Surf Fitness- Swimming A Mile In A Pool- YES, A Mile!
This sounds intense, but if I were learning how to surf again, this would become one of my biggest priorities! Some time in the future, you're going to be good enough to paddle to the "outside." The water is deep out there and if you crash on a big wave, your cord can break and you'll lose your surfboard. When that happens, you'll want your swimming endurance to be at the highest levels. And it's not a matter of "it might break," it's "when it breaks." It happens to all surfers eventually.
Swimming a mile is a challenging but rewarding goal that can benefit surfers in many ways. Swimming a mile can help surfers improve their physical and mental fitness, as well as their surfing skills and performance. Here are some of the reasons why it would be good for surfers to learn how to swim a mile:
- Swimming a mile can improve surfers' endurance, which is essential for surfing. Surfing requires a lot of stamina, as surfers have to paddle out, catch waves, and recover from wipeouts. Swimming a mile can help surfers build the endurance needed to surf longer and harder, as well as cope with changing conditions and situations in the water. Swimming a mile can also help surfers burn calories, boost their metabolism, and reduce their body fat percentage, which can improve their surfing performance and prevent injuries.
- Swimming a mile can improve surfers' strength, which is important for surfing. Surfing requires a lot of strength, especially in the upper body, as surfers have to paddle, pop up, and maneuver their boards. Swimming a mile can help surfers strengthen their muscles in their core, arms, legs, and back, which can improve their paddle power, stability, and endurance.
Swimming a mile can also help surfers activate and engage their muscles, which can help them control and maneuver their boards more effectively.
- Swimming a mile can improve surfers' breath control, which is vital for surfing. Surfing requires a lot of breath control, as surfers have to deal with wipeouts, hold-downs, and oxygen deprivation. Swimming a mile can help surfers improve their breath control by teaching them to breathe more efficiently and effectively, both in and out of the water. Swimming a mile can also help surfers develop their lung capacity and oxygen uptake, which can help them cope with longer and deeper hold-downs.
- Swimming a mile can improve surfers' confidence, which is essential for surfing. Surfing requires a lot of confidence, as surfers have to face their fears and challenges in the ocean. Swimming a mile can help surfers boost their confidence by proving to themselves that they can achieve a difficult goal and overcome obstacles. Swimming a mile can also help surfers develop their self-awareness and mindfulness, which can help them tune in to their body and the environment. These skills can help surfers surf better by reducing stress, anxiety, and distractions.
As you can see, swimming a mile is a great way to improve your surfing skills. You don't need any equipment or a lot of space to do it. You just need a pool and some goggles. You can start with shorter distances and gradually increase your mileage as you get fitter and faster. You can also mix up different types of swimming strokes and techniques to keep yourself motivated and challenged. You can do swimming before or after surfing or on days when there are no waves. The choice is yours.
The important thing is to have fun and enjoy the journey. Swimming and surfing are both amazing ways to improve your health and happiness. They are both ways to challenge yourself and express yourself. They are both ways to live in the moment and feel alive.
Comments