The Journey Towards Having More FUN Surfing
Surfing means different things to different people, but should always remain at its core
Fun
Lack of progression and fatigue leads to frustration which then leads to an unpleasant lineup. Nobody wants that. The first step in thwarting this downward spiral is to improve your entire surfing experience, from the pre-surf ritual, paddling out, deciding on a spot to surf, making adjustments, choosing the wave for you, riding with flow, kicking out, sharing with others, and finally exiting the water to talk story with others afterwards. At its root, to have more fun means to improve. It doesn't matter where you start in this journey of progression, from novice to pro, you can always improve and enjoy the experience of surfing just a little ... bit ... more.
Where's My Jet Ski Assist - Part 2 - Top 3 Duck Dive Techniques
The Epic Conclusion to How We Can Enjoy a Large Beach Break Day without Jet Skis
In the following video, I break down the second key to enjoying a beach break session and provide you with some techniques you can use to improve your experiences out in the water.
See you in the water,
Rob
Where's my Jet Ski Assist? Part 1
Are pro surfers just lazy? Of course not.
The reason they use Jet Ski Assist in the Billabong Rio Pro contest is for the benefit of the audience. It was boring watching them struggle in the old days.
But we are not pro surfers, and we do not have Jet Ski Assist. So how do we get to enjoy large beach break days?
In the following video, I break down one of two keys to enjoying a beach break session and provide you with a workout that you can try on your own to improve your surfing fitness.
See you in the water,
Rob
Learn to Catch Any Wave
How Nat Young catches an impossible wave in the closing minute of Round 5 in the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest - the three techniques he uses to catch the wave that eventually led him into the Finals
In the video below I analyze a wave Nat Young caught in the dying minute of Round 5 against Josh Kerr that propelled him into the next round and subsequently led him into his first World Tour Finals appearance. I cover three key techniques Nat uses, how they relate to swimming, and how you can use them to improve your paddling.
Below the video I have posted swim sets and drills for you to practice a few of these techniques. Enjoy.
I welcome comments and questions. Please share with your friends if you find it helpful.
See you in the water...
A warm up and warm down are required for each of these sets:
1. SWIM SET - purpose: to feel the difference between head up and head down freestyle
8x50, 0:20 rest, alternate half laps between head down and...
Best Swim Stroke to Improve Your Paddling - Head Up Freestyle Example Swim Sets
I received a lot of positive feedback from the Paddle Battle Analysis between Kelly Slater and Bede Durbidge. So here are two swim sets you can try on your own to help you improve your paddling - a beginner and an advanced. A warm up and warm down are required for each:
1. This first swim set is taken from one of the XSWIM for Surfers Building a Base workouts, however, in the Building a Base workout, dryland exercises complement the swimming set after each repetition. This is a good beginner style head up freestyle swim set.
4x200s (8 laps in a 25 meter or 25 yard pool), 80% effort, completed as follows:
1st 200 - 1st-7th 25 regular freestyle, 8th 25 (last lap) head up freestyle
2nd 200 - 1st-5th and 7th 25 regular freestyle, 6th and 8th 25 head up freestyle
3rd 200 - 1st-3rd, 5th, and 7th regular freestyle; 4th, 6th, and 8th head up freetyle
4th 200 - odd 25s regular freestyle, even 25s head up freestyle
Instead...
Okay, so what is an XSWIM swimming workout for surfers?
I have to at least get this out of the way - here are the 6 W's for an XSWIM swim workout for surfers:
1. WHAT is XSWIM for SURFERS?
A unique swimming workout for surfers that incorporates various exercises and surf specific exercises. The swimming sets are designed specifically to mimic surfing and the different types of scenarios a surfer will face - point break, reef break, outer reef, beach break, etc.
1a. WHAT can it do for me?
Improve your surfing fitness (lose weight, gain strength, increase endurance), increase your confidence in the water, supplement your existing training, help you break through your performance plateau.
2. WHO is it for?
Surfers looking to improve their surfing fitness
Surfers tired of being out of shape when the waves come up
Surfers looking to improve their surfing performance and stamina
Paddleboarders and surfers looking to increase their paddling strength
All levels of surfers, all levels of swimmers.
3. WHERE can I do...
