Surfing Waves

I live in an inland country in Europe, far away from the sea. I found surfing very interesting and decided that I would like to try it. I have a full time job so only limited (time) possibilities to go to a surf camp in the summer, but before I go I would like to prepare my skills as much as possible.
I "surfed" this forum and found some relevant topics, but some contradictions as well.
Could you please help me what excercises (sit ups. swimming, etc.) and sports (longboard-skateboarding, snowboarding...) could help to build up a relevant skillset for surfing?

Hey there Alexander

Simply, nothing really quite compares with surfing...But that's not really that useful to say (nonetheless true)
If you're looking to start surfing, overall fitness, such as cardio endurance from running, biking etc, will help you go longer and have more fun, and swimming skills wil help. Swimming long distances low intensity will probably be most useful, but also try a few sprints.
Personally, I skateboard alot to keep my surfing skills up, and i find they compliment each other, so just doing some skating should help. And I hear snowboarding does help...so if that is around why not

You won't really know what you needed to work on until you get out ther though..
so just get excited and enjoy surfing !!!!!!
hope this helped, happy surfing buddy

alexander,
these are the exercises I do and they help me alot with many aspects of surfing.
1. bicycle to work 5 days per week
2. use my rowing machine for 20 to 60 minutes 5 to 6 days per week
3. 1 hour minimum heavy cardiovascular aerobics mixed with calisthenics 3 days per week; often with light weights in hands and including conclusion with running up 350 step stair well as many times as I can afterwards (I can never do this more than 3 times). Calisthenics include squat thrusts, squatted backward rowing with free weights, jumping jacks, two kinds of waist bends (very important), two kinds of squatting exercises, lots of push ups, jumping jacks, and lunges.
4. surf as often as possible. There is no better exercise for surfing than surfing. In this way, it is like motocross. The best way to train for motocross is to ride the track - hard!

I should spend more time on cardio (swimming, running), but I really don't like it. However, exercise makes a huge difference in how well I surf

Dude, not to be a bummer, but if you don't live by the ocean it might not be the right sport to take up seriously. So, instead of worrying about what to do to become a better surfer keep the weight off and use a really big surfboard so you can stand up every time.

Thanks for the help Jellyfish, billie_morini. The details you gave is pretty useful!

themathteacher:
Pretty obvius what you are recommending and I aggree with your point. But still I don't want to get disappointed too early on this, so would like to prepare as much as I can.
I anyway have to change my usual training plan, switching to a more cardio like plan. Also if sakateboarding or other sports are helpful I think there is nothing to lose if trying them.

alexander wrote:I live in an inland country in Europe, far away from the sea. I found surfing very interesting and decided that I would like to try it. I have a full time job so only limited (time) possibilities to go to a surf camp in the summer, but before I go I would like to prepare my skills as much as possible.
I "surfed" this forum and found some relevant topics, but some contradictions as well.
Could you please help me what excercises (sit ups. swimming, etc.) and sports (longboard-skateboarding, snowboarding...) could help to build up a relevant skillset for surfing?

I used to swim and mountaineer before I surfed - I could catch waves on my short board (in my avatar) that long boarders would miss.

Hwyl i' chi !

alexander,
this website may interest you:
www.surfstronger.com

alexander,
found another one for you today:
http://www.premiersurftraining.com

Your question is timely because I am looking for this kind of info.
best regards,
billie

Skating would help you out the most. I try to longboard more often, and getting the feeling down for turns on my skateboard helps me in the water too. If only I had a ramp at home because that would replicate a nice lip .

how about snowboarding?

dude wack some tape down on you floor roughly in size/ shape of a board and just practise jumping to your feet, trust me this will help you a fark load. also training your abdomen and getting your stomach muscles as flexible as possible will help for when u do those big turns and u really need to twist ur upper body.

Your biggest blocker to learning to surf won't be your ability to turn, and it might not even be your ability to get to your feet (but then again, it might).

My bet is that it will be your swimming ability and feel for the waves. Most surfers take swimming ability for granted, but if you ever take a non-swimmer surfing you'll see that most of their struggle comes before they even think of popping up.

If you're not a strong swimming, practice that. If you are, swim more anyway (maybe use a pull-buoy to get used to not using your legs). I agree with the poster above me about practicing getting up to your feet, too, but keep in mind that it will feel different on a board.