Training

[surf904]

I've noticed a lot of weakness in my core,legs when I surf. Not that I get tired just that none of my snaps feel as powerful as I'd like them to. Does anyone have any experience with training for surfing and if so, does it help out a lot?

[oldmansurfer]

I train for surfing now and I am pretty sure it helps but I am 62 and I rapidly get out of shape. There was one time I tained for surfing before and that was to build leg strength because I could not hold a hard backside bottom turn on a huge wave. What I did was really simple I climbed the mango tree in my backyard first from about 4 feet jumped out and landed in my surfing stance (crouched). Then I did that until it seemed easy then went a foot higher and jkept that up till it was easy. Eventually I could do about a 12 foot drop and land crouched. Don't go too high to start off with or you might do as my friend who saw me doing this and said "I can do that too". He ended up biting his knee. Actually think his knee punched him in the mouth or something like that. However that totally fixed my problem. When I was young however I did things that were probably good for surfing and core strength but they were just for fun. Martial arts is probably good for surfing too as well as tennis and I did them both but not for surfing. In my mind parkour is probably great for core strength whole body proprioception and leg strength. I used to do a couple outdoors version of parkour. I just saw this video about training that might interest you http://www.grindtv.com/fitness/the-gym-moves-that-get-competitive-surfers-in-shape/?sm_id=social_aumogrindtvhub_GrindTV_20150805_50323516&adbid=10153118381369895&adbpl=fb&adbpr=8782279894#8MmfZ1G5DwwgI2zC.97
No idea how well it works but seems like it should help legs and core

[oldmansurfer]

When I used to surf long ago 3/4 of the surfers I knew (all shortboarders) did either tennis or martial arts and half did both. I thought that was interesting but probably 90% skateboarded at one point or another. Who knows the value of those sports to surfing?

[oldenglish]

Just surf more man. Power shouldn't play a roll in these small waves we got. If your in bigger waves it is sometimes harder to over power them but a lot of that is being on the correct board and choosing the correct maneuver for the section.

Small kids can throw chunks of spray not because they are strong but because they surf well and now when and how to stomp on that tail.

Skate some bowl. Get good at pumping and getting a lot of speed. Try to tear the copeing off on every hit. That might help you.

Edited to not be a douche

[oldmansurfer]

Surfing requires learning things in steps. First the takeoff, you need to be able to paddle onto and popup on the powerful parts of the wave. To do more powerful turns you need to be on the powerful part of the wave. That is easy to accomplish just go to where you feel comfortable in the lineup and paddle deeper a foot or two or three. This will keep changing as you will feel comfortable deeper in the lineup with time. Then you need to have a powerful bottom turn so work on that and if you lineup deeper you will need to have a better bottom turn that you gain speed on and can get around sections or get back up the face before it pitches over. You need to generate speed for powerful turns. Once you can generate speed then work on a powerful top turn. If you don't take off on the powerful part of the wave and can't gain speed on your bottom turn then it's much more difficult to try to learn to powerhack off the top. Doing all of this requires using your core and legs to move your center of gravity around. Surfing will build them but if it doesn't as in you can get into the turns but can't handle the force or you can't surf often enough then maybe training will be a help. Some surfers can generate lots of speed and power in smaller weaker surf, that just takes a lot of practice. I like surfing bigger waves because I go faster and it's easier to do power turns.

[Big H]

I surf a lot....that's my main training....but it also do push-ups, pull-ups, planks with a hand wheel thing (awesome for abs), squats, tricep dips, dips, practice popups on an old board with sofa cushions underneath, stretch, skat board with a carver (which is awesome and I highly reccomend for surf feeling and fitness as well as fun), use an Indo board, swim and snorkel when it is flat, eliptical machine for cardio in front of tv, really pay attention to nutrition and what I eat it and looking at getting a bike and starting yoga.....helps when stuck inside on bigger days Seriously though, I'm getter my older (44) and realized that if I don't do these things it will be a slippery slope that is difficult to make a comeback from.....and yeah, it helps m eu f but mor importantly it keeps me fit, strong, balanced, sharp and feeling alive.