Do you think lifting is beneficial for surfing?

Ahh.... just lay on the couch and watch surf movies.... lift plenty of heavily laden alcohol mugs to your mouth.....you'll be a shredding genius come spring. Trust me on this...

 

Trust me, once you reach a certain age, if you want to keep surfing on 6-foot-something board you will be doing some kind of resistance/weight training. You can swim or paddle for miles - and you should for cardio - but your body doesn't do "muscle" like it used to. Without other training, and core stuff is fantastic, you start to go backward.

For a good example of the benefits of weight training check out the article on VB/East Coast legend Bob Holland in the latest Surfer's Journal. He's been lifting for 40 years - he's now 81. And he's still surfing on a 6'8"! There's a nice picture of him on page 93. He DOES not look 81!!

 

most of the elements of a typical "lifting" routine are designed for cosmetic results. Most of what looks good - barrel chest, big biceps, ripped abs - are useless for surfing at best, in many cases, detrimental. Also, learn from my mistake, don't overwork the shoulders while in the gym

 

ive found for shoulders, doing supersets w like a standing bb press 7 reps or so coupled w/ low weight high rep side raises do a good job prepping the shoulders. also, tons of arm circles keep the joints loose. there are plenty of exercises you can do in the gym to simulate surf-related movements, such as grabbing both sides of one of those big balls and doing pushups - really helps the duckdiving

 

Lifting in order to make yourself a better surfer is akin to bowling in order to get better at riding bikes. It's completely unrelated and probably won't help you enough to make it worth it. Whenever you feel like lifting weights, just go surfing instead, and I guarantee that that's going to improve your surfing more than any weight training regimen in the world would.

 

If you can go surfing 2-3 times a week, then surfing itself is obvioiusly your best conditioning exercise to most enjoy and be a better surfer. When you one of us landlocked schmucks and only get to surf once a month at best (or longer dry spells), then you need to find exercises that will make your one opportunity worthwhile and maximize your joy of surfing. I'm starting to run a few times a week and do alot of light shoulder weight exercises to mimic paddling endurance. Historically I get really frustrated when I go out to surf for the 1st time in months and I'm gasping for air on my paddleouts and my arms are like jello before I'm outback (and that's on a waist high day). I watch daily/weekly surfers run laps around me in the lineup and catch 5-10x the waves because they are in much better condition. I agree if you can't surf, probably the 2nd best workout is swimming laps in a pool. If you don't have access to a pool...then jogging/high rep. light weight training is probably 3rd best option. My guess is that most of the core training discussed probably just separates the top pros and top surfers for the next tier down to gain a slight edge. Most local heroes on down probably never would see too much surfing improvements from core training.

 

what you said makes sense but at the same time doesnt. the reason it doesnt make sense is some kids like me very skinny very healthy very muscular and very active burn alot of calories due to our fast metabolism so basically we gotta eat the foods high in calories and carbs to keep us going so remember that.

But for me i lift alot i try and go to the gym often and am very muscular and well built but probably the greatest thing for me in my surfing is to go out and just paddle. i invested in a foam board from costco and trust me greatest thing ever im out there in the water almost every day and if its small im just paddling like heck building my paddling muscles, then when it does get good im able to paddle out fast get the set waves with ease and paddle battle the kooks who try and challenge me, so trully paddling alot is your best friend.

 

Do cupcakes help?

 

Low weight... high reps. 3x/week. Balanced full body workout. And when I say low weight/high reps, I mean you should be doing 12-15 reps and at least 3 sets. 5 sets if you have the workout time. 3 is the minimum. But get the whole body routine in EVERY SESSION.... Legs, chest, back, shoulders, arms, abs. Non stop light weights... panting and puffing the entire time. At least one hour... an hour and a half if you have the time.

This will, at the same time, build strength and endurance, give your heart and lungs a workout, and burn fat.

What about that could possibly be BAD for surfing? I suggest you consult a professional exercise physiologist THAT SURFS if you have any doubts. I have, and I'm convinced.

 

pretty much summing up what everyone else is saying... think full body strengthening, endurance, flexibility, and of course nutrition... I think its about balance.

 

What if it's flat conway? Lifting is the **** it can give you a strong dose of adrenaline just like surfing. I do have to say if your trying to bulk and gain 40 lbs. your surfing is def gonna take a drop, less flexibility and your errors are gonna stick out more, you can readjust your self if your light but when your big your gonna be goin down.

 

Ditto Bro as you age your body loosing muscle and Its a battle to maintain and gain from the aging process I work out @ a Gym 2 & 3 times a week and Mtn bike too.
I talked to others my age and their routine too to stay in surfing shape. I'm very interested if any others have routines that will help us old guys and gals.