The benefits of swim training for surfers.

Surfing fitness and paddling are one and the same as being able to swim. The benefits of being able to swim, especially ocean swim are numerous.

​Anyone who surfs knows that paddling endurance is essential, arm, shoulder, core and basic overall strength and flexibility. We spend more time paddling than we do actually surfing on a wave. Plus, all leashes can break at some point so being a strong swimmer is crucial, especially if you are heading out into bigger waves.

Swimming requires plenty of stamina but surfers require stamina plus short bursts of energy and strength for paddle power to get out the back and onto waves. Because of this, surfers need something different from just traditional swim training if you want to build up stamina to continue paddling for wave after wave. Ideal training for surfing is swimming laps in a pool but you need some variation with drills. The best surfers in the world are all excellent swimmers. Get some good goggles and hit the pool and imagine yourself at the backline on a big day without a board. Designing your swim programs to help your surfing makes it easier to get motivated to jump in the pool and train. 

Due to the physical nature of surfing, pool training usually involves some kind of breath work to improve lung capacity, cardiovascular health, which also helps in keeping calm through wipeouts. Yoga training also helps the body make efficient use of oxygen, as well.

Swimming and surfing may have a lot in common, but they're far from the same sport. ... Although, swimming laps can help surfers gain some paddling fitness, stamina and breathing capacity. A program that challenges those areas along with some ocean swimming can be hugely beneficial for your confidence as well.

Swimmers and surfers use essentially the same muscles for propulsion but for different purposes and in slightly different ways. Freestyle swimming involves pulling the body through the water, keeping the body line long and straight while rotating the torso and kicking with the legs for more propulsion.
Paddling a surfboard is similar to freestyle swimming with regard to the 'pulling' part of the stroke.  Like swimming, the powerful muscles of the lats, back, arms and core are constantly engaged to paddle while keeping the body on the board and the head up.

Example drill sets:

• Warm up 200 metres light swimming, then 200 metres medium pace swimming.
• Swim 50 metres with clenched fists, then swim 50 metres  back with paddle hands and repeat once more.
• Swim 5 arm strokes with your head out of the water then drop your head swim 5 arm strokes, repeat for the full 50 metre lap.
• Swim front crawl breathing every 5 arm strokes This will also be a form of breath training for hold-downs.
• Once you have finished your first set and rested, then try breathing every 7 arm strokes. This is more demanding and you may need to give yourself additional rest.
• The final set is straightforward, try sprinting for as long as you can with your head down, no breathing and then swim easy breathing normal to the end of the pool to complete the lap.
• With all swim sessions you should try to swim down for 200 metres light swimming.

If you want an individual swim program to help improve and enhance your surfing fitness and breath control 
​contact me to discuss.