You’re probably looking at a rack of boards, or a row of tabs online, wondering why one bodyboard is 33", another is 40", and another is 42" when they all look close enough. That’s where plenty of people go wrong. They pick by colour, price, or whatever was in stock, then wonder why paddling feels hard and the board feels awkward under the chest.
A bodyboard size chart fixes that. Not perfectly on its own, but it gives you a proper starting point. From there, you tweak for your build, your wetsuit, your local waves, and how you ride.
Around Gisborne, that matters more than generally understood. Wainui can be playful one day and punchy the next. A board that feels fine on a weak summer roller can feel all wrong when the surf stands up and starts moving quicker.
Why Your Bodyboard Size Is More Than Just a Number
The right size board makes the whole sport easier.
You paddle cleaner. You get into waves earlier. The board sits in the right place under your body instead of fighting you. For beginners, that usually means more rides and less frustration. For experienced riders, it means better control when the wave goes steep.
The wrong size causes obvious problems once you know what to look for.
- Too small: you sink it, lose glide, and work too hard just to get moving.
- Too big: it can feel corky, slow to turn, and clumsy in tighter sections.
- Too thick or too buoyant for your level: the board can bounce around instead of holding a line.
- Too advanced for the conditions: plenty of riders buy a high-performance board before they’ve got the size right. That’s backwards.
A good bodyboard size chart isn’t just about matching a number to your height. It’s about getting enough float without losing control.
Practical rule: If your board size is wrong, every other feature matters less.
That’s been true since bodyboards first started filling the racks back in the day. Materials matter. Shape matters. Core matters. But size comes first every time.
The Blitz Surf Shop Bodyboard Size Chart
Start with the chart, then adjust for where and how you ride. In New Zealand, that last part matters more than many overseas guides allow for. A 4/3 or 5/4 wetsuit adds bulk, winter water changes how a board sits under you, and punchier breaks around Gisborne often suit a slightly tidier fit than a soft, rolling beach break would.
For a broader look at choosing the right board, see this boogie board guide.
Bodyboard size chart by rider height and weight
| Rider Height (cm) | Rider Height (ft' in") | Rider Weight (kg) | Rider Weight (lbs) | Recommended Board Size (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 130 | Under 4'3" | Light rider | Light rider | 33 |
| 130 to 145 | 4'3" to 4'9" | Light to medium rider | Light to medium rider | 34 to 36 |
| 140 to 157 | 4'7" to 5'2" | Up to 47 | Up to 104 | 36 |
| 158 to 170 | 5'2" to 5'7" | Medium rider | Medium rider | 38 to 40 |
| 163 to 170 | 5'4" to 5'7" | 54 to 68 | 119 to 150 | 40-42 |
| 170 to 183 | 5'7" to 6'0" | 66 to 82 | 145 to 180 | 40-45 |
| 175 to 180 | 5'9" to 5'11" | Up to 80 | Up to 176 | 42-45 |
| 180 and above | 5'11" and above | Heavier rider | Heavier rider | 42.5 to 46 |
How to use the chart properly
Treat these sizes as a fitting range, not a final answer.
Height gets you close. Weight refines it. Build matters too. Two riders can stand the same height, but the broader rider usually needs more board under the chest and hips to keep decent glide.
The local call comes next.
If you sit between sizes, go a touch bigger if you are new, carry more weight through the torso, or spend most of your time in a thicker winter steamer. Go a touch smaller if you already have clean technique, ride punchy beach breaks, or want quicker rail-to-rail response in steeper sections. Around Wainui and other sharp East Coast peaks, plenty of riders prefer the shorter end of their range because it fits tighter in the pocket and feels less corky on late drops.
Kids are the other group where generic charts miss the mark. For Kiwi groms, going a little bigger makes the board more stable, buoyant and gives ease of catching waves, and gives you something to grow into. If you want to be able to turn the board easily go closer to the size chart.
Use the table to narrow it down to one or two sizes. Then check the fit against your body and your usual surf.
How to Measure Yourself for the Perfect Fit
The old shop-floor check still works. Stand the board on its tail beside you and see where the nose lands against your body.
For most prone riders, the sweet spot is around the belly button area. Some riders like it a touch higher. Some go a touch lower for punchier surf and quicker response. But if it’s way off, you’ll feel it.
The quick fit check
Use this in the garage, lounge, or shop.
- Stand barefoot. Measure yourself as you’d stand, not in shoes.
- Put the board on its tail. Keep it flat and straight.
- Check the nose height. For most riders, you want it around belly button height.
- Compare that result with the size chart. If both point to the same size, you’re usually in the zone.
- Think about your wetsuit and waves. NZ riders often need to adjust more than overseas charts suggest.
If the chart says one thing and the body check says another, don’t panic. That’s where experience comes in. A stocky rider and a lanky rider can be the same height depending on how you want the board to perform and if there is any extra width in the model.
What the body check is really telling you
That nose height isn’t some random old-school habit. It’s a shortcut for balance.
A board that reaches roughly the right point on your torso usually puts enough foam under your chest for paddling, without leaving too much board hanging out in front. If there’s too much nose, the board can feel sluggish. Too little, and you lose lift and glide.
This video gives a good visual reference for checking fit in practice.
A board should feel settled under you, not twitchy at the nose or bogged down through the middle.
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring with a thick wetsuit in mind but using a tropical chart
- Ignoring weight completely
- Sizing up too far for a child “to grow into it”
- Buying short because it looks more high performance
That last one catches a lot of people. Shorter doesn’t automatically mean better. It usually just means less forgiving.
Understanding Bodyboard Core Types EPS PE and PP
Once your size is sorted, the next big decision is the core. This changes how the board flexes, how it feels in NZ water, and who it suits.
For a deeper build-focused breakdown, this guide to bodyboard construction and sizing is useful alongside the size chart.
EPS core
EPS is the usual entry point.
It’s light, buoyant, and straightforward. For young riders, casual beach use, and first-time bodyboarders, EPS does the job without overcomplicating things. It’s the kind of construction that makes sense when someone needs an easy board to learn the basics.
Boards in the Manta range like the Dart 33" and some family-friendly options sit naturally in this conversation. The Manta Sonic line in 37, 40 and 42 is the sort of range many riders look at when they want a simple, accessible board size without stepping straight into more specialised construction. The Manta Viper in 38, 40 and 42 also sits in that all-round conversation for riders who want a board that handles real surf at a price point as it has denser eps and a stringer through its length.
What works well with EPS
- Beginner use: easy to understand and easy to ride.
- Holiday and family sessions: fine for general use in smaller surf.
- Young groms: especially when the priority is confidence, not advanced performance.
What doesn’t
- Hard daily use in heavier surf.
- Riders wanting a more tuned flex feel.
- People who already know they’re progressing quickly.
PE core
PE is the classic cold-water all-rounder.
It has more flex and a more settled feel in cooler water, which matters around NZ. A PE board often feels smoother under the chest and easier to control when conditions get a bit bumpy or hollow. For a lot of riders stepping out of the beginner stage, PE is where bodyboarding starts to feel more connected.
That’s where boards like the Manta Phantom PE in 38, 40, 42 and 44 make sense.
Trade-off: PE gives you feel and control in cooler water, but it won’t have the same crisp stiffness some riders want from a performance PP board.
PP core
PP is the performance end.
It’s stiffer, faster feeling, and suits riders who know how to drive a board properly. In clean surf, especially when the wave has push, PP gives that sharper response many advanced riders want.
In the Manta line, this points you toward boards like the ProXT PP 44 and 46 and the Force PP 42 and 44. Those sizes and constructions suit bigger riders, stronger riders, or anyone chasing speed and hold rather than a soft, forgiving feel.
A simple way to choose the core
| Core | Feel | Suits | Typical direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPS | Light and basic | Beginners, kids, casual use | Easy entry point |
| PE | Flexible and balanced | Intermediate riders, cooler water use | NZ-friendly all-round choice |
| PP | Stiff and responsive | Advanced riders, stronger surf | Performance-focused |
If you’re stuck, pick size first, then core. That order saves a lot of wrong purchases.
Adjusting Size for Your Skill Level and Riding Style
You see this a lot in the shop. Two riders with the same height can both match the chart, then need different boards the moment you factor in experience, wave choice, and how they ride.
The chart gives you a starting size. Skill level decides whether you stay there, go a touch longer for help, or pull it down for a looser feel.
Beginners need a board that settles things down
New riders usually improve faster on a board with a bit more forgiveness. In practice, that means staying on the recommended size, or choosing the larger option if you sit between two lengths.
That extra foam helps in the parts of the ride that trip beginners up first:
- Getting into waves earlier
- Holding a clean line
- Recovering when the surf is bumpy or crossed up
- Building confidence without fighting the board
For Kiwi learners, wetsuits matter too. A winter steamer adds bulk through the chest and shoulders, and that can make a board feel slightly smaller under you than it would in boardshorts. In colder months around the East Coast, plenty of riders are better off not sizing down too early.
Intermediate and advanced riders can get more specific
Once you can trim properly, generate speed, and use the rail with intent, sizing becomes a tuning choice rather than a safety net.
A slightly shorter board often suits riders chasing:
- Faster rail-to-rail response
- Tighter pocket control
- Cleaner spins and quicker redirects
- Less swing weight in steeper surf
That comes with a cost. Drop too small and paddling suffers, wave entry gets fussier, and average days feel harder work than they need to be.
Drop-knee riders often sit on the shorter or narrower side of their range because they want the board to turn cleanly from the knee without feeling like too much board is hanging out in front. Prone riders in softer surf often accept a little more length for glide and drive.
NZ conditions change how skill level should influence size
This matters more in New Zealand than a lot of generic charts admit. A rider progressing at a mellow beach break can sometimes get away with a shorter board earlier. A rider surfing punchier banks around Gisborne often benefits from keeping a touch more board under them until their takeoff timing and rail control are consistent.
If you know the local surf you spend time in, use that as part of the decision. Our guide to New Zealand surf conditions by region gives helpful context for how different breaks ask different things from your board.
The trade-off in plain terms
| If you size slightly bigger | If you size slightly smaller |
|---|---|
| More float | More manoeuvrability |
| Easier paddling | Quicker response |
| Better for weaker or messy surf | Better for steep, fast waves |
| More forgiving | Less forgiving |
For groms, I usually give one extra bit of advice. Don’t buy so much board that the child struggles to control it now, but don’t buy so little that they outgrow it after one summer growth spurt. A board that fits well today and still works after a bit of growth is usually the smart call.
Matching Your Board to New Zealand Wave Conditions
A board that feels spot on at Makorori can feel like hard work at a softer beach break an hour away. New Zealand sizing works best when you read the chart alongside the waves you surf, the wetsuit you wear, and how much push your local banks usually have.
Around Gisborne, that matters more than many overseas size charts admit. Our guide to New Zealand surf conditions by region gives a good read on how different coasts and breaks behave, but the short version is simple. Punchy waves reward control. Softer waves reward carry and glide.
For punchy Gisborne surf
Wainui, Makorori, and similar East Coast beach breaks can stand up fast, especially when there is proper swell behind them. In those waves, too much board in front of your chest starts to show up straight away. The takeoff feels slower, the nose can catch more easily, and the board takes more effort to bring around under pressure.
That is why many local riders sit toward the tighter end of their size range here. Not dramatically shorter. Just controlled enough to fit the pocket cleanly.
Winter adds another wrinkle. A thicker steamer changes your fit on the board and your buoyancy in the water, so a board that feels perfect in trunks overseas can feel slightly different in a 4/3 or 5/4 here. In practice, that usually means checking the fit with your wetsuit on and being realistic about where the board hits on your body, rather than buying off a generic chart alone.
For softer or weaker waves
Smaller summer surf and fuller beach breaks usually favour a bit more planing area. A touch more length can help you get in earlier and hold speed across flatter sections, especially if the bank has slow patches.
This is also where a PE board often feels good under Kiwi riders. It has a more settled feel in bumpy, less powerful surf and suits the kind of mixed conditions many families and weekend riders get most often.
For heavier surf
Once the surf gets steeper, hollower, or more powerful, response starts to matter more than extra float. Riders often prefer a setup with less excess nose, cleaner rail engagement, and a stiffer board that does not feel delayed under load.
A practical heavy-surf setup often looks like this:
- slightly shorter within your normal range
- a stiffer core, often PP
- enough width to hold speed, without feeling corky or bulky
That does not mean everyone should drop size for solid days. Bigger riders still need enough board to get in early and stay stable. The goal is balance. In NZ surf, especially around punchier East Coast banks, the best size is usually the one that lets you set a rail quickly while still giving you enough board to enter the wave with confidence.
A Special Guide for Sizing Kids Bodyboards
A common Gisborne shop-floor problem goes like this. A parent buys a board with extra grow room, the kid takes it out in a full steamer, and the board ends up feeling awkward before they even reach the bank. The child struggles to carry it, the nose catches, and turning becomes hard work.
Kids’ sizing needs a tighter call than adult sizing. Generic overseas charts often miss what matters for New Zealand families, especially thicker wetsuits, colder water, and fast-growing groms.
If you want a broader look at beginner setups, this boogie board NZ guide covers the basics well.
Start with the board they can use now
For children, control matters more than squeezing out another year of use. A board that is way too big usually feels slow to handle and harder to learn on. That shows up quickly in punchier beach breaks, where a young rider needs to get the nose down, hold the rails properly, and react fast. But going a little big adds stability and buoyancy.
I usually tell parents to judge the board in the car park before they judge it in the water. If the child cannot tuck it under one arm, walk comfortably, and set it down without a fuss, it is probably too much board already.
For very small riders, the Manta Dart 33" makes sense as a first proper step up from toy-grade gear. For bigger kids who are mostly using the board for family beach sessions, the Manta Alien 42" has practical value because the handles and tow strap make it easier to get dragged around by an adult and for shared use.
Wetsuits change kids’ sizing more than parents expect
NZ kids are rarely riding in just rash tops and trunks. They are usually in a steamer, and that changes how the board feels under the chest and through the hips. Extra neoprene bulk can make a correctly sized board from a warm-water chart feel smaller and less settled once the child is geared up.
That does not always mean jumping a full size. It means checking the fit with the wetsuit in mind, especially for younger riders who are right on the edge between two sizes.
A practical way to size a grom
Use this order:
- Check the child’s height first
- Compare that with a sensible size range
- Allow for the wetsuit they wear most often
- Make sure they can carry and turn the board easily
- Buy for current fit, not distant growth
One simple test works well. Put the tail on the ground and stand the board beside them. For many kids, you are usually looking for a board that sits around the navel area, with some allowance for build, confidence, and the gear they surf in.
What works in real NZ family use
- First-time, very small riders: go lighter, shorter, and easier to control
- Kids in full steamers most of the year: check fit with winter bulk in mind
- Fast-growing groms: allow a little room, but stay close to their current usable range
- Boards that will get dragged over sand, rocks, and car parks: durability matters as much as pure performance
The best kids’ board is usually the one they can handle confidently this season. If they catch more waves now, they will outgrow the board for the right reason. Skill first, size second.
Putting It All Together Sample Fit Examples
Sizing makes more sense when you run it through real people.
Example one
A 10-year-old grom at 35 kg in Gisborne needs a first proper board.
Start with the chart and the body check. For a rider that small, a compact board is usually the call. Because they’ll likely be in a steamer for much of the year, I’d avoid going too tiny. The aim is enough float to paddle without giving them a board they can’t control.
A Manta Sonnic 37" is a sensible first look. If the child is taller for their weight and wearing a thicker wetsuit often, you’d compare that with the next size up in person.
Example two
A 25-year-old intermediate rider at 65 kg surfing mixed beach breaks on the West Coast needs an all-round board.
This rider usually sits around the 40 inch zone depending on height and how they like the board to feel. If they want glide and a forgiving feel in mixed conditions, PE makes plenty of sense. If they’re still building consistency, I’d rather see them on the stable side of the range than trying to go too short.
A Manta Phantom PE 40 or Manta Viper 40 is the sort of call that fits that brief. Enough board to paddle well, enough flex to feel comfortable in cooler water.
Example three
A 40-year-old advanced rider at 90 kg who prefers drop-knee on more powerful East Coast waves needs a different setup entirely.
Now we’re talking larger sizing and more deliberate performance choices. This rider needs enough volume to support the build, but not a board that feels dead through turns. They may end up around a 44 depending on exact height and preference, then choose the construction based on how stiff and fast they want the board to feel.
That’s where boards like the Manta ProXT PP 44 or Force PP 44 come into play. If the rider wants more classic flex and a slightly softer feel, the Phantom PE 44 stays in the conversation.
Spotlight on Manta Bodyboards at Blitz
If you’re narrowing the field, Manta covers a wide spread of riders without making the range confusing. For a closer look at the category, this Manta bodyboards and accessories guide is a handy reference.
Entry-level and family options
- Manta Dart 33" suits smaller groms and first boards.
- Manta Sonic 37, 40 and 42 or (Viper for slightly higher spec at a great price point) gives riders a simple spread of sizes in an accessible format.
- Manta Alien 42" adds handles and a tow strap, which makes it a practical option for family beach use and shared sessions.
Everyday all-rounders
The Manta Viper 38, 40 and 42 and Manta Phantom PE 38, 40, 42 and 44 fit riders who want more than a basic learner board to decent quality board for better conditions. These are the sizes many people compare when they’ve moved beyond whitewater rides and want a board that handles proper surf.
PE construction is often the thing that makes these feel right in NZ conditions. Not flashy. Just dependable.
Performance-focused boards
For bigger riders, stronger riders, and those chasing a stiffer feel, the Manta ProXT PP 44 and 46 and Manta Force PP 42 and 44 are the sharper tools in the rack.
This is also the one place I’d mention that Blitz Surf Shop carries bodyboards, wetsuits, fins, and related hardware in one place, which helps when you’re trying to match the board to the rest of your setup rather than buying each piece separately.
Get Your Board Delivered NZ-Wide
If you’re not in Gisborne, you can still sort the right board without guessing blind. Measure yourself properly, compare the chart, then match the board to your local conditions and wetsuit use.
Eligible orders over $150 get free shipping, and in-store pickup is available from Gisborne if you want to collect locally. Clothing and smaller items can also ship to Australia. If you’re unsure between two sizes, it’s worth asking before you order rather than trying to solve it after the board arrives.
Need help picking the right bodyboard size chart match for your height, weight, wetsuit, and local break? Browse the range or get in touch with Blitz Surf Shop.
