bodysurf

• body-surf
• body surf

body +‎ surf

bodysurf (third-person singular simple present bodysurfs, present participle bodysurfing, simple past and past participle bodysurfed)

1. To ride waves or surf without equipment, such as a surfboard.
   • 2015, Paul Beatty, The Sellout, Oneworld Publications (2016), page 143:

     The key to bodysurfing a good wave is timing.

2. To ride waves either without equipment or with a handboard.
   • 2003, Louise Southerden, Surf's Up: The Girl's Guide to Surfing, page 13:

     Australians had been surfing lying down on 4-5 foot wooden surfboards before then and bodysurfing with wooden handboards — some had even heard about stand-up surfing in Hawaii and seen a couple of local surfers standing up — but stand-up surfing was still more of a rumour than a reality for most Aussie beach-goers.

   • 2013, Ian Wilson, Come a Little Bit Closer:

     A talented surfer and strong swimmer, and a fellow member of the Bronte Surf Club, he specialised in body surfing with a hand board.