Custom Bodyboards...
Crafting Wave-Riding Machines From Sponge!

Custom bodyboards are not really something you hear much about these days.

With just about all of the bodyboards nowadays being crafted by computerized machines cutting and shaping out hundreds of boards in a matter of hours, the aura that surrounds traditional surfboard shapers is virtually non-existent in the world of sponge... or so I thought.

It's been awhile now that I've observed Carlos Rios, the owner of Ballistic Bodyboards at work in his shop. The proximity of his workshop to my daughters' piano lessons gave lots of opportunity to watch Carlos and his crew shape what look to be the slickest bodyboards you'll see anywhere and his loyal following of extreme spongers will attest that his custom bodyboards are more than pretty surf toys.

While many bodyboards will share common materials and general templates, Ballistic Bodyboards are custom-built to the riders' specifications allowing for choices in width and length, stiffness, as well as rail, deck, bottom and tail options.

Rough-shaped foam blanks await further sculpting, the addition of "skins" and bottoms.

Each Ballistic Bodyboard is hand shaped according to the outline, rail and bottom contour selected by the rider.

For those riders seeking a stiffer bodyboard, Ballistic offers glued-in carbon fiber stiffeners which give the board more speed and rigidity for advanced bodyboarding!

The outer "skins" which cover the polypropylene foam blanks create an effective bottom and deck matched to the preference of the rider... stiff or padded.

Surlyn laminates over the soft polypropylene core provide a stiff and durable bottom not to mention some great graphics!

Different types of polyethylene skins over the decks, cross-link (tight-celled) for stiffer decks and traditional link for a padded feel, offer riders a choice of board feel...

while channels and concaves on the bottom create different performance factors such as speed and handling.

Combined with these custom features is the fact that Ballistic Bodyboards are all handmade. From the cutting and shaping of the polypropylene blanks to affixing the deck and bottom "skins" each Ballistic is the result of a rare crafting process which Rios has truly mastered.

I was amazed when Carlos showed me the tools he acquired or invented to enable him to address the production issues that come with working with soft foam. One could easily walk through his shop and never figure out what or how much of his equipment applies to the bodyboard production process.

The genius of Rios is reflected in bodyboards that hold their shape longer and are noticeably less inclined to de-lamination and other terminal boogie-board conditions! Aside from the advanced bottom contours and outlines, look closely at how Ballistic's rails, decks, and bottoms are fused and you'll probably start noticing that not all bodyboards are alike. You'll be impressed at his work!

Indeed, Carlos Rios has carved out a niche for himself amongst bodyboarders looking for precision in their ride.

To get a Ballistic bodyboard, there's a waiting list. But that's not surprising at all after you take a look at what goes into these wave machines!

Return to top of page Custom Bodyboards

Go to Hawaii Bodyboarding

Check out Ballistic Bodyboards