Paddling builds shoulder definition, strengthens the lower back muscles, and increases cardiovascular fitness. Duck-diving through waves builds arm strength: tricep strength in particular. Stomach to standing engages the system – in particular the core and pectoral muscles, and helps to build explosive power.
Strengthens muscles
As well as building muscle strength in your upper body and legs, the cross-training effect of surfing is a brilliant workout for your core, making it a full body workout. A lot of surf research suggests we use our trapezius, rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, obliques, triceps, biceps and deltoids.
Surfers get lean for many reasons. It is a combination of aerobic and resistance training work outs. Aerobics use fatty acids for fuel and recovery from intense muscle use also incorporates fatty acids for restoring energy, repairing, and rebuilding muscle.
Surfing is adaptable for all skill and experience levels. Paddling out to catch waves will help build cardiovascular and upper body strength, and popping up into your stance will work your legs and core. As you move through these steps you are working your overall endurance while having the time of your life.
Beyond the subjectivity of style, ectomorphs are technically superior surfers. Long, lean muscles allow these athletes to achieve body positions that facilitate both tighter and more elongated maneuvers.
It concluded that surfers "describe the surfing sensation as a hybrid of meditative and athletic experience. Numerous empirical studies link both meditative experience and exercise with reduced incidence of depression and anxiety; this potentially suggests that surfers may endorse fewer symptoms of either disorder."
As it turns out, it's a good thing for us surfers. Scientists believe that the hands and feet wrinkling up are an adaptation to being in the water. The wrinkles work like tire treads draining water away from our fingertips. This has been shown to help our grip while working with wet objects.
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.
The endorphins, adrenalin and serotonin we receive from surfing combined with the dopamine from the unexpected reward of waves make surfers not only feel good, but wanting more. The fact is, if we're not surfing, we're thinking about surfing, and that's just in our nature.
The most common surf fear is that of wave height. Many fear to ride 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.
Forget getting six-pack abs. You won't get one just by surfing. The rectus abdominus, which is the piece of muscle that you're trying to transform into a six-pack beer can, shouldn't be your primary concern. That's because it works together with other important muscles underneath your abdomen.
Most surfers tie up their hair so it stays out of their face when they're out catching waves. Over time, this creates waves or curls in the hair which is a signature part of the surfer look.
Surfing helps in toning the muscles:
This is also a great way to workout for your chest, back and shoulder muscles. Surfing also helps to build up good core muscles and boosting leg strength. Surfing on a regular basis can change our body shape drastically.
Surfing makes your body release endorphins. These are hormones that work as a natural feel good drug. You will hear a lot of surfers say they feel “stoked” after a surf session. This means they are excited and pleased after being in the water and catching waves.
If you surf often (especially if you follow it with a post-surf shampoo), your hair can become stripped of its natural protective oils.
There are approximately 2.5 million recreational surfers in Australia, 420,000 annual surf participants, 107 surf schools and 2,292 accredited surfing coaches. Over 1 in 10 Australians surf as a recreational activity.
Surfers Tend to Develop More Wrinkles
But it's not just the amount of time that surfers spend in the sun that makes them more prone to wrinkles. It's also a fact that many surfers don't take adequate precautions to protect their skin from the sun.
The hair of surfers is often damaged and bleached, brought about by frequent exposure to sunlight, humidity and salty water. Blonder or red headed individuals tend to be more affected, given that their pheomelanin is more sensitive.
Clearly the reflection of the sunlight of the water increases the intensity of ultra-violet exposure by the conjunctiva. Interestingly it's a lot more common on the side of the eye nearest the nose. This has been thought to be due to reflection of sunlight by the nose.
A Nose By Any Other Name--or Color
Oh, and you'll be needing some zinc oxide to protect your nose from sunburn. You know zinc oxide. It's that slimy white stuff that surfers and lifeguards have been smearing on their proboscises since Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon first hit the sand in “Beach Party.”
Research has found people high in sensation-seeking, which is the tendency for people to pursue thrill-seeking experiences, view the risks of sharks as lower. It is plausible that many surfers are high on sensation-seeking, which may help explain why they perceive the risk of sharks to be low.
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.