Increasing PAddle Power

[gd6]

So I've been surfing since about September of last year, and am happy with my progress. I've been out surfing probably 20-24 times (I try to go once a week if the conditions permit...its a bit of a drive otherwise I would go more). My goal was to ride a shortboard and I can definitely do that now. Even my 5'10" Proctor Rascal II (a high performance fish) feels stable and easy to surf. I remember trying it back in september and it felt super 'skatey' and impossible to control and now it just feels completely normal and easy to control.

My issue at this point is I need to increase my stamina and paddle power, faster than what is happening by just going out once a week. I keep on seeing the ad on this site for the 'power stroke cord, and I've been thinking about buying a resistance band (just a single one for $10 or so) and trying a similar workout every day or so. Has anyone done workouts like this to try to increase paddle power and stamina, and how effective was it? I really feel like my surfing would reach a whole new level if I just had more strength to catch more waves, and considering I can only go once a week I want to be able to make that one day a long one and I'm sure I don't have to tell you what its like catching waves on a shorboard when your arms are exhausted. Any other ideas as well? I am working on my overall cardio as well with jogging which I think will help a little indirectly with stamina levels.

[oldmansurfer]

I haven't tried the band things but I do workout with dumbbells. I am up to 15 pound now but slowly going up. I got really out of shape and have gone from raising 12 ounces (beer) to 15 pounds I do several exercises first I rise my weights directly overhead then I bring them down behind my head raise them back up and then down to my chest and repeat. Then I raise my shoulders carrying the weights and repeat. Then I do half squats and hold the weights in front of me. Then I bend at the waist and place the weights almost on the floor then pull them backward equal to my back which is parallel to the floor. Then I l

[oldmansurfer]

I haven't tried the band things but I do workout with dumbbells. I am up to 15 pound now but slowly going up. I got really out of shape and have gone from raising 12 ounces (beer) to 15 pounds I do several exercises first I rise my weights directly overhead then I bring them down behind my head raise them back up and then down to my chest and repeat. Then I raise my shoulders carrying the weights and repeat. Then I do half squats and hold the weights in front of me. Then I bend at the waist and place the weights almost on the floor then pull them backward equal to my back which is parallel to the floor. Then I lay down and push the weights straight up. Then I bring the weights up over my head ( laying flat on my back) and bring them to my waist and back. Then I stand and bring the weight from my side across my chest to the opposite side of my head. Then I do balancing exercises. I do 10 to 15 reps of each but so far only 1 set. Once it gets too easy I will do more sets then more weights. I think it helps me a lot. I also do a cardio workout hiking up a hill.

[oldenglish]

Once a week probably j

[oldmansurfer]

I forgot I also do heel lifts while doing a simple curl with the dumbbells, so I lift one leg off the ground and rise up on my toes on the other foot and do a curl with the weight on the same side that I and doing the heel lift on.
I do these exercises twice a week and go surfing twice a week (just 30 minutes surfing at a time). I go hiking between 3 to 5 times a week depending on the weather and usually go up a hill approximately 500 feet elevation and 0.8 miles to the top. One day a week I go 2 times up and down.

[oldenglish]

Lol @ half a sentence being posted out of an entire post. Too lazy to repost. Surf more worry less.