RECREATION / BOATING : It’s Safety First for Bodyboarders : ‘Know Your Ocean’ and ‘Be Afraid’ Are the Key Credos Taught to Youngsters

Jill Bramlette’s bodyboarding classes all begin with the same lesson: Be afraid of the water.

Yet, when Bramlette asks her students, “Do you have any fear of the water?” the answer is a resounding, “No!”

After all, these are adventurous 7- and 8-year-olds, mostly boys, strong swimmers who are fearless and competitive.

That’s why safety is the primary emphasis of Bramlette’s classes, offered for the first time this summer by the Dana Point Harbor Youth and Group Facility.

Bodyboarding, a simpler, easier alternative to riding a surfboard, has been around since the early 1970s, when former Laguna Beach resident Tom Morey developed the Boogie Board, a short polyethylene board that has become a popular beach plaything. Riders lie on the 4-foot-long boards, either straight with the wave or cutting across the wave’s surface for more sophisticated riders.

Today, every weekend you can see hundreds of bodyboarders riding the surf along the county’s beaches. Many are children such as those in Bramlette’s classes, for which the minimum age is 7. Participants must have their own equipment and be able to swim.

Sixteen young bodyboarders sat on the grass near Doheny State Beach one recent weekend as Bramlette, longtime surfer and surf instructor, lectured them on the importance of respecting the power of the ocean.

“Everyone told me they had no fear of the water,” she said. “But the ocean is so powerful, it can really do some damage. You need to develop a healthy fear of it. A healthy respect.”

One of the most important rules of bodyboarding, Bramlette said, is learning how to assess the ocean before you go out. Don’t even think about doing a drop knee, stand up or el rollo-- all popular maneuvers--until you have first thought about currents, tides, wave heights, sand bars and underwater rocks.

“A friend of mine dove into the water and it was shallower than he thought and he broke his neck and now he is paralyzed,” she said. “So you should always assess the situation before you go diving into it.”

One of the most important accessories a bodyboarder should have, Bramlette said, is a tide chart for the target area.

“Right now, it’s high tide,” she said, glancing at the ocean. “The waves are breaking close to shore. But what is usually out there?”

She pointed to a section of beach close to a jetty. Zack Hickle, 8, looked to where Bramlette was pointing and said, “Rocks.”

“That’s right,” she said. “They are covered with water now because it is high tide. But you need to know they’re there.”

Bramlette cautioned her young students never to surf near piers, jetties or rocks, especially if there is a current. She also advised them not to venture out when conditions are dangerous.

When they do go out, she suggested that they have a lineup point on the beach so they can determine how currents are affecting them.

The lineup point can be a lifeguard tower, a rock--any fixed point on the land. “You know how your moms get mad if you go out and she says, ‘Stay in front of me’ and you end up down the beach somewhere? Well, think of your mom as your lineup point,” she said.

Bramlette also offers this advice:

* Watch for other boards, other swimmers and other objects all the time.

* Hold onto the board to keep it from hitting other swimmers. (Most boards are attached to the rider’s wrist by a leash.)

* Learn surfer etiquette. (For example, the surfer closest to the wave crest has the right of way.)

* Always wear swim fins.

* Always wear a waterproof sunscreen.

* Always keep your hands out in front to protect your head in a fall.

* Don’t panic. “Always keep yourself in control. Never do anything that is uncomfortable, and never go out alone. If you find yourself caught in a 6-foot wave set and it gets kind of scary out there, paddle out beyond it and wait. Then come in on a smaller wave set.”

Although some of the content of the class is very basic, parents like Herb Hickle are grateful for the emphasis on safety. Hickle’s sons, Zack, 8, and Tyler, 7, are both enrolled in the course.

“Both of them have been rescued by the San Clemente lifeguards,” Hickle said. “This class is wonderful for them. This is one of those sports that when parents stand back on the beach, it looks simple, but it is not as simple as it looks.”

Peter Spenuzza, who enrolled in the class with his 8-year-old son, Peter Jr., said, “We’ve both been doing this and needed to learn more about water safety, currents and all that.”

The class will be offered again Saturday and Aug. 25. For information, call (714) 661-7122.

Sculling and rowing--Have you always wanted to try sculling or rowing? The Newport Aquatic Center offers introductory clinics at 9 a.m. every Saturday. Cost is $5. For information, call (714) 646-7725. The center is at 1 Whitecliffs Drive in Newport Beach.

Catalina cruising--The Women’s Ocean Racing Sailing Assn. will hold a cruise to Santa Catalina Island Aug. 24-26. The event is open to all members, friends and family, according to Shannon Aikman, president. For information, call (714) 548-8755.

Boating classes--Two 13-week boating classes will be offered by Flotilla 15-4 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. A class for powerboaters will begin Sept. 12, one for sailboaters Sept. 13. Classes will meet from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Tustin High School, 1171 E. Camino Real, Tustin. For information, call John Velasquez at (714) 530-7574. Classes are free, but there is a nominal charge for materials.