How to Surf Better

The best surfer is the person having the most fun.” Or so says surfing legend Gerry Lopez. But to get to the point where you’re riding on the crest of a wave and having all that fun, surfing requires a lot of focused effort.

Paddling your surfboard out past the break zone and catching a wave demands core and upper-body strength. Bursting in one fluid pop-up motion from a prone position to standing on your board entails explosive power, flexibility, mobility, and fine-tuned balance.

And then the fun kicks in. As the Beach Boys rejoiced, “Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world.” Mount Everest may be technically higher, but so far no one’s been inspired to sing about the sheer joy of climbing it.

Pro surfing coach Ximena Reynolds, a Life Time trainer in Rancho San Clemente, Calif., describes surfing simply as “addictive.” Which is all the more reason to hone your conditioning for it, whether you live close to an ocean, near one of the new-tech wave pools, or landlocked far away — but with a surfing safari on the horizon.

Many people have viewed surfing as purely recreational, but in truth it’s a complex, demanding sport. “It has taken years for surfers to understand the importance of training out of the water to stay strong and prevent injuries,” Reynolds says.

“There are two methods of training for surfing that are very effective: functional training and Pilates,” she notes. “Both methods work for the high-level competitive surfer or a beginner surfer who is trying to improve their surfing.”

The following drills can help you catch that wave.