Surfing is fun and it’s supposed to be fun. It is a great sport. However, if you are not in good physical condition, you will end up disappointed and you will not have fun. First off, if you’re not in good paddling shape, you’ll have a hard time paddling your surfboard through the incoming waves to get to the spot where you can start catching waves. Paddling to the best spot in the lineup to catch waves can be anywhere from fifty to four hundred yards. If you’re exhausted when you come out in the lineup, you’ll need to have a good surf break resting instead of catching waves. Chances are you won’t even make it.

Some of you will be so out of shape that you won’t be able to get through the incoming waves and will be forced to turn around and head back to the beach where you started. That doesn’t sound like a successful fun day of surfing.

I was once told that “couch potatos don’t make it in surfing.” That really makes sense. This probably applies more to part-time surfers because many surfers surf year-round. However, even year-round, surfers need to keep training to reach their full potential for a good surfing experience every time they go out.

Surfers need to stay motivated and stay in good physical condition because you know when the good surf comes you’ll be ready. What this means is that when there are days and sometimes weeks without surfing, you should stay in the gym lifting weights, stretching, working on your core muscles, and doing your cardio training.

A good way to stay in good physical condition is to have a training partner. Ideally, your training partner will be one of your surf buddies and you can motivate each other. If you get bored of the gym, go to the nearest body of water and go rowing and running. This will keep your shoulders and cardiovascular system in shape while you spend at least half an hour strenuous paddling on your surfboard, paddleboard or SUP. Don’t take the easy road. Stay disciplined.

I think you should all find something that inspires you to stay in shape so that when the good waves come you are ready. Personally, my inspiration is to think about getting in the water with good waves to surf and then surf like a champion. For some of you, your inspiration might be the motivation to compete with your fellow surfers and your desire to be better than them. For others of you, you get inspired by watching surf movies and imagining that you are riding the waves. Then there are others who just want to make sure that they are in good physical condition and that is what they do, they stay in good condition all year round.

Another very important aspect to your success in surfing is the food you eat and the sleep you sleep. Good food and lots of sleep are essential. Eating healthy will ensure that you keep your weight in check, keeping fat low and your muscles in good shape. Eight hours of sleep is recommended to give your body a chance to recover from the previous day’s activities and prepare you for the next day of good surfing. You need both of these items to ensure you are in good physical condition for your surfing fun and success.

A simple recommendation that I will give you is that you eliminate sugar, processed foods and wheat from your daily food intake. Physically, you can do chest and shoulder exercises along with setups and cardio.

Keep in mind that your physical condition is a very important part, if not the most important, of surfing. If you ignore keeping fit, you will not enjoy one of the best sports in the world. It will get tedious and eventually you’ll be back on the couch or some other activity that doesn’t come close to the fun you’d have if you were surfing.

Regardless of the sport you play, you must be in good physical condition. Another thing is that you also have to be in good mental condition. If you know you’re going to surf and you’re going to tire of paddling before you surf, your mental approach to surfing will be poor. You need to be excited every time you surf. Being in good physical condition, having good waves to surf and having a good mental attitude will make your surf session a fantastic experience. You will be excited!

There are a couple of other things that need to be addressed that have to do with your physical conditioning. They are stretching and hydration. You have to be agile and all stretched out. It is important that you stretch your entire body every day, especially before you go surfing.

Keeping your body hydrated is also very important. Your body is about 66% water. You have to keep the water level high. It is very important that you drink plenty of water every day. It keeps the whole body, including the brain, in good shape. Forget cokes, alcohol and caffeine and stick with lots of water.

The last part of the puzzle is having the right equipment. If you spend time getting into good physical condition, then it makes sense that you have the right type and design of surfboard to perform at your highest level. It takes a lot of commitment on your part to get in shape, so make a commitment to get the right surf gear.

Surfing is supposed to be fun. Get in good physical condition and go do it! Take this pleasure that you will get from surfing and apply it to your daily life. Always remember to surf life!