Kickboard

A kickboard having:

• a rigid, buoyant, base;
• the base longer than it is wider and being less than twenty-six inches in length;
• the base having side edges, a front edge and a back edge joining generally parallel top and bottom surfaces which surfaces define the planar shape of the board;
• a rear-palm receiving groove formed in the top surface of the base adjacent the front edge, the groove positioned to receive the rear-palms of the swimmer's hands when he grips the front edge of the base;
• and a finger-tip receiving groove in the bottom surface of the board, adjacent to the front edge of the base, and positioned to receive the finger tips of the swimmer when he grips the front edge of the base;
• the finger-tip receiving groove in front of the rear-palm receiving groove to allow the hands to naturally and comfortably grip the board about the front edge while minimizing pressure points on the hands.

A kickboard having:

• a rigid, buoyant, base;
• the base longer than it is wider and being less than twenty-six inches in length;
• the base having side edges, a front edge and a back edge joining generally parallel top and bottom surfaces which surfaces define the planar shape of the board;
• and a cushioning layer on the top surface of the base extending generally rearwardly from at least near the front edge of the base to at least near the back edge of the base over a major portion of the length of the base;
• the cushion layer sized in length, and positioned, to cushion the arm of the swimmer when he grasps the front edge of the board with his hand.