The Importance of Physical Fitness for Surfers, and Others....

The importance of physical fitness should be at number 1 on a person's balanced list of priorities.

You will find that understanding the 5 components of physical fitness and how they affect your surfing will motivate you to want to create a balanced training program for yourself.

Hey, why so serious?   you might ask....

Well, we all want to enjoy life, and especially our surfing...and with the sport of surfing, the fitter, stronger and more flexible you are, the more you'll be able to do in the water.

These fitness pages are intended for surfers (or anyone else wanting to get fit) at any level - from beginner to elite.
Take from them as much as you need.

We're using the  5 components of physical fitness  as our starting point.

1. Cardiovascular Fitness

2. Muscular Strength

3. Muscular Endurance

4. Flexibility

5. Body composition

in actual fact,  for surfing, we need to take into consideration a further 3 components of physical fitness

1. Balance

2. Agility

3. Power

So yes, as surfers, in discussing the importance of physical fitness, there are actually 8 components of physical finess to consider!

We've subdivided the Surfing Fitness pages on this site into these 8 categories. (Use the top menu or the links in this page to explore them.)

Your ability to develop good surfing techniques will be largely affected by how well you score in the 8 categories above.

Remember that "Perfect Practise Makes Perfect" and if you are too tired or too weak during a surf session, you're going to end up practising MISTAKES by the time you get halfway through your surf session.

Your brain - the "computer" that makes you what you are, develops neurological pathways (highways, with enough practise)  through the process of repetition,  

This is not a selective process - you will become what you most consistently repeat (your physical and mental patterns).

 "Practise, yes repetition, is the mother of all skill....but be sure to practise enough of the right stuff!"

So take some time to work on your physical preparation for surfing - it will make the most massive difference to how well you'll be able to surf.