Surfing and the Gym?

[stevenprebble]

Hi guys. Happy new 2013!!
Just before Christmas I decided that it was time to take my surfing to the next level and this would include increasing my surfing fitness. Living in South Wales, UK, unfortunately I have to endure weeks on end of small onshore slop so I joined the gym.
I'm focusing my exercises on surfing fitness, so my upper body including shoulders, my core and I finish it all off with a 5Km interval run on the treadmill.
I feel great for doing it and I've been going every other day for the past 2 weeks. I went on Friday last and then yesterday noticed the surf was pretty decent so popped in.
Problem was. the moment I got in my arms and body turned to jelly. I had very little energy and I found myself to be really out of breath. It was quite a small day but I couldn't even paddle out back. I stayed in for about 30 mins not wanting to give up but it was no use. I turned around and caught a wave in.
I was confused as I thought the gym would increase my surfing fitness but it seems that instead it turns my arms into mush to cause me not to be able to surf. Should I time my gym sessions 2 days before a surf??
Am I doing something wrong here because I felt fitter in the water when I was sitting at my computer for 9 hours a day.

[jaffa1949]

Here's a conundrum for you Fat floats, muscle sinks, if you bulk up the muscle groups then they are not fit they are just weight lifting effective and have little fat so they sink.
Nothing builds paddle fitness like paddling, if you can find a land based, paddle equivalent then do it in long and short bursts, like interval training, but with your arms and not your legs.
I would look seriously at two things and compare them.
Your gym program and what is offered in the fitness part of this forum and figure out how to do the two.

Most really good surfers have a low bulk and a low fat ratio and are whippet like paddling machines so swimming too.

OH and BTW a few go outs in weak onshore slop and paddling against that will help too.

I read all your other posts, one thing stands out amongst it all, you are trying to paddle a board that is just too small for you and you are doing everything except getting a bigger board.
That my friend is called, arguing to support your limitations.

[surfgoth]

agree with jaffa, nothing better than paddling to build paddle strength. also, working out your core will help your paddle strength immensely.
try to surf everyday, and if thats logistically difficult, just get out and surf as much as you possibly can, even if its flat or junky windswell. if its flat or small, you will work a lot harder for waves, and if its junky windswell, your going to duckdive a bunch and get a good workout that way.

[jaffa1949]

OMG but in this case, OH my Goth, welcome to SW forums

[billie_morini]

I've got a different idea about stevenprebble. It may be that he has been over-exercising or not getting sufficient rest. This happens to me. If I'm not really well rested, surfing, hiking, anything physical kicks my a**

[surfgoth]

thanks jaffa!

[dtc]

I think both Jaffa and billie have valid points. Paddling uses a lot of differnt muscles. If your muscles are tired from the gym, then you will notice it paddling, particularly if your 'paddling' muscles are not up to scratch. This happened to me the other day - did a bunch of pull ups and the next day went surfing, and had sore/tired lats almost immediately.

You can probably dump the 5km run if you are training for surfing. Just do the weights with less rest time, that will keep your heart rate up and keep you off the boring treadmill...