How To Improve Your Surfing Skills

Surfing to many is so much more than just an entertaining sport, it is a connection between them and the ocean and a key part of their life. Though mastering the intricate skill of riding waves is harder than it might look, sorry to burst that bubble. Like with any athletic sport, the only way to improve and upskill relies on commitment, training, preparation and determination. It doesn’t matter if you’re a newcomer to the sport or a seasoned professional wanting to sharpen your skills, incorporating on-land training and mental exercises into your routine can significantly boost performance.

Game Training

One method which might be overlooked when seeking to refine your focus and perfect your reflexes – both of which are essential for surfing – is through gaming. Surfing-themed games or just fast-paced games like slots can really help hone in the mental agility required to read the waves and make those split second decisions when on that board. In the casinos.com review of New Zealand this is highlighted, as interactive slot games with surfing themes are said to help people engage their minds to mirror the fast-paced decision-making needed when surfing. Whilst it might not emulate the physical endurance of paddling out, fighting against the waves, gaming can be a fun complementary part of your training routine helping to improve focus, timing and decision-making.

Mental Preparation

Mental preparation, as mentioned, is one critical part of surf training, but the other side of training is physical conditioning. Both are equally as important and there are many different methods to take when training. Building surf-specific fitness is key, surfing demands a blend of flexibility, endurance and strength. Here is how to target key areas for your fitness routine.

Core strength is crucial for balance and control on the board therefore incorporating exercises like planks, russian twists and bosu ball balancing will improve your stability and engage your core.
Upper body strength is utilised when paddling out which is one of the most physically demanding aspects of surfing. To build up strength here focus on exercises such as push ups, pull ups and dumbbell rows.
Lower body strength really comes into play when you’re up on the board as your legs are the foundations keeping you there and steering. By working on squats, lunges and deadlifts you can strengthen your quads, hamstrings and glutes for stability.

Paddling

Another element of training that often gets overlooked as it should be pretty straight forward according to most is paddling. Paddling is an essential skill that when done effectively can save you a lot of energy and position you perfectly for that wave. To become a paddling pro, stick to the following training points:

Focus on your technique. Keep your head up, perform long and deep strokes and engage your core so your arms don’t get too tired.
Swim training to build up stamina and paddling strength.
Use resistance bands to mimic the paddling motion and strengthen the muscles used during this action.

It might seem up to now that you would need to be physically very strong to surf. That is not necessarily the case as your flexibility and mobility can prove to be more important. Surfing involves sharp turns, popping up quickly and adapting the changes in the waves as they are unpredictable. Flexibility training will help reduce the risk of injury and keep you agile on the water. Give Yoga or dynamic stretching a go to enhance flexibility, balance and will also help with mental clarity.

Mental preparation as mentioned above is just as important as physical endurance. Whether that be through fun activities like gaming to stimulate quick decisions or specific mind training tasks to help you remain calm under pressure and stay focused. Activities like meditation and visualisation allow you to actively practice mindfulness which improves concentration and will help you stay confident during challenging conditions.

Fueling Yourself

Surfing being so physically and mentally demanding means you must fuel yourself correctly to keep up. Fueling for optimal performance means:

Staying hydrated, drinking at least 2 LT of water a day, but even more after a long session in the sun.
A balanced diet that prioritises lean proteins, complex carbs and healthy fats that help you sustain energy levels.
Recovery is key. Training is important but so is resting, allowing your muscles and mind time to rest & repair with enough sleep will keep you revitalised each day.

Setting Goals For Progression

Lastly when trying to improve your surfing skills, remember that it is a journey and not an overnight transformation. Set yourself a realistic goal and timeline for progression, whether that is being able to just push up on a board or mastering a new trick. Keep track by keeping a journal or app so you can look back and give yourself encouragement for how far you get.

As you can see from this article, surfing is as much about land preparation as it is about being in the water. Focusing your training on surf specific fitness, mental agility and innovative training methods you will be able to unlock another level of performance.