Years of surf instruction has shown me Flexibility is the Big Barrier for Most in Surfing. Flexibility is necessary for surfing because of the need to go from lying down on the surfboard to standing up. Inflexibility is common from kids to seniors. Inactivity is the greatest cause.
New surf students go through a dry land instruction on the beach where they learn the process of standing up on the surfboard. Many students demonstrate on the beach they don’t have the flexibility to do a proper pop up. This becomes a greater liability in the water because it is tougher in the water.
The Path to Flexibility for Surfing
Becoming flexible is not just about stretching. I can put my palms to the floor but that doesn’t make me loose for the pop up. The pop up needs flexibility in the hamstrings, buttocks, and lower back. It also needs the body joints to all be working. When there is a particular problem area in a body, it can be come a handicap.
Strength is also important. At the beginning of a pop up the surfer has to do a push up so they can get their feet under their body. Some don’t have the upper body strength to lift their weight. The legs have to be strong because in the beginner push up, the back leg is lifting the body up until the front leg hits the board.
This, of course, brings in the question of weight for two reasons. More weight is tougher to lift. Weight was probably gained because the person was not exercising sufficiently. This happens now with all ages. The proper course for surf improvement often involves losing weight while getting stronger.
Aerobic fitness is important for having longer sessions. There is a lot of effort in surfing and a body not used to the oxygen uptake will tire quickly. Advanced surfers want to spend a few hours in the water so fitness from surfing often or cross training out of the water become important.
Flexibility is developed in some sports kids pursue like gymnastics. Yoga and dance help adults. Weight lifting helps people develop over all body strength which greatly assists with a pop up. The best specific exercises are burpies, dead lifts, and squats. These develop strength and flexibility in the hamstrings, buttocks, and lower back. Standing on one leg and holding the toes of the other leg is great for the buttocks. Or just lifting the leg to table height and reaching for you toes does the same thing.
Building a full body capability can help a surfer advance more quickly. He can perform the necessary techniques. He has the stamina to practice longer. He has the confidence to attempt bigger waves and risks. A great way to improve your lifestyle by being able and capable of doing what you want.
Read Other Posts:
Beginner Surfers Learn on Soft Tops
5 Steps to Improve Surfing Performance
3 Ways to Catch Real Surfing Waves
Training to Ride the Surfing Short Board
Short Board Surfing Techniques
For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page
Visit me on Instagram
For getting in better shape for surfing see GetFittoSurf.com
Sign up for weekly Tips on Losing Weight, Health, and Fitness Newsletter
See my new Health and Lifestyle website Markap Health and Lifestyle
The Surfers Life
Why do surfers surf? What is it about the culture that attracts and holds millions of people in the world? Why is the culture growing and how has it infiltrated our world with clothing, music, fitness, and stoke?
Buy on Amazon in Kindle or Paperback. $2.99 or $6.92
The New Surfing Trilogy. 3 books in 1 E-Book
Lose weight, get fit, and learn to surf. All in one concise summary of 3 books, Combines The 3 Week Plan, Get Fit to Surf, and Learn to Surf Guide.
Buy E Book on Amazon for $6.99
The Perfect Start for losing weight and getting fit is the E Book The 3 Week Plan
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback for $6.95
Get my new book Get Fit to Surf
Its time to get back in shape. This book discusses strength, flexibility, stamina, and nutritional needs for getting in shape and losing weight. It is the great guide to get back to fitness for all your recreational desires. If you can surf, you can do most anything.
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Get the Learn to Surf Guide Course in Kindle, Paperback or Audio
A great 29 page course on the fundamentals of catching waves, doing beginner and advanced pop ups, riding real waves, how to do maneuvers on real waves, which surfboards to ride, and how to progress. Great for lesson preparation, after lesson review, or learning on your own.
Kindle price $2.99 on Amazon. Paperback price $6.95 on Amazon. Audio download price $6.95
Everybody Can Surf
To read a great book for getting in shape to surf or getting in better surfing shape, read my new book Everybody Can Surf, a Health, Fitness, Nutrition, and Surfing Adventure
Description:
Get healthy and fit to surf or set a goal of surfing to improve weight, fitness, nutrition, and health. This guide by a surf instructor/health coach/personal trainer gives the short version of how to lose weight, get strong, build stamina, develop nutrition, and learn to surf. Surfing is a lifestyle enjoyed by millions and so is fitness. Fitness creates opportunities to enjoy life through lots of different kinds of recreation. No need to stand on the sidelines while others are having a great time. Start your program to health with easy steps and progress at your own pace. That is the secret to maintaining a lifestyle. Do it at your pace. This book will start you on the path.
Buy the E book on Amazon for $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Seniors Get Fit to Surf
Description:
Seniors often ask if it is too late to learn to surf. Age is functional not chronological. If people have been exercising and maintaining body strength, surfing can be accomplished. If people have not been exercising, then getting in shape to surf could be a life changing move. Learn how to develop strength, flexibility, and stamina to learn surfing. If you are in surf shape, you could pursue most any recreation.
Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Read a Book in the Markap Series
Self-Leadership, Happiness, Start Now.
Start Now is the process of losing weight, building strength and stamina, developing cardio fitness for surfing, recreation and health. Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99 and the Paperback for $6.95. Get into surf shape, start a new lifestyle, and enjoy life at a new level of health.
Happ
Build Immunity in this Covid Era
The new Omicron variants can often sidestep the anti-bodies in vaccinations. This is when we need to have a strong immunity system. This is when people with underlying conditions like obesity or chronic metabolic disorders like diabetes become vulnerable.
Developing good health habits will help your immune system. The main components would be to attain a healthy weight. Eat healthy. Exercise, Get adequate sleep. Mitigate stress. Drink half your body weight in water oz (a 200-pound person drinks 100 oz.) Consider supplements for the nutrients you may not consume in your daily diet.
One of my favorites is the Rishi mushroom. It has been chronicled in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It supports the major systems. It fights viruses, bacteria, allergies, and inflammation. I get a compilation of 5 reishi mushrooms extracted and combined into one powder. You can get a discount as my client with this link.
This is a short statement that says it all:
- Reishi: Reishi is arguably the most important and most revered herb used by Asian people throughout history to promote radiant health, longevity and a more centered state of mind. It is known to be among the most protective herbs in the world. Reishi may help improve immunological, neurological, metabolic, hepatic and vascular protection, among other functions.
