The Surfing Blog

I get tired.  We all get tired.  We would love to surf all day every day, but we simply can’t.  Even if we have an entire day to fill with just surfing, we are forced to break the day into separate sessions.  However, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be doing anything and everything we can to prepare ourselves to go back out, especially when the waves are good. Here are a few things to consider as you refuel in-between sessions:

Stretch- It is easy to remember to stretch before you paddle out. A simple glance down the beach makes the variety of these stretches readily apparent. But stretching can also be useful immediately following a surf session.  Just like a distance runner takes a cool down lap, it can be so helpful to give your muscles a good, controlled stretch after getting out of the water.  Focus mainly on those areas that are most affected.  For example, constantly craning your neck while lying flat on your board really does a number on your neck.  Even a few minutes of rolling around and stretching your neck can really loosen up the muscles and prepare them for a rest.

Reenergize- This is the real debate I suppose.  How to get your spent energy back? 

Drink: The main concern is hydration.  You might be tempted to believe that being immersed and surrounded by water should somehow keep you hydrated, but you must resist this idea.  In High School I typically ended every session with a Slurpee.  I have since realized that quenching my thirst and a brain freeze were two completely different things.  Now, there are long lasting arguments between, Gatorade, Powerade, Monster, Red Bull, and pure water, but, again, the crux of the matter is hydration.  Water is cheap.  Gatorade tastes good.  Energy drinks make you crazy.  Regardless of whatever you choose, you need to make sure you drink enough liquids to keep your body performing all necessary biological reactions.  More than just a sip from a water bottle!

Food: It seems appropriate to go after a candy bar or some other high sugar food to give you a quick fix after you have just drained yourself of all energy. But this quick boost also leads to a quick crash.  The secret is really, as lame as it sounds, a balanced diet.  Foods high in complex carbohydrates and low in excess fats tend to release energy slowly helping you stay energized over a long period of time.  Whole grains, fruit and proteins help provide the most lasting energy.  A great in-between meal can just be a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, with some cut up fruit.  Beware of eating too much.  The last thing you want is to cramp up or up chuck in the water after gorging yourself.

Recuperate- You do not have to sleep. If you do sleep, a twenty minute power nap can leave you more alert and focused than the groggy affects of a longer nap.  Still, your body needs to time to rest, even if you are not sleeping.  Even if you don’t sleep, consider lying down, or finding a position where you can loosen up your muscles while your body rejuvenates.  Fight boredom with a surf magazine or watch the surfers out in the water.  Even a little thought-out analysis of your own surfing, right after or right before you go out, can really get you motivated to try new things and perfect some old ones, making your next session that much more exciting.  An appropriate period of relaxation is mandatory for building back up your energy.

It may be often overlooked, but a focused refueling can really do wonders for your surfing.

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