Why should surfers improve their flexibility?

Anouk Govil. Learning how to surf can be painful and exhausting especially for those who are in it for the long run. This is why it’s important for surfers to find other forms of workouts and physical activities that will strengthen their entire body. Aside from balance, flexibility is also an important skill that they should develop.

Anouk Govil. As surfers will be dealing with the waves, it’s important for them to learn how to control their bodies while on the board. Expanding their range of motion and learning how to stretch their bodies will help them conquer the waves safely. Though it looks easy, riding the waves requires awareness of the sea, one’s board, and the body. Knowing how to go beyond one’s physical limitations with flexibility exercises will allow a surfer to master the activity.

Surfing can quickly become a full body workout. When the unused parts of the body are trained to become more flexible, a surfer will be able to improve their posture and technique. Parts like the shoulders, head, arms, and core, when conditioned will allow a surfer to move swiftly. When a body is flexible, they can balance on the board and shift their body weight to where it needs to be without wiping out. Anouk Govil.

One of the common injuries among surfers include the shoulders and the back. As many of them focus on strengthening the lower body, doing targeted stretches will focus on the upper body. Learning how to efficiently move the arms, the shoulders, and to stand without exerting the back muscles will be beneficial especially for long-time surfers who might need to correct their form. Anouk Govil.