Improve Surfing with Basic Exercises designed to reach surf muscles. Anyone who has tried surfing and most people who surf know there are things that could be improved to make them better surfers. Surfing is physically demanding with no ceiling on being too fit.
Surfing demands upper body strength, core strength and lower body strength. Surfing needs flexibility and stamina. Where to begin? Best to be patient and start a program that can be engaged and improved over time. Make it a lifetime endeavor.
Begin a Surfing Fitness Program
The first goal is to make this a lifetime endeavor. The second is to make slow progress. The third is to be consistent. I like to start exercises with minimum reps and build the number of reps over time. This minimizes risk for injuries. It also allows muscles to keep adapting to more stress. Pretty soon, you are stronger.
Consider the areas necessary for surfing improvement. Surfing is about smooth and often powerful movement. An advanced pop up is a power move. Paddling is power. Advanced surfers need power to carve turns and perform tricks. Beginner surfers need more strength without seeking as much power.
Upper body strength is a first. Flexibility is a first. Lower body strength is a first. Stamina is a first. There we go again, how much can we do at once? A little at a time. A beginning routine might start with a few pushups, even for women. Then flexibility and heartrate can be improved with burpies. Start with a few. Do a plank. Even for ten seconds. Do squats and dead lifts without weight. Do ten each (or five). If you are doing yoga, it is great for flexibility.
Video on Dead Lift Form. Start them without weights. The idea is to build strength and flexibility in the hamstrings, buttocks, and lower back.
Video on the Squat. Start without weights. The idea is to build strength and flexibility in the hamstrings, buttocks, and lower back.
Stamina is important to prolong practice sessions. Surfing is like intervals where paddling has to be a quick fast few paddles. The more strength in the paddle, the fewer that have to be made. Catching a wave is executing a few good paddles at the right time. The first thing that exhausts the body is paddling. Paddling is the best exercise, but after that comes any aerobic exercises for building heart rate and recovery.
So you are off to to a good start. Set aside a time each day when you can do your exercises. You can do some on one day and others on a different day. Allow the body to get used to the new routine. Try to add a few seconds or reps each week or two. You are on the way to being more surf fit.
In my new book Get Fit to Surf, I introduce a good program for beginning the long term process of getting healthy and fit by losing weight as we get stronger. Both are great for surfing.
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See the book on Getting Fit to Surf and Losing Weight at the same time. A great combination for changing your lifestyle and improving your health. Everything becomes possible when you are fit.
Buy the E-Book on Kindle $5.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon $7.99
Get the book Everybody Can Surf. It is a great guide for those who have been inactive or are overweight. Learn how to get the body in motion, start exercises to improve surf specific muscles, develop the flexibility for the pop up, and how to begin a weight loss program. Also learn all the fundamentals learned in a surf lesson for catching and riding waves.
Buy the E-Book on Kindle for $5.99 (the E-book cover is different for the moment)
Buy the Paperback on Amazon $7.99
