The ocean can be mesmerizingly beautiful—gentle offshore winds, groomed lines, and perfect green-blue tubes. That’s when it’s as good as it gets for any wave rider. But behind it’s beauty, is a potentially dangerous beast. And, on the other hand, there are times the beast isn’t hiding, and it can be downright scary just looking at it.
Just when you feel like you’re comfortable with it, it gives you a good beating. Then blesses you with a wave of your life. Then again another good beating. No one is ever completely comfortable. And if they are, they are making a foolish mistake.
The ocean is so hard to understand because it’s so unpredictable. To be “good” in the water, physical strength and endurance is one small piece—and experience can be understandably advantageous. But, when the unpredictable happens, only a calm and calculated mind can get you through.
While you’re most likely not plotting on rushing a mountain of water at Nazaré or Mavericks, or scooping into a freight train in Puerto Escondido, but maybe you’d like to feel a bit more confident when your local spot is maxing. Here are a few moves to supplement your training with:
1. Scorpion
2. Wheel pose
3. Single-arm pulldown
4. Plank pull through
5. Star plank
6. Plank shoulder taps
Considering that these are only supplemental exercises, it’s strongly advised that they are combined with a well-rounded general fitness plan consisting of exercises such as squats, deadlifts, rows, and a variety of presses. One complete plan to follow could be Built for the Beach v3.0.
Furthermore, interval training such as wind sprints and weighted wind sprints coupled with longer distance steady-state cardio will improve cardiovascular endurance for hold downs, long paddles, and marathon sessions.
Mental fitness is also a major factor when it comes to staying calm in sketching situations. Fifteen to twenty minutes of meditation and conscious breathing is recommended.
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