If you haven’t noticed, the last couple months it’s been raining cats, dogs and even a few snowmen in the usually fair city of San Francisco.
Can’t catch a wave if you’re not fit to paddle
By Alex Kolovyansky
Published: April, 2006
If you haven’t noticed, the last couple months it’s been raining cats, dogs and even a few snowmen in the usually fair city of San Francisco. That doesn’t bode well for a chance to hit the water and surf. What can we do then to stay in (or get in) shape, so that the time we have to surf is the most enjoyable?
Whether you’re still renting boards or come to the beach with five of your own, there are plenty of activities that can make surfing easier and all-around more enjoyable.
For those who keep regular work hours, there is often a lot of sitting involved. This tends to weaken, what is called, our core, the muscles that help keep good posture and stability.
Core muscles are probably the most important for surfing because they help with balance and reacting to changing positions. Keeping them in shape helps prevent injuries and makes it easier for your body to respond to the rigors of the sport. Combining core strength activities with upper body strengthening exercises will keep you surfing longer and feeling better.
Simple exercises can be done in the comfort of your own home, including push-ups and sit-ups.
More advanced athletes may want try holding the push-up in the down position for an extended period of time. Or try using flex balls or bosu balls to strengthen and improve balance. Several personal trainers actually recommend doing lifting exercises at the same time as balancing exercises with these accessories, because it offers the body a two-for-one deal—it strengthens the muscles around the spine while working the arm muscles. That’s exactly what you need out in the waves.
Surfing is a physical sport that requires aerobic, balance and strength conditioning in and out of the water. If you want to learn more or customize a workout routine for yourself, and enjoy the benefits it can have on your surfing ability, read. SurfFlex is a great book. It details lots of exercises that do not require a gym membership and can be done anywhere.
Yoga and Pilates complement surfing, too. In fact, any of these balance and strength-training suggestions will benefit other activities we do, like catching our balance if we slip while walking on dry land. And they will definitely help make surfing more enjoyable, rain, shine or snow.
