How Much Physical Ability Necessary to Surf
Many people with surfing on their bucket list wonder How Much Physical Ability is Necessary to Surf. It is a good question. Surfing is a full body sport and needs muscles not regularly exercised.
Surfing needs upper body strength, core strength, and lower body strength. It requires flexibility and stamina. It also requires courage. That is a lot to ask if someone has been sedentary is overly worried about getting hurt. A lot of new students are afraid to stand up on the board while in the water.
The Ability to Learn Maybe Foremost
Surfing requires the ability to learn. I give new students a count to say as they move through the pop up sequence. I want them to count out loud because 99% of students face brain over load in the water and they resort to their instincts. All their instincts are wrong. Most beginners do the same wrong things.
Anyone can surf potentially from kids that are 5 to seniors. Age is functional more than chronological. I have had great students at 9 years old and others that age that can’t get to first base. Same with teens and adults. It is a combination of the ability to learn, physical coordination, and ability to focus in the water.
I give students a count to say out loud that is “paddle, stop and glide, push, back foot, stand up, front foot.” This sequence takes them through paddling to catch a wave to placing their hands on the board to standing up in the correct posture. The brain has to know and picture the process or the body will not get it.
Many students cannot memorize the count and many won’t say it out loud in the water. Both these categories have difficulty. Those who can memorize it and follow the count in the water can be up on the first ride. Most students soon realize their instincts are poor and start asking again for the count.
Being Over Weight is a Hindrance to Surfing
Being over weight is a major hindrance. In gaining weight, people stop exercising, building strength, and losing flexibility. Instructors say their is a power to weight ratio that asks if you have the power to lift your weight off the board both in upper and lower body strength. Most over weight people do not.
Most students have the stamina to last for an hour to an hour and a half although they are tired when finished. Cardiovascular development through aerobics is a great way to build stamina if you can’t paddle in the ocean several times a week. Once a student progresses to paddling out for bigger waves, they will need more muscle and cardiovascular stamina.
More Posts
Oceanside Surf Lessons for Beginners
Beginner Surfers Learn the Pop Up
How to Progress to Surfing the Short Board
For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page
To in surfing shape see my website Get Fit to Surf
See me on Instagram
The Surfing Trilogy combines three books into one E-Book. Learn in one easy to read concise volume how to lose weight, get fit, and learn to surf.
It combines the books: The 3 Week Plan, Get Fit to Surf, and Learn to Surf Guide
Buy the E-Book on Amazon for $6.99
Want to get in great shape for surfing and an improved lifestyle? Start with the Free E-Book The 3 Week Plan. It is the perfect start for getting in great shape and losing weight.
Consider Coaching and the Surf Package the combines Surf Lessons and Fitness Coaching
Learn More
Get my new book Get Fit to Surf
Its time to get back in shape. This book discusses strength, flexibility, stamina, and nutritional needs for getting in shape and losing weight. It is the great guide to get back to fitness for all your recreational desires. If you can surf, you can do most anything.
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Get the Learn to Surf Guide Course in Kindle, Paperback or Audio
Get a FREE audio version on Sound Cloud
A great 29 page course on the fundamentals of catching waves, doing beginner and advanced pop ups, riding real waves, how to do maneuvers on real waves, which surfboards to ride, and how to progress. Great for lesson preparation, after lesson review, or learning on your own.
Kindle price $2.99 on Amazon. Paperback price $6.95 on Amazon. Audio download price $7.95
Seniors Get Fit to Surf
Description:
Seniors often ask if it is too late to learn to surf. Age is functional not chronological. If people have been exercising and maintaining body strength, surfing can be accomplished. If people have not been exercising, then getting in shape to surf could be a life changing move. Learn how to develop strength, flexibility, and stamina to learn surfing. If you are in surf shape, you could pursue most any recreation.
Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Receive Weekly Active Lifestyle Tips on Nutrition Merchandise, Losing Weight, Getting Fit, Recipes, Meal Plans, Exercise Videos