Surfing Waves

Does anyone suffer cramp much while surfing?

I never used to, but since July last year it's happened quite regularly in my calf muscle. Usually just one leg at a time but yesterday I got cramp in both my legs. I couldn't do anything but wait it out and today my left calf muscle is pretty sore.

I warm up before I surf, I started drinking an electrolyte drink before surfing, which until yesterday I thought was preventing the cramp. I wasn't particularly cold yesterday, though I had worn myself out paddling.

I don't understand why it happens and don't know what else I can do to prevent it. Does anyone have any ideas:?: It's really frustrating as I have to get out once it's happened, or it just keeps happening again . It always seems to happen just as I'm catching a wave, about to pop up.

Thanks

Yeah I get cramp now and again in the calf. I was once told that the salt in the water can cause it and you should hydrate with salt drink beforehand. Not sure how much truth is in that, but i usually drink water on the way to the break and that helps.

I occcasionally get it along the bottoms of my feet when the water's cold. Stretching out seems to stop if from happening.
As for salt, I thought that the electrolyte drinks contained plenty.

I get it all the time in my calf muscles.....had it last Saturday in both calves after spending quite a bit of time paddling out. The only way I could ease it was to paddle back in so I could stand on the floor.
I used to get it during my pop up if my feet slipped a bit too.....for this reason I've taken to wearing boots all year round which has now stopped it from occurring in this way.

I also get it if I've drunk a lot of booze too....usually end up hopping around the bedroom swearing a lot. The calf muscles are usually pretty tender for days afterwards...

I've spent quite a bit of time trying to find the cause, but there seem to be varying opinions from lack of salt and also dehydration. I think it is related to both to be honest, so I try and balance my diet a bit better making sure I eat salt every now and again, especially after going for a run, but also rehydrating myself well before going for a surf. I've managed to reduce the amount of occurrences but like Saturday I still get it....

Will be really interested if anyone else knows the prevention / cure.

Lack of salt does cause cramp, but because you have cramp doesn't mean you're short on salt, if you follow me
Except in this case...

jasedrummer wrote:I also get it if I've drunk a lot of booze too....usually end up hopping around the bedroom swearing a lot.

...when you have washed every electrolyte out of your body

Drink a sports drink before you go in, as it wont do you any harm, and after that its just conditioning the muscles so they're used to it ie surf more

jasedrummer wrote:I also get it if I've drunk a lot of booze too

- Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Just for the record I'm not a complete alcoholic....it's been a while since I had cramp due to too drink.....well Christmas anyway!

Ha ha, it's defintely not alcohol in my case, it's not often I drink much. Thanks for the replies. I'll keep drinking the electrolytes before I surf and probably be more careful to get out before I get too tired and cold. It was my first surf in a few weeks on Thursday. My leg is still really sore and I'm pretty lame, struggling to put my heel on the floor. Still hoping to surf tomorrow though

I occasionally will get calf cramp after a bad fall. It seems to happen when I tense up the muscles in anticipation of getting pounded. Hydration is good advice and may help, and as silly as it sounds I think that working out your calves at the gym also helps.

Stretch for a good 15 minutes before you get in your wetsuit.

SoCalSurfing wrote:Stretch for a good 15 minutes before you get in your wetsuit.

I must admit I never stretch before getting in to my wetsuit, maybe I should! I always thinking of getting in to my wetsuit as part of the warm up