Surfing Waves

Hi

I've just got back from Morocco, where I did a trial surfing lesson at Taghazout (at Adventure Keys). I now believe I'm hooked, and am looking at booking a week's surf camp in Fuertaventura in March but the single session I had made me realise I'm lacking in fitness and strength and flexibility (I'm already practising my pop-ups).

I'm 6ft tall, 186 pounds (aiming to reduce to 170 pounds by spring), and at 43 a late starter to surfing. Can you guys suggest a few exercises to work the right muscles? Flexibility and balance has always been a problem - would yoga help?

Dave

daga,
glad to know you have the stoke!
Yes, yoga will help. It helps physcially and mentally.
Also, do a search on this website forum and you'll find some posts about exercise and books that provide exercise help.
billie

google "fit2surf"
it is a good summary of all exercises you can practice with: rubber bands, your bodyweight, indoboard, etc

lorcar wrote:google "fit2surf"
it is a good summary of all exercises you can practice with: rubber bands, your bodyweight, indoboard, etc

Fantastic site - thanks fella.

Just to chime in with the obvious, swimming.

read this as well
http://forum.surfermag.com/forum/showfl ... t=all&vc=1

Surfing will help surfing, so will surfing two or three times a week. Surfing more often also seems to help, as well as surfing two or three times a week. Also try going to the beach with your surfboard and, well, surfing, that seems to help your surfing a bunch...

You really want to build your shoulder and arm strength for paddling as well as some of your core muscles for balance. You can do this at the gym, at home or simply by staying in the water on your board.

If you're going to work out at the gym I'd go for dumbbell rotations, a medicine ball jack knife exercise, using a swiss ball to do pullovers as well as some lat pull downs and tricep presses. These are all good and build shoulder, arm and abs strength. I'd also recommend getting into pilates and yoga to improve your balance.

Plus don't forget regular swims and cardio work outs. But then that all sounds so boring compared to just getting in the water so just do whatever will keep you loving surfing.

Hello,
If you really want to speed up the process I have a couple good tips for you. Get a good balance board (Vew Do Balance boards, or Indo Balance Boards) and start building some muscle memory and balance. One of these balance boards will help you so much with just a few minutes every day. If you want to get into surfing shape I agree with one of the earlier posts swimming, or surfing is your best bet. If you do not live by the ocean try to find a lake near by and just go and paddle your surfboard for 30+minutes 3-4 times a week and you will build up some great surfing paddle strength and endurance for your next surfing trip. Put a little effort into surfing before your next trip and it will pay off.

Good Luck!

Tony
http://safaritownsurf.com

Swimming and surfing.

squat thrust jump http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpDRwxR6jHI
paddeling a board on any water
crawl in pool

Cheers Tom

do those resistance band things work for strengthening your arms for paddling?

I'm sure they do to an extent but nothing beats a good gym workout with full weights targeting the lats and triceps or better still just being in the water and paddling around!

For someone that isn't that fit could really have some problem standing on the board. But this will be a fantastic sport and a great workout as well.

i still go for surfing. . . .







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