Surfers Build Strength, Flexibility, Stamina
Surfing is a full body sport and Surfers Build Strength, Flexibility, and Stamina to be surfing fit. Most beginners say this is much more tiring than I expected. Many are not surfing fit because they lack some of above qualities.
Flexibility is the most difficult for most people who spend a lot of time sitting. Flexibility is needed in the hamstrings, buttocks and lower back. This flexibility allows the pop up to be executed.
Executing the Pop Up
The beginner pop up has the student placing a foot under his butt flat on the board. Flexibility is needed to get the foot flat and close enough to the butt which is about 2′ to 3′ from tail of board. With the foot flat, the surfer can stand, lift his hands and move the other foot to the front. Without standing on the rear foot, the surfer has to put both feet on the board and then try to stand which causes crashes.
Strength is an absolute and a relative quality. It is often measured as a function of lifting the surfer’s weight off the board. Overweight students can’t lift their chest off the board and can’t rise on one leg while moving the other foot forward. They can’t handle their weight.
Stamina Lengthens Surf Sessions
Stamina is in demand as a surfer’s main exercise is paddling. Paddling is what tires the surfer, not riding the surfboard. Stamina is needed to paddle to catch each wave. After a surfer progresses, they paddle out to catch waves. They are essentially paddling all the time. Catching a wave and paddling out through waves is very aerobic. Then the muscles need adequate stores of glucose to recover. Glucose stores have to be built through weight training, aerobics, or paddling.
The best strength exercise for surfing is pushups. They help give the spring to get the upper body off the board for the pop up. Bench presses would also work. Pulling cables helps build arms for paddling.
Squats and Dead Lifts are Key for Flexibility
Squats and dead lifts are best exercises for building flexibility in the hamstrings, buttocks, and lower back. I do 60 squats a day without weights. Dead lifts add to flexibility and strength. They build lower body and core strength. Planks are great for core strength which assists the pop up.
Most types of aerobics are good if they are raising the heart rate. This is building cardiovascular capability. Biking and running are building muscles to store more glucose. Glucose comes from carbohydrates and the liver converts them to glucose for muscle fuel. After the muscles burn through the glucose, they will burn fat and finally will burn muscle. Proper nutrition will prevent the body from feeding on muscle.
More Posts
Oceanside Surf Lessons for Beginners
Beginner Surfers Learn the Pop Up
How to Progress to Surfing the Short Board
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