SURF FIT
Welcome to Hydr8 Board Sports Surf Fit monthly training column.
Every month there will be a new and exciting article focusing on an area of fitness and training to help all you water sports enthusiasts make the most of your chosen sport.
We have linked with Gary Hill Personal Training to provide you with the most up-to-date expert advice. For more information visit www.garyhillpersonaltraining.com
The first of our monthly installments will focus on why we need to hit the gym to get the most from the water.
‘RIP IT UP IN THE GYM!’
Training for sports ‘off the field’ is considered an essential component of any athletes schedule, regardless of their chosen discipline. More commonly known as Strength & Conditioning, athletes use the gym in conjunction with their sports specific training practice to improve their performance and put them ahead of the game. Whether you are a top level professional athlete or a complete novice, you should be in the gym if you want to improve your performance.
How many of you train ‘off the water’ to improve your performance on the water? Whether you surf, kite, wind surf, ski, paddle board, or body board (just to name a few), I can guarantee to get better on your board, you need to get off your board! All of the above require good balance, coordination, strength, agility, power, speed, muscular & cardiovascular endurance, and stability, injury prevention and good mental focus. By simply doing your sport, you will touch on the above areas, and you will improve, but you will eventually hit a plateau and find it difficult to step up to the next level. If you are happy with jumping on your board every now and then just to enjoy the waves, then fair enough, but if you strive to improve and be your best, then it makes sense to work on the components of your sport in more detail. This is where Strength & Conditioning comes into play...
By following a planned and progressive training plan tailored to meet your requirements, you will improve your performance on the water...GUARANTEED! When you build a house, you must build a foundation before you lay your bricks...the same applies for your body...before you develop your body into a lean mean surfing machine, you must build a foundation. This requires working from the inside first before you start lifting heavy weights. This first phase targets our Core Stability and Muscular Endurance. Basically working on all those deep stabilizing muscles that help protect our joints and keep them stable. By achieving great core stability and muscular endurance we will prevent unwanted injuries (in and out of the water), use our body the way it is designed to move (correct imbalances and rehab old injuries), improve balance,coordination and flexibility, and most importantly create a stable base to move on to the next phases of our training (For example increasing muscle size, strength and power).
Next month’s Hydr8 Board Sports Surf Fit will break down the first phase of your Surf Fit Training Program...Stability & Endurance. But for those of you who are keen to get into the gym and start your journey to peak physical condition, we have highlighted a few exercises to get you started..
PLANK
HYPEREXTENSION
ROTATION
SQUAT
(each exercise to show regression, progression & pictures)
For more information please contact Gary Hill Personal Training on 07595735380 or garyhill@personaltraining.com or visit their website www.garyhillpersonaltraining.com.
