| If you are only ever starting how to surf the waves, | | | | out to the waves. Spine stretching exercises would |
| then you should know that the first steps to | | | | help develop the necessary muscles -- back and |
| conditioning for surfing should always be done on dry | | | | abdominal muscles, to be precise -- that will help you |
| land. Otherwise, you might be spending more time | | | | maintain your balance while on your board. Lastly, |
| simply floating about, or even opening the possibility | | | | lower body stretches would help strengthen the |
| of injuring yourself out in the waters. So how exactly | | | | joints and ligaments of your hips, knees and ankles. |
| do you conditioning yourself before you hit the water | | | | At the same time, this would promote longer |
| running? Here are some tips you can try. | | | | musculature for your thighs, legs and calves too. |
| 1. Get to your ideal weight through diet and | | | | Just one note though: stretch your muscles gently. |
| exercises. Nothing can throw you off your board | | | | Try not to push yourself too far. Damaged ligaments |
| faster than you carrying extra poundage on your | | | | and joints would hinder your performance on the |
| midsection, hips and thighs. Although you can surf | | | | waves, and can make further training a very painful |
| with a beer belly hanging down your front, you are | | | | experience. |
| most likely not to perform well when the waters | | | | 3. Balancing exercises. Again, maintaining perfect |
| become rougher. Needless to say, "surfing" on placid | | | | balance is critical when riding the waves. As a |
| waters is like floating about in a kid's pool. Try to trim | | | | beginner, it would be hard enough just to stay afloat |
| down to the nearest approximation of your ideal | | | | on your board while you remain upright. But once you |
| weight, and you will find that your endeavors out in | | | | start cruising the waves, your body must |
| the waters would become much easier. | | | | automatically adjust itself in order to ride tougher |
| 2. Stretch whenever possible. One of the most | | | | waters. Your conditioning for surfing exercise regimen |
| favorable qualities you would need is to become | | | | should therefore include workouts that will teach you |
| physically flexible. You should always do stretching | | | | how to maintain balance. Some of the best ones you |
| exercises as part of your conditioning for surfing | | | | can subscribe to are: yoga, tai chi and dancing. |
| exercise regimen. Upper body stretching, particularly | | | | Land based sports like skating and rollerblading can |
| those that are dedicated to strengthen arms and | | | | also teach you balance, as with water based sports |
| shoulders are essential, especially when you paddle | | | | like wakeboarding and sailing. |