POD Handboards - Original Classic Signature Shape Handplane

Original Classic POD Handboard - Signature Shape Bodysurfing Handplane

The Original Classic Signature Shape POD® handboard represents over three decades of refinement in bodysurfing and handboarding design. Developed and manufactured in Australia, this handplane is trusted for its durability, balance, and consistent feel across a wide range of conditions.

The role of the handboard is not to create performance, but to support it. By working with your position and movement in the water, it helps you maintain speed and control with less effort.

This model is a cornerstone of the POD handboard range, valued by bodysurfers and handboard riders who prioritise control, comfort, and long-term reliability.

Handboarding and Bodysurfing - Lift and Directional Control

The Original Classic suits both handboarding and bodysurfing, delivering predictable lift and directional control without excess buoyancy. Its shape supports confident wave entry, stable trimming across the face, and controlled hold as pressure builds through the wave.

The concave bottom and integrated keel fin work with water flow to support lift and maintain directional stability, allowing riders to focus on positioning and flow rather than managing instability.

Neutral Buoyancy Design

A bodysurfing handboard or hand plane performs best when it maintains neutral buoyancy. This allows the board to sit naturally in the water, reducing load on the swimming stroke and minimising strain on the hand, wrist, and arm.

Over-buoyant handboards resist water entry, making it harder to cut into the surface and often pulling the body off line. The Original Classic Signature Shape avoids this, offering a balanced feel that remains comfortable over extended sessions and supports more controlled movement through the water.

Materials and Construction

The Original Classic POD® handboard is moulded from solid, recyclable polypropylene, chosen for its strength, longevity, and consistent buoyancy characteristics. This material is impact-resistant, lightweight, and holds up across years of regular use in demanding surf environments.

Each handboard is finished using natural mineral pearl pigments, giving the board its distinctive appearance while maintaining material integrity.

For riders interested in timber construction, the DIY Hand Body Soul® wood handboards carry the same signature shape in cedar and walnut. If a maintenance-free option is preferred, the WOW 13" handboard offers a lightweight alternative, weighing approximately 25% less than comparable wooden boards.

Comfort and Natural Hand Position

The deck supports a natural swimming hand position, placing the hand directly above the board's pivot point and keel fin. This alignment improves control while helping reduce fatigue over longer sessions.

A double-padded neoprene hand strap and under-palm EVA deck grip enhance comfort and security, allowing the board to work with the hand rather than against it. This setup supports body position rather than replacing it, helping maintain connection without unnecessary tension.

Left-handed users can reposition the wrist cord to suit preferred hand orientation and wave conditions.

POD® Handboard Features

• Solid recyclable polypropylene construction with neutral buoyancy
• Concave bottom and keel fin to support lift, hold, and directional control
• Natural swimming hand position aligned over the pivot point
• Double-padded neoprene hand strap with EVA palm grip
• Ambidextrous setup suitable for left- or right-handed use
• Finished with natural mineral pearl pigments

Care and Longevity

Adjust the hand strap to a snug fit over your hand. With ongoing use, slide your hand between the strap and the EVA deck grip to maintain secure Velcro contact and extend service life. Replacement strap sets are available if required.

Your Partnership with the Board

The Original Classic moves with you in the surf. It responds to your position, your timing, and how you engage with the wave.

In return, your POD® original will support control, flow, and consistent connection over years of use.

A Legacy of Bodysurfing Design

Since the 1980s, POD founder and designer Shane Vassallo has shaped and refined handboards - bodysurfing handplanes, hand planes, and handboards across polypropylene, cedar, walnut, and limited timber species. That design lineage spans over 35 years of hands-on experimentation in real surf conditions and is documented in Successful 30 Years.

Learn More

• Choosing the right handboard: Explore sizing and design principles in How to Choose a Bodysurfing Handboard.
• Technique and use: Read How to Bodysurf with a Handboard for practical guidance.