Surfing: The Ultimate Body Workout

Surfing gives your body the ultimate workout without you even knowing it. Might be a good time to start.

Surfing works the core, arms, builds upper body strength, promotes stamina and encourages balance. Apart from being a lot of fun, surfing burns approximately 396 calories an hour, and you barely notice.

Cameron Diaz revealed in an interview with David Letterman that she thinks surfing is “kind of like a celebration. You giggle and laugh and it’s good for your soul”. American Kelly Slater, 11 times world champion (male), believes “the joy of surfing is so many things combined, from the physical exertion of it, to the challenge of it, to the mental side of the sport.”

“The joy of surfing is so many things combined, from the physical exertion of it, to the challenge of it, to the mental side of the sport,” Kelly Slater.

Girls under 30 are continuously sticking it out in the surfing world generally dominated by males!. With the 80’s film Puberty Blues (1981) and Blue Crush (2002) inspiring women to give surfing a go, at Bondi Beauty, we can see why it’s still taking off. According to the British Surfing Association (BSA), the number of amateur female surfers has gone up by more than 300% since 2002, and public interest in female surfing is increasing.

The number of amateur female surfers has gone up by more than 300% since 2002, and public interest in female surfing is increasing.

History snapshot:

Surfing was first documented by the English who were circumnavigating the world over 200 years ago. It was the Hawaiians who introduced what would become the most popular water sport  in modern Australia, and the world.

Surfing was later introduced in Australia by Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and surfer, Duke Kahanamoku, in 1915 at Freshwater beach (on Sydney’s northern beaches). In front of amazed onlookers, Duke paddled out and demonstrated what the Hawaiians had been mastering for over a century – the art of surfing.

The Rise of  Famous Female surfers ….

There are a number of professional female surfers in the industry today including Australian Sally Fitzgibbons (22), American Bethany Hamilton (23), (best known for surviving a shark attack which resulted in the loss of her left arm), Australian Lane Beachley (41, Layne won the world title for female surfing 7 times), Australian Laura Enever (22) and American Alana Blanchard (23, also renowned for her fabulous booty). Aside from these industry professionals, celebrities including Cameron Diaz, Vanessa Hudgens, Reese Witherspoon, and Ashley Greene have also discovered the fun, fab workout.

Why surfing is good for you-

Professional surfers have incredibly toned bodies. Surfing utilises the entire abdominal region as the body goes from lying down on a board to standing, balancing on a board also requires the surfer to engage the core muscles to remain upright. Surfing is also a great way to improve shoulder strength.

Paddling requires a lot of shoulder rotations which ultimately improve the range of motion in the shoulder, also building up shoulder muscles.  Arms also benefit from surfing as they become strong and toned over time from paddling and pushing the body weight into a standing position.

Outside of strengthening the muscles in the upper body, surfing is also a great way to improve endurance and get the heart rate up. Surfers are continuously moving; whether it is paddling, catching a wave, or swimming, they are always in motion. The continuous motion ensures you can keep your body active and keep yourself in shape.

Surfers are continuously moving; whether it is paddling, catching a wave, or swimming, they are always in motion.

How to get started-

For beginners, learning on a larger board is helpful as it is steadier in the water (great for practicing how to stand up). If you don’t have access to a board, or want some help before you go out on your own, joining a ‘learn to surf’ group is always a good way to get involved,  as they provide the equipment and teach you how to get up on the waves! You may look goofy at first, but everybody has to start somewhere, right?

Duke Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian who introduced Australia to the surfing world once said “the best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.” Learning to surf can be frustrating, as you won’t always get it right, but eventually the feeling of standing up on your first wave will make it worthwhile.

Just think, all the time you spent practicing your new skill… you were fat burning and muscle toning without even realising it!

Duke Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian who introduced Australia to the surfing world once said “the best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.”

If you own or have access to a surfboard (and maybe a bit of know how), BB recommends grabbing your girlfriends and heading to the nearest beach to give it a go! Seven times (female) world champion, Layne Beachley, believes “there are so many people out there who will tell you that you can’t. What you’ve got to do is turn around and say, ‘I can. Watch me’.

What’s not to love about surfing:

  • It’s fun
  • It keeps you fit/active (think toned arms and good abs)
  • Teaches patience (waiting for the waves)
  • Provides a perfect opportunity to perve on guys!
  • Develops balance
  • It’s a healthy addiction (unlike chocolate)
  • There are so many wetsuits and swimsuits designed for surfer girls, and they look great!
  • Catching a wave is empowering! It builds determination

Five reasons why the BB team loves surfing:

  • It’s a fun way to workout
  • Burns approx. 396 calories per hour
  • Opportunity to wear great swimmers/wetsuit pieces
  • Works your arms and your core muscles!
  • It’s a healthy addiction (unlike chocolate or lollies)
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