Build Paddling Strength for Surfing to enjoy longer sessions. The most tiring aspect of surfing is the paddling. When paddling fatigue sets in, the first thing to go is the pop up. People don’t often feel the full body fatigue, but I see it immediately in students. They start messing up the easy moves they had earlier.
We paddle to catch waves and if we are experienced we paddle to return to the outside lineup. Paddling is an aerobic exercise. Paddling out to the line up is slow and paddling to catch waves is fast. Stamina is needed for longer sessions and to feel safe in rough conditions.
The Basics of Building Paddling Strength and Stamina
Paddling is the best way to build paddling stamina. When experienced surfers don’t get in the water for a few weeks they feel the drop in paddling stamina. Surf timing also goes when you are not in the water for a while, but that is another topic. Any top athlete loses stamina after 36 hours of peak conditioning if he is not training.
Weights often build stamina in muscle for when the glucose runs out. Iron Man athletes say the weight lifting gets them through the fatigue. Weight lifting creates receptors for glucose that come out of the blood stream from consuming carbohydrates. The muscles can learn to store more and more fuel.
When muscles run out of glucose they will burn fat. Endurance athletes may engage in long slow aerobics that will train the body to burn fat for fuel. Engaging in aerobics like biking, swimming, walking or treadmills can all teach the body to burn fat and get muscles to retain more glucose.
Building upper body strength can result from pushups, chest presses, military presses, and cable pulls. I like to face the cable and pull down to flex the tripceps. Pulling straight to the chest will also flex arms, shoulders, and the back. Doing the opposite is good to prevent injury, so I put my back to the cables and push straight out.
Aerobics for stamina, weights and exercises for strength, and good nutrition will all help to build paddling power.
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
