Whether you live far from a beach or the conditions are below par, we don’t always have access to a place to surf. So how do we maintain the strength and fitness required for surfing, or perhaps even improve?

There are so many ways we can keep up our fitness levels for surfing, most require little to no equipment – just some self-motivation!

YOGA AND STRETCHING

Stretching muscles is vital to increasing flexibility, performance, mobility and avoiding injury. Harvard Health says stretching helps with balance, which is obviously important for surfing! They also suggest stretching daily by choosing one area of the body to stretch each day of the week like legs, upper body, back, lower body, etc.

CARDIO 

Love it or hate it, cardio and aerobic exercise is essential to staying fit and healthy. Cardio exercise allows for increased oxygen supply to muscles, eases stress and boosts energy levels. There are lots of options besides running for cardio exercise – such as skipping, bike riding, walking or stairs.

MOBILITY EXERCISES 

Increasing joint movement through mobility exercises is a great way to improve surfing technique and capabilities without getting in the water. Pere from The Surf Pentagon (@thesurfpentagon on Instagram) has some great exercise videos explaining different styles of exercises, the benefits of them and how they will improve your surfing.

NUTRITION

The quote ‘you are what you eat’ could not be truer for surfing – ensuring good nutrition will optimise your surfing ability more than you think. Eating a balanced diet of protein, carbs and fat with a mix of meats (or vegan options), vegetables, fruit, legumes and grains will make sure you have enough energy before, during and after your surfing, training and day-to-day life.

All of these areas work together, especially when the goal is to stay light on your feet, strong through your core and shoulders, and energetic enough to handle a long session in the water.

Nutrition plays a particularly important role because losing excess weight should not mean cutting out the fuel your body needs for paddling, balance and recovery. A steady approach that combines sensible portions, nourishing foods and regular activity can support weight management without taking away from performance.

When additional help with weight loss is needed, Coby Health takes a broader approach that can include GLP-1 medication treatments alongside healthy lifestyle habits when appropriate. The idea is to support a healthier body while keeping enough strength, energy and mobility for the activities you actually enjoy, rather than chasing a number on the scale at the expense of fitness.

If you want to talk more about surfing training or booking a lesson to improve your skills, please call us on 1800438938 or book online here !

Stay Safe 🙂

Emma

Resource: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-stretching
Resource: https://aaptiv.com/magazine/types-of-cardio
Resource: https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/ultimate-nutrition-guide-surfers/24673