeks back, I was with a stand-up surfer friend watching the Sintra Bodyboard Pro, the penultimate stop on the IBC World Tour, when he asked: “Does Mike Stewart still compete?”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Absolutely,” I replied. “He just won the Shark Island Challenge and shows no signs of slowing down.”
For context, the Shark Island Challenge may not currently sit on the World Tour, but it’s arguably the most prestigious bodyboarding event out there — and one of the hardest to win. Pulling it off at over 60 years old? That’s another level.
2025 Shark Island Challenge Highlights | Mike Stewart Wins At 62
Later that same day, my Instagram feed lit up with footage of Mike’s jaw-dropping, free-fall bomb at Teahupo’o, the infamous heavy reef break. I forwarded it straight to my friend with the caption: “Like surfing’s Kelly Slater, Mike sees age as nothing but a number.”
As the online banter continued, something struck me: most of our guests at Bodyboard Holidays are over fifty. Which got me thinking – why is bodyboarding so popular with silver-haired surfers?
After more than a decade of coaching bodyboarding, I’ve boiled it down to five main reasons:
1. Easy to learn, hard to master
Bodyboarding is unique in that complete beginners can experience the thrill of riding a wave within 10–15 minutes of their first lesson. Compare that to stand-up surfing, where progress is usually much slower, sometimes years.
And yet, while bodyboarding is accessible from the get-go, it’s also rich with technical details that can take decades to master. That combination – instant fun with endless depth – keeps people hooked well into later life.
“It’s instant fun but progression is difficult enough to keep things interesting” said our guest Shannon, 52 years old, from Halifax, Canada.
2. Low impact
For anyone starting out in their later years, or returning to sport after time away, bodyboarding is kind on the body. It offers the low impact and cardio benefits of swimming with the adrenaline of surfing, but without the danger of a 6ft board smacking you in the face.
Take a hit from a 3ft foam board and you’ll walk away unscathed. The result? People stay injury-free and can keep enjoying the sport long after their bodies might struggle with more punishing activities.
Ed, 65 years old, a longtime downhill skier from Montana, switched to bodyboarding after a series of ski falls, including two knee operations. “Wiping out on a bodyboard hits less than in skiing,” he says.
3. Travel
When I first started bodyboarding, I devoured every surf and bodyboard magazine, book, and video I could find. One line has always stuck with me: “Surfers are travelers by default.”
It couldn’t be truer. My pursuit of waves has taken me to more than 50 countries, where I’ve discovered new cultures, made lifelong friends, and fed my sense of adventure.
For many of our older guests, wave-hunting gives travel purpose. Instead of ticking destinations off a bucket list, they chase experiences, which makes every trip more meaningful.
Dan, one of our long-standing guests, even emigrated from the U.S. to Costa Rica after multiple bodyboarding holiday adventures in this tropical paradise.
4. Social
Traveling for waves naturally forges friendships. On our holidays, guests from all walks of life come together with one goal: ride waves and improve. More often than not, those connections last long after the trip, with groups reuniting on future adventures.
Even between trips, the stoke stays alive. Thanks to social media, our community supports each other, shares tips, and keeps the motivation burning. – “One of the best things that came out of the Portugal trip wasn’t just the waves, but the friendships and connections. I’m still in regular touch with the crew via WhatsApp group, and it’s become this little hub of stoke where we share clips, give each other feedback, setting up trips together to local spots and celebrate the small wins. Having that kind of peer support online and in person is so valuable!” Dom, 40, UK.
Pete, a retired fire fighter from New York joined us in El Salvador and had this to say:
“I used to think boogie boarding was for kids — it’s not. It’s a legit athletic activity. The waves were amazing, but it’s the people that made it. The coaches? Passionate, patient, kind. This trip’s been an absolute joy.”
Watch Pete’s video interview.
5. Mental Health
The benefits of exercise on mental health are well documented, but bodyboarding takes it a step further. Picture yourself gliding across turquoise water as the sun rises over a tropical coastline — it’s hard not to feel at peace.
Many of our guests tell us how grounding the sport is in an otherwise hectic world. And as I like to point out, bodyboarding is one of the few activities where your phone can’t follow you. That alone is therapy.
On a recent bodyboard trip to El Salvador, we caught up with Bodyboard Holidays regular and psychologist Dr. Steven Graef, 42, to discuss why bodyboarding is so beneficial for our mental health.
Longevity Lessons for Every Rider
Whether you’re chasing heavy slabs or struggling to keep your sessions consistent in your responsible adult years, the principles of longevity apply the same. Here are ten takeaways to help keep you riding strong:
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Protect Your Joints
Stretching, yoga, and mobility work, along with warm-ups and prehab, keep your shoulders, hips, and spine healthy and reduce injuries.
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Train Smarter, Not Harder
Build functional strength in your core, back, legs, and shoulders to withstand the demands of paddling, duck-diving, and wipeouts.
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Stay Ocean-Fit
Mix in cardio and water-based cross-training like swimming, freediving, or even spearfishing to maintain endurance and connection with the sea.
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Think Long-Term
Consistency beats intensity. Surf often enough to stay sharp without burning yourself out.
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Evolve With Age
Explosiveness may fade, but positioning, technique, and wave-reading only get better, lean into them.
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Never Stop Learning
Coaching and video analysis fast-track improvement, making every milestone rewarding and addictive.
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Just Get In
Don’t overthink it in the car park. Promise yourself ten waves, and chances are you’ll leave the water smiling.
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Choose Stoke Over Ego
Surf because you love it, not to compete with younger riders. Joy is the real fuel for longevity.
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Ride With Your Crew
Friends bring accountability, safety, and motivation. Some of the best sessions start with a simple text the night before.
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Enjoy the Ride
Progress takes time, but that’s what makes it rewarding. The challenge is what keeps us coming back.
Bodyboarding for the rest of your life
And that brings me back to Mike Stewart’s recent wipeout at Teahupo’o. Yes, he went down hard, but true to form he surfaced smiling, proof that the stoke doesn’t fade with age. Hear from Mike about his wipeout! For me, that moment sums up why so many silver-haired surfers are drawn to bodyboarding: it’s accessible, keeps you smiling, low impact, endlessly rewarding, and above all, it keeps us connected to nature, like minded folk, and to ourselves. Whether you’re 16 or 60, the joy of riding a wave never gets old.
If you’ve ever felt the pull to give it a try or to take your riding to the next level, we’d love to welcome you on a Bodyboard Holidays trip.
Ready to Join the Silver Surfer Movement?
Whether you’re chasing your first wave at 50 or sharpening your skills for bigger adventures, our trips are designed for every level and every age. From friendly UK coaching weekends to epic escapes in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Portugal and beyond, you’ll find the perfect place to ride, progress and connect with like-minded bodyboarders.
Explore our upcoming bodyboard holidays and coaching events and start your next chapter in the waves today.
