Selecting the right surf board if you are not fit can make the learning experience much easier. Not being fit in surfing means lacking strength, flexibility and stamina. It might also include being over weight.
Beginners need boards bigger than what they would select if they were intermediates. For beginners the right surf board will allow them a lot of margin for error until they get the pop up and riding posture correct.
The Advantages of Bigger Surf Boards
Surf boards for the advanced are intended to be very reactive and sensitive to weight to make them responsive. The better the surfer, the less volume he needs on a surf board depending on the waves he is riding. If he wants to rip on a short board, he rides a low volume board.
Older surfers gravitate to high volume boards because they are easier to paddle, catch waves easily, easy to ride, and are not meant for ripping. A beginner wants a board like this as well. He wants it easy to paddle, easy to catch waves, and easy to ride.
If a person is no longer in great condition he wants the same characteristics. As a person gets more fit and becomes more proficient in his techniques, he may decide to select a smaller surf board for better responsiveness.
A person who does not get to the ocean often or a week end warrior also wants a board that makes it easier. After all, if it isn’t fun, why do it? Paddling stamina requires frequent trips to the beach and is assisted by training at the gym.
Getting Fit and Losing Weight
Stamina is a key component of longer surf sessions. Stamina requires an aerobic program. Walking is a good start, but then running, biking, treadmill, or swimming might assist the building of muscle and therefore muscle endurance.
A great side affect of exercising and building muscle is that muscles will start absorbing carbohydrates converted to glucose and keep them from going directly to fat. Exercise can reduce weight and therefore make surfing easier.
Flexibility is also important. Lots of exercisers cannot touch their toes without bending their knees. You should aim for putting your palms on the floor. Yoga is obviously a good practice, but I enjoy doing burpees, squats, and dead lifts. They can be done without weights at first.
Push ups are good for all surfers. Women typically have less upper body strength. People that are overweight do not have the power to lift their body off the surf board. Secondly, overweight people do not have the leg strength to stand up on the back leg and raise their body. It follows that they also don’t have core strength.
Surfing is a full body sport and there are so many lifestyle advantages to getting fit to surf or to surf in order to stay fit.
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
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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?
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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.
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