does anyone else get cramps while they're surfing? I usually get them on my hamstrings after a while (2-3) hours nonstop water time. Also, when the waters a little chilly and i'm not wearing a wetsuit or the waters cold and i'm only wearing a spring suit, my arms get sore really fast. I'm very active (I swim 2-4 miles a day nov.-march) so I don't know whats causing these.
Yeah, I have gotten them in my calves after a couple of hours out in cold water. Especially if there are lulls. Gotta try to stay warm and loose. Like the previous people have said - force yourself to take a break and hydrate! I stretch before, during and after as well. Maybe some windmills for your arms to keep the blood in them.
if it's cold and i haven't taken a wave for a while, my legs get very tight. i feel like they're cold and don't have enough blood flowing. don't have a loose flow like i will earlier in a session.
I think my girlfriend gets cramps. I'll ask her what she does for them and i'll get back to you. Don't you go swimming those miles its not November yet.
i only get sore if the lineup is really far out or im paddling over to masonboro down at wb and am in a wetsuit. but usually i eat healthy (sometimes) but mostly i dont eat healthy cause i burn like more than the usuall human in calories since im so active all the time. but i eat like bannanas and drink tons of gatorade and stretch before and after surfing and eat some sugar. but my legs like after i get off a wave i like pull something in my knee and it hurts and cant bend it for liek10 min is that safe. but just eat the right food thats on thre food pyramid unless your me, then you goota eat more.
There are two notable times that I got a cramp so bad that I wanted to get out: 1. I went up to sit on my board and my hip (?) hurts like heck whenever my legs spread out. 2. Took a wave, wiped-out, immediate charlie-horse. They're scary when you're surfing because you can't move My dad said that he read that the dye used in Gatorade is like a poison and some kid drank too much during football and like passed out or died or something. Personally, I'd go with water, just because it's what God meant for us to drink, and it's so nourishing yet it's pure... If I surf in the morning, I eat like a banana, and i stretch before every session (I forgot though last session ). But I haven't gotten a cramp in a while...
I swam for the DNREC Hydro survey crew for 3 yrs. monitoring beach erosion. I'd have to swim 500' Lines perpendicular to the coast at a rate of about 10 per day. 36 degrees in Feb will bring about cramps. Everything works if you ask me but I've had a lot of success with 2 calcium supplements in the morning with plenty of water (not gatorade, the sugars act like salt accelerating dehydration) an avacado with my lunch (twice the potassium of a banana) and more water. Cramps would usually hold off until the end of the day if at all. Getting cramps in the surf zone can be a dangerous situation and many times we are forced to work against the cramping muscle in an effort for self preservation, when this occurs soreness can result and just 3 ibuprofen will help ease the soreness.
the real secret! if you know me or my brother you will know we can paddle and surf very very very long. I am writing a book on how we do it but I will let you in on my little secret...SHHHHHH! we eat lots of waffles. woop cream and syrup on top to load the carbs high! seriously. i read a study that shows an increase intake of carbs, (not just fluid) can increase muscular endurance by 70%. I've trained as a triathlete and watermen for 15 years. i eat alot. i do train very hard, but my diet is simple, untill i start the marathon sessions. eat eat eat. i might have an apple for fiber, but a dozen donuts is common b4 i surf for 4 hours! eat up suckas!
what would we do with out ibuprofen? i spent a week this summer with my friends and our dads hiking part of the appalchian trail sorry if i spelled it wrong. but this one day we hike a mountain and it was tough as you know what and on the way down i twisted my ankle that i about had to get surgery done on before this trip but i took like 6 advils before i went to sleep and next day the swelling was down and i just taped it up and was good to go.
im gonna try that before i go surfing or go train for lax. but i do eat alot like 5,000 calories a day my mom once said. its like when my mom buys something from the grocery store that day its gone that night i eat so much.