There is mounting evidence that surfing does, in fact, make you happier. Most recently, in December of 2022 a study was released in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health that showed a positive relationship between surfing and mental well-being.
They've shown that all exercise has positive effects on depression by boosting dopamine, endorphins, and adrenaline, aka “the happy hormones.” Surfing also feels good because getting sun kissed increases serotonin, the “feel good chemical,” which antidepressant drugs do too.
Evidence showing the mental health benefits of surfing ranges from improving self-esteem and reducing social isolation to treating depression and other mental disorders. Such evidence mainly comes from specific surf therapy programs.
The practice of grounding, meditation, stress, and recovery trains the brain and body to relax. If you graph a surfing session, you will see the relax-stress-relax repeat over and over. It becomes a habit and the surfers become efficient at relaxing.
Surfers can get angry for lots of reasons, some of the most common are not catching any waves, localism and other surfers acting dangerously.
The Surfer Mentality is a simple, powerful application of this metaphor: When a surfer gets up on a wave, they enjoy the present moment, even though they know with certainty that the wave will eventually end. They fully enjoy THIS wave, with the wisdom and awareness that there are always more waves coming.
Benefits of Surf Therapy for People Living with Disability
Research has shown Surf Therapy can have huge benefits for people living with a disability, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, Global Developmental Delay, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
With regards to surfing, we can understand that the brain releases dopamine in many different situations. Whether it's an anticipated swell, thinking about your next surf, or the simple the feeling of success when you've caught an amazing wave.
Surfing releases a cocktail of feel-good chemicals into your brain. According to Harvard Medical School, regular exercise improves memory by stimulating certain chemicals in the brain, which, in turn, help new blood vessels to grow and brain cells to survive.
A lack of oxygen will make you feel tired after surfing, will lead to grogginess, and will hinder protein synthesis and muscle growth, making you feel sore as all heck.
If you surf often (especially if you follow it with a post-surf shampoo), your hair can become stripped of its natural protective oils.
Urge surfing is very popular in the treatment of addictions, as a distress tolerance skill in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and as a tool for emotional management in many other disciplines (e.g. ACT , CBT ).
The most common surf fear is that of wave height. Many fear riding big waves for three commonly cited reasons: the wipeout from the top of a giant wall of water, the chance of hitting a reef or a rocky bottom and drowning, or the loss of breath.
For many, surfing is like a form of therapy or mediation. Also, sunshine is an important source of vitamin D and regular exposure is good for your health. When you surf, your body will release adrenaline and endorphins which make you feel happy and excited.
Just like any non-impact sport, there is no age limit for surfing.
Don't be surprised if you feel sore and tired the day after you go surfing. Even if you wanted to surf every day, it's not advisable to push your body to the limits by going out surfing on consecutive days. No matter how much you love the sport, there will come a point when it's not physically possible to surf.
However, previous studies have suggested that consistent environmental exposure during surfing, such as prolonged time exposed to wind, sunlight, and water, can increase the likelihood of developing chronic, non-musculoskeletal conditions, such as exostosis or pterygium [12,14,15].
Curt film release — Curt Harper is a SoCal surfing legend who's never let autism come in the way of doing what he loves. Watch the full Curt documentary here. “Everybody that surfs in Southern California knows Curt, he's famous,” explains pro Dane Reynolds. Curt Harper was diagnosed with autism aged just two years old.
Olympians Simone Biles and Michael Phelps have both shared their ADHD diagnoses and parts of their treatment plans. Both have included sports—Ms. Biles is a gymnast and Mr. Phelps is a swimmer—in lifestyle management.
Brah. Slang term for brother, friend, fellow surfer.
Surfers are ambitious.
They are always looking to be the best at what they do and try to separate themselves from the pack. You'll also find that surfers don't waste time sitting around and doing nothing. They are always looking to improve themselves, and they challenge themselves to be their best every day!