Surf fitness
If you want to ask about the best ways to keep fit or get fit for surfing, ask them here.
7 Responses to “Surf fitness”
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If you want to ask about the best ways to keep fit or get fit for surfing, ask them here.
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July 22nd, 2008 at 11:36 am
In your article about surf fitness you recommended walking. Isn’t that a bit wimpy if you are serious about getting fit for surfing?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Good question Bill. I look at it in a variety of ways.
In Melbourne there is a guy called Patrick who is a European and runs the Nordic Walking Academy http://www.nordicacademy.com.au/. Contact him if you to learn more about it. He is an expert on it.
1. Walking is good gentle exercise. The rocking motion that your pelvis puts through your spine is really good at keeping it all nicely balanced. Surfing is pretty vigorous exercise and it is good to balance it out with something as simple as walking.
2. Walking is cheap - free even!
3. Walking can be very meditative. It’s good thinking time.
4. Walking can be vigorous if you want it to be. Try Nordic walking. That gives you a nice upper body workout while you are walking, plus you move a lot faster than normal walking. It makes it hard to walk the dog though
5. It also depends on the factors mentioned in the article like age, weight etc. and what you are training for. If you are a Pro you will want to do a lot of pretty heavy training. But I think it would still be valuable for them even to do a bit of walking.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Wow I can’t believe your age! Great site and awesome tips. My dad bushwalks every weekend and we get a great workout while being able to chat.He’s just turned 60.My surfing instructor recommended surf style pushups / pop-ups and pilates and yoga along with swimming. He wasn’t the best intructor as when we were in the surf he’d see a decent wave, stop mid-sentence and lesson and catch one in!!
Keep up the good work Muzza.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Heck Hongy, where did I give away my age? Mind you, I wasn’t 51 last time I saw you! Are you still getting surf lessons? There is really not a lot that one can be taught - its mostly self learning “on the job” so to speak. Your instructor was thinking along the same lines as me with the fitness thing. And catching a wave mid-sentence - he was obviously just showing you how to do it! Let me know when you are down this was next and we’ll try to hook up for a session together. Just make sure you keep up your fitness routine if it is a long time between surfs for you.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Which reminds me - I was in the surf recently talking to a guy I see regularly at Bells. He is still surfing, and surfing quite well at that, and he is 57! How many other sports are there that you can have so much fun at and be so old? My old maths teacher, Andy Robertson, would have to be about that age too and he is still surfing. It can be done!
February 26th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Hey muzza have been reading your website very interesting, Was thinking about some speed work e.g spirts.But I see you are not a big fan of runinng, and also what about skipping. Thanks.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:53 am
G’day Leith
Running and skipping are both great forms of cardio-vascular exercise and will help with general fitness. The thing I don’t like about running, is that unless you have been conditioned to it from a young age, it is quite hard on the body. Skipping is probably better in that you are bouncing on your toes, rather than striking your heel, so your foot/ankle/calf are acting as shock absorber.
If you want to keep fit for surfing, nothing beats surfing. Next best choice, in my opinion, is laps of a pool 2-3 times a week.