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Start Cross Training To Maximise Your Surfing Fitness!

By Amanda Boyd

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 24Sep2009
Word count: 596
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Surfing is a physically demanding sport, you need to be reasonably fit and confidently be able to swim at least 50 metres in open water. If you need to increase your surfing fitness, then surfing itself is one of the best ways to do it but there is also a number of other cross training activities you can do that target different ranges of muscle groups helping you to surf faster, harder and for longer.

Swimming is a fantastic cross training sport for surfers. If you are new to surfing, swimming is an excellent yet gentle way to start improving your surfing fitness. Where possible practice in the sea rather than the swimming pool and for beginners this will help you to accustom you to the motion of the ocean. Swimming helps develop your paddle strength as it involves using a lot of the same muscle groups as surfing such as the muscles in your shoulders, upper back, chest, core and legs and you will also have the added benefit of a great cardiovascular workout. Also by increasing your confidence in the water you will push your surfing further and enjoy it all the more!

For another great cardiovascular workout to improve your surfing fitness, try running. For some it's mind numbingly boring! However the benefits can be immense in terms of endurance and stamina. To really give your legs a good workout and to minimise the impact on your joints compared to road running, try running on the harder sand near the edge of the water.

Many professional surfers have realised the benefits of Yoga. It not only increases flexibility, core strength, balance and endurance but also helps to develop your mental stamina. All these factors are crucial in surfing. Yoga also helps to develop calmness and patience which are also so very important for surfers. What's more you will also benefit from improved posture, improved breathing and the minimised risk of injury. Yoga is a wonderful way to increase your surfing fitness, it is simply a great all round activity for both the body and mind.

Finally functional training can be of immense benefit to surfers. Boyle (2004), in his book 'Functional Training for Sports, Human Kinetics', states "In its simplest form, functional training teaches athletes how to handle their own body weight. Essentially functional training focuses on exercises that involve doing similar movements to what you would do whilst out in the surf. By focusing on surf specific exercises your surfing fitness will be unbelievably boosted and will take your surfing to a higher level. The real beauty of functional training is that you don't need to be a member of a gym. You just need a flat surface, a mat if you wish and some very low cost equipment such as a fit ball, medicine ball and / or a weight plate. Functional Training helps to develop stamina, flexibility, superb core strength and fantastic power in the arms and legs. There are a number of excellent functional training programs available out there. It is worth taking looking at these and finding one that suits you.

By combining all of these cross training activities you will enjoy your surfing even more and in no time you will be performing those mind blowing tricks that you thought you would never be able to master! If you are going on a surfing trip soon, start your surf training program 4 - 6 weeks before you leave. By the time you are leaving you will be confident that you will be able to surf harder, longer and faster than ever before!

For a details of a complete functional training program designed specifically for surfers, which includes training for core strength, balance, cardiovascular fitness, upper & lower body strength and flexibility, visit www.easysurffitness.com.

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