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Glam Monitor

How do surfers keep fit?

Author

Ava Wright

Updated on August 22, 2026

Use Simple Calisthenics to Target Your Muscles

Squats, pull-ups, crunches, lunges, push-ups, and burpees are just a few exercises that will engage the muscle groups involved in surfing. Think about the movements you make while you surf. The exercises you choose should strengthen the muscles you use when you surf.

How do surfers stay fit?

Swimming laps

It can be pretty boring to follow a black line back and forth, and back and forth, but the best and number one way to stay surfing fit is to swim. Surfing requires a lot of paddling, controlled and sometimes held breathing, and upper body strength.

Why are surfers in such good shape?

Strengthens muscles

As well as building muscle strength in your upper body and legs, the cross-training effect of surfing is a brilliant workout for your core, making it a full body workout. A lot of surf research suggests we use our trapezius, rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, obliques, triceps, biceps and deltoids.

How do I get a body like a surfer?

How to Build a Surfer's Body

  1. Knee-to-Chest Burpee. Stand straight, arms at your sides. ...
  2. Plank With Diagonals. Begin in a push-up position, elbows on the ground. ...
  3. Spider-Man Push-up. Start in high plank position. ...
  4. Extended Side Angle. ...
  5. Single-Leg Squat.

What kind of training do surfers do?

Surfing for extended periods of time, sessions in heavier breaks, and point break currents require full-body endurance. Surf training should also include some kind of endurance training that will prepare your body for extended periods of energy production. One of the best methods is interval training.

25 related questions found

Do you need to be fit to surf?

First, the obvious: it is a full body workout. Nearly every move you make while out on the water requires a combination of strength and cardio. But don't worry: you don't need to be ultra fit to get started. In fact, you don't have to be in perfect shape to surf or even start surfing.

Why is surfing so tiring?

Surfing is an exhausting sport because surfers are pushing their limits while trying to harness their fears. Regardless of experience level, surfers are constantly challenging themselves both physically and mentally in an effort to catch and ride waves.

Are surfers ripped?

Surfing provides a great workout for chest, arms, shoulders and core muscles. The combinations of muscles that surfing uses make it's one of the best all around workouts you can get from a given sport.

What body type is best for surfing?

Beyond the subjectivity of style, ectomorphs are technically superior surfers. Long, lean muscles allow these athletes to achieve body positions that facilitate both tighter and more elongated maneuvers.

Does running help surfing?

Staying active is the best way to surf more and better. A weekly running and jogging routine will directly impact your surfing. All you need is 30 minutes, twice a week. Running is not only good because it helps burn calories.

Why are surfers skinny?

Surfers get lean for many reasons. It is a combination of aerobic and resistance training work outs. Aerobics use fatty acids for fuel and recovery from intense muscle use also incorporates fatty acids for restoring energy, repairing, and rebuilding muscle.

Are surfers happy?

Surfers release a lot of adrenaline and endorphins while they are riding the waves. These hormones cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. A surge of adrenaline makes you feel very alive. Endorphins resemble opiates in their chemical structure and have analgesic properties.

Why are surfers so chill?

It concluded that surfers "describe the surfing sensation as a hybrid of meditative and athletic experience. Numerous empirical studies link both meditative experience and exercise with reduced incidence of depression and anxiety; this potentially suggests that surfers may endorse fewer symptoms of either disorder."

Is surfing once a week enough?

Surfing once, twice, or three times a week - it doesn't matter. As Duke Kahanamoku once said, "The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun." In order to have that fun, however, staying fit to surf is critical. Improving your surf technique depends on how ready you are to challenge the next wave.

Is surfing good cardio?

In addition to providing a good cardio workout (try paddling over waves and see how hard your heart pounds), surfing is a whole-body workout. Murphy says that paddling mostly works the upper back muscles and the deltoids (shoulder muscles).

Do pro surfers lift weights?

However, this often followed by the common question: do surfers lift weights? Yes, many do since weightlifting gives them the strength to pop up fast and turn harder, and this includes 2019 World Champion, Italo Ferreira.

Why are surfers short?

The fact that twelve of the world's top 34 surfers are precisely 5' 9″ is probably just coincidence (or is it?!), but in many ways being short is advantageous to surfing. Less height allows for a low center of gravity, leading to good balance and a strong power base.

How tall is the average surfer?

The Average Men's CT Surfer is 24, 5'11", and 169lbs | The Inertia.

Should I lose weight to surf?

While “losing weight” may be a misnomer since muscle is heavier than fat, surfing will definitely help you burn fat and excess calories. The average surfer burns 400 calories an hour while surfing. Since surfing is so fun, you're likely to spend more time doing it opposed to other grueling or boring forms of exercise.

Why do surfers have broad shoulders?

First, they spend a lot of time in the prone position (belly down) with the head raised. This position causes the muscles on the back of the neck to engage, causing greater strength over time. Secondly, surfing requires strong use of the deltoids, latissimus dorsi and most importantly, the trapezius.

Are there fat surfers?

Not only can fat people surf but some fat surfers like Jimbo Pellegrine, Shawn Briley and James Mitchell have been the best to ever do it. Fat people may have a steeper learning curve and benefit from a larger board but can certainly still learn to surf.

Why is surfing addictive?

SURFING ADDICTION IS ALL ABOUT BRAIN CHEMISTRY

This results in you experiencing a flood of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Once you feel the intense joy and pleasure, your body and brain want you to keep going back for more. If you feel irritable after a few days away from your board, this is likely the reason.

Is surfing hard to learn?

The truth is, learning to surf is tough and it takes time, a long time. How hard can it be? From mastering the popup, reading waves to navigating the lineup and brutal paddle outs, surfing can at times be a hard sport to become good at.

How many surf lessons do I need?

However, the majority of people need around 3 or 4 surfing lessons to get the basics down pat, which includes paddling, popping up to a standing position and riding an already broken wave (the whitewater).

Does surfing hurt?

Common surfing injuries

Surfers most often sustain injuries to the leg, the head and face, the back, and the shoulder and arm. The main cause of injury is contact with a surfer's own board or someone else's board. 'Wiping out' and striking the seabed are also common causes of injury.