Surfing Waves

After I started surfing again I developed incredibly sore ribs. Painful enough to put an end to my surfing. I even bought a Paddle Air chest cushion to protect my ribs (great product), but I don't need it any longer (I still use it at times) because my rib pain is gone. So what changed? I wondered. Here's what I realized I stopped doing. I don't stand in waist high water and ride whitewater as much as I did at the start. One of things I did was practice popups by standing in the shallows, waiting for a whitewater wave to come along, hopping on my board, paddling, and taking off. I realize now that hopping onto my board over and over was just hammering my ribs. It was great for my popups, my arm strength, and my balance, but hell on my rib cage. I'm not saying that you'll develop rib pain from practicing the same way, but you might want to think about how you're making contact with your board if you develop rib pain. If you are experiencing rib pain, I also recommend finding some kind of cushioning for your abdomen. Just a tip.

I have surfed for years and never had this problem but since coming to this forum I have heard repeatedly about surfers almost entirely beginners or out of shape "not beginners". I am going to guess it is related to body movement when you are paddling and perhaps core strength. In the typical position for paddling it's your ribs that contact the board so if you wobble while paddling the force is transferred right into your ribs. However that is just a guess

oldmansurfer wrote:I have surfed for years and never had this problem but since coming to this forum I have heard repeatedly about surfers almost entirely beginners or out of shape "not beginners". I am going to guess it is related to body movement when you are paddling and perhaps core strength. In the typical position for paddling it's your ribs that contact the board so if you wobble while paddling the force is transferred right into your ribs. However that is just a guess

I think you're right. One of the other differences between now and when I first started is that I negotiate my way through waves a hell of a lot better so I'm sitting on my board in the lineup instead of in plank position on my ribs slow poking my way outside. I'm also not getting knocked off my board or dogging my way through wave after wave these days. Although today, for some reason, it took me three attempts along three different rip currents to get out back. I time how long it takes me to get outside and it consistently takes me 15-20 minutes on the worst days, but today I spent an hour (had to walk up the beach twice to find another rip and try again). That's never happened to me before. There was a time a while back when I would have given up, but I was determined to get out there today because the surf was really good and I have the paddling strength to keep trying.

Your ribs get used to the pain and the muscles build up around it.

I get bruised ribs after a session if I haven't surf for a few months. Then if I continue surfing for a week or so, I don't get anymore bruises and pain.