Surfing Waves

Yo.

So I have awful paddling fitness, like that of a 12 year old asthmatic girl, and need this to change.

I am 73kgs and pretty fit. I run, cycle and play football a low. I also do pull ups, sit ups and press ups at home. I can swim 80 lengths of breast stroke in an hour but cannot do more than 2 lengths of front crawl without drowning.

I have started swimming at my local pool with a float tucked under my rash vest and one between my legs and doing lengths of just arms. This feels like it will help but the biggest area of weakness is around my elbows? My shoulders need more strength but its around my elbows and forearms that get the most grief.

Can anyone recommend some out of pool excersises I can do to increase strength other than what I am doing? I am using a thick rubber band (cannot remember the name) I got from the physio to try to increase my shoulder strength and flexibility.

Cheers

Dan

To be honest, if you have sore elbows while paddling (or swimming) then - unless you are injured - you are probably doing it wrong. Padding should use your lats (back muscles), a bit of shoulder and a bit of tricep.

If you can do, say, 15 push ups and 5 pull ups (with proper form) then you should be strong enough to paddle without pain (obviously you will still need to build endurance); so technique seems like a reason. Especially given you can only do 2 lengths of freestyle but 80 laps of breastroke - breastroke uses your wrists and elbows just as much as freestyle.

For example, if your hands are going very wide (rather than straight up the board) then you may be putting too much pressure on the elbows and being very inefficient - you dont paddle like you are breastroking.

Of course, if you do have injuries (eg RSI in the wrist) then that may be the problem

A tip that helps me - when you are paddling, rather than think about moving your hands back through the water, think about moving your elbows back. Moving your elbows results in your upper back/lats doing the work; moving your hands tends to result in your shoulders doing the work. Your upper back has much bigger muscles.

Anyway, have a read through this (on another forum) has a good discussion of paddling, techniques and shoulders. In particular check out Nick Carroll's comment about 1/2 down the first page - Nick is a surfing journo and knows his stuff.

http://forum.realsurf.com/forums/viewto ... =7&t=12430

Cheers dtc. I think you're right on the technique. Ive never been able to do front crawl. Ill read the link and report back on hopefully becoming a padding master in a couple of weeks.

Man, you Dantastic are allowing learners to find out every aspect of how to surf!
When it all comes together for you the smile will go worldwide, please make sure it hits YouTube, millions of hits will,occur!

Ive set myself a target jaffa and want to get there. I just hope im not getting on everyones nerves in the process.

There's a slim chance of me sacking England off and looking to move to Sydney. If it happens it'll be early next year and I want to be comfortable in 5ft surf and be able to enjoy riding it.

Potential new board on the way and im super stoked and committed.

There are plenty of youtube videos on swimming technique as well (and you can always spring for a few lessons). Although freestyle (Australian crawl, to use its proper name) isnt the same as paddling, its not too dissimilar.

Dont think Sydney is always a surfing paradise - this was yesterday (pic 'courtesy' of Joel Coleman at Saltmotion)...although the water is still around 22 deg. So dreams of daily 5ft waves are just dreams

dtc wrote:There are plenty of youtube videos on swimming technique as well (and you can always spring for a few lessons). Although freestyle (Australian crawl, to use its proper name) isnt the same as paddling, its not too dissimilar.

Dont think Sydney is always a surfing paradise - this was yesterday (pic 'courtesy' of Joel Coleman at Saltmotion)...although the water is still around 22 deg. So dreams of daily 5ft waves are just dreams

saltmotion_IMG_9923_2013_04_30.jpg

Looks like a flat Dee Why, that's where the Jaffa grew up

dt[quote]c wrote:Dont think Sydney is always a surfing paradise - this was yesterday (pic 'courtesy' of Joel Coleman at Saltmotion)...although the water is still around 22 deg. So dreams of daily 5ft waves are just dreams

saltmotion_IMG_9923_2013_04_30.jpg

This is true and im not deluded by it being amazing surf every day. Atm I live 2-2.5 hours drive from the very inconsistent north sea. Cornwall and Wales are 4-5 hours drive. I understand Sydney would be a huge improvement on that.

Dantastic1985 wrote:This is true and im not deluded by it being amazing surf every day. Atm I live 2-2.5 hours drive from the very inconsistent north sea. Cornwall and Wales are 4-5 hours drive. I understand Sydney would be a huge improvement on that.

Yep. Although actually most people who live in Sydney are at least 1/2 hr away from most beaches (Bondi is closer but correspondingly more crowded). You can either live near the beach and 1/2hr from the city centre, or vice versa, depending on your desires and budget. And your job.

Id take half hour from city everyday of the week. Interestingly which is cheaper? City slicker or beach bum flat/apartment/shack near the beach?

All the shacks near the beaches are ridiculously priced in millions, near the eastern suburbs beaches that times 2, Wollongong and Newcastle have good beaches and cost a lot less.


Google Domain for real estate price both buy and rental, Sydney is one of the most expensive cities on the planet.

Good info Jaffa. Thanks!

jaffa1949 wrote:Wollongong and Newcastle have good beaches and cost a lot less:(

If I could I would live in Wollongong (well, I would live at Byron or Coffs, but focusing just on the 'bigger' cities). Only an hour and a bit by train to Sydney centre, but uncrowded beaches, quite pretty, much cheaper to live, still has a fair few restaurants and so forth.

But my area of work doesnt exist in Wollongong.

Sydney is very expensive; then again its one of the few cities in the world that has great beaches right there

As a sydney resident, you're looking at good surf all autumn and winter, but with plenty of flat spells. Summer comes with poorer quality surf due to the winds. Where you live will depend on your job. Eastern Suburbs are good but expensive. It gets cheaper the further away from the city you go.

Job options are a bit more limited in Wollongong and Newcastle, and will depend on your industry.

Dantastic what is your trade/profession /job? Maybe we can advise!
If it is anything to do with mining then Western Australia is the place to be to get big money and plan your lifestyle.
Health Professionals Sydney is a good bet!
Help is at hand just ask further

Hi guys. I really appreciate the great information above. I am a sales man currently working as an account manager for a manufacturing company within the retail sector. I would be happy to stay within this sector but would also look at real estate and recruitment having already got some experience there.

Dantastic1985 wrote:Hi guys. I really appreciate the great information above. I am a sales man currently working as an account manager for a manufacturing company within the retail sector. I would be happy to stay within this sector but would also look at real estate and recruitment having already got some experience there.

Real estate is the number one interest of most people in Sydney....

Fortunately our economy is such that recruitment is also a viable job. Working for a manufacturer, not so much (we dont have many left). But of course account managers are still needed.

Anyway, as with everything nowdays, there are a number of websites with jobs etc you can have a look through.

Your biggest issue will probably be sorting out a visa, so you should look into that well in advance. The immigration department has a comprehensive website (http://www.immi.gov.au/)

How do nurses do in Australia with socialized healthcare?

Not sure, not all of the Australian health system is social medicine! Ithink there is some cross countries recognition of. Qualifications but the registration requirements is different state by state, try googling each states nursing registration board. There would explanations of what is accepted and what can done by bridging courses.
Hope that helps

Dantastic1985 wrote:Yo.

So I have awful paddling fitness, like that of a 12 year old asthmatic girl, and need this to change.

I am 73kgs and pretty fit. I run, cycle and play football a low. I also do pull ups, sit ups and press ups at home. I can swim 80 lengths of breast stroke in an hour but cannot do more than 2 lengths of front crawl without drowning.

I have started swimming at my local pool with a float tucked under my rash vest and one between my legs and doing lengths of just arms. This feels like it will help but the biggest area of weakness is around my elbows? My shoulders need more strength but its around my elbows and forearms that get the most grief.

Can anyone recommend some out of pool excersises I can do to increase strength other than what I am doing? I am using a thick rubber band cannot remember the name) I got from the physio to try to increase my shoulder strength and flexibility.

Cheers

Dan

It might not be your fitness but your technique or your possitioning on the board.

Technique: the worse problem with newbs is that they paddle by using only theirs shoulders, paddling with thier arms at 90 degrees out. The proper technique is to arch your back a bit, pick up your head, and paddle down using your arms, shoulders and back. Dig deep, then scoop back. Look up some videos about paddling, it will explain it better.

Positioning: The board has to plane. If you are too far back with your nose in the air you are pushing the bottom against the water, which gets you no where. If you are too far forward you loose your balance or pearl if you try to catch a wave. Have a bud that knows how to surf check your positioning on the board, or just keep paddling around and changing your postion one inch at a time until you find the ultimum plane.

Hope that helps