Seniors can surf just like young people because age is functional. At any day on a surfing beach, you will surfers of all ages entering the water. Seniors surf short boards and long boards.
Most of these seniors have been surfing for years. They have the advantage of having developed the skills and musculature and practiced probably since they were young. Nonetheless, I took it up again as a senior when I moved to the beach and am an intermediate short boarder and surf instructor.
I have coached many senior students to get into surfing shape. It is not difficult and can be accomplished a little at a time. All worthwhile results are slow in process like learning to surf and fitness.
Conditioning for Surfing
Seniors can surf with a little conditioning, a surf lesson, and practice. The necessary physical attributes are some flexibility, upper body strength, core strength, and aerobics. You could accomplish all by brisk walking or biking, push ups, planks, squats, and practicing the pop ups which are like burpies.
I walk a brisk half hour every morning and punctuate the walk with 3 sets of some plyometric exercises. Those exercises are burpies with a jump, lunges with a jump, mountain climbers, and switching feet fast. See this link for a demonstration on those exercises.
My next exercise of the day is a one hour bike ride, a mile swim, or a good gym workout. The great thing about cross training for surfing is it prepares you for anything. Seniors who love to travel and seek adventure need to be able to lift, carry, hike on trails, and maybe bike or swim.
Pick the Right Board
Seniors can surf starting on a high volume soft top board. I begin new students on 9′ foam surf boards that are easy to paddle and ride. We start in shallow water catching foam waves and just ride to the beach.
The techniques for surfing are balancing on the board while paddling, paddling to catch a foam wave, and then executing a pretty simple pop up that is like getting out of a push up position on the floor by putting one leg underneath you and standing up bringing the other leg in front of you.
Surfing is tiring so if you are unconditioned you will be done in an hour. In fact most adults that don’t exercise regularly are tired in an hour. I don’t suggest more than an hour an a half the first time for anyone.
Create a new life and perspective by learning to surf and developing the conditioning to enjoy it. Seniors can surf.
For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see my Home Page
See my Dry Land Lesson and in Water Demo video
Watch a good video on Catching Real Waves
Buy a Good Book
For great lessons, read my 80 page E-book for beginners to advanced surfing techniques that explains everything in beginner detail assuming new students have no knowledge of surfing, like most of my over 3,000 students. $8.62 with cart button below.
