Surf Fitness: Get Wave-Ready with These Power-Packed Exercises!

So, you’re dreaming of catching your first wave or aiming to level up your surfing game? Awesome! But before you grab your board and run straight into the ocean like a pro, you need to know that surfing isn’t just about looking cool. It’s about building the right strength, balance, and stamina to confidently take on the waves.
That’s where surf fitness comes in! Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or a total newbie, these exercises will help you get your body into peak wave-riding shape. Plus, we’ll throw in a few fun ways to incorporate Belly’s swimwear into your workouts because who says you can’t look stylish while training?

Why Surf Fitness is Key
First, why bother training on land when you want to master the water? Well, surfing is a full-body workout. It demands core strength, balance, endurance, and upper body power, especially for paddling. If your muscles aren’t up to the challenge, those waves are going to feel a lot bigger than they are!

By adding these surf-specific exercises to your routine, you’ll be able to:

• Paddle longer without getting exhausted.
• Pop up on your board faster and smoother.
• Improve your balance to ride the waves like a boss.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in.

1. Paddle Power: Push-Ups
Surfers spend a lot of time paddling out to catch waves, which means their shoulders, chest, and back need to be strong enough to handle the load. Push-ups are perfect for building that upper body power.

How to Do It:

• Start in a plank position with your hands shoulder-width apart.
• Lower your body until your chest almost touches the ground.
• Push back up to the starting position.
• Do three sets of 12 reps.

Pro tip: Try doing your push-ups in one of Belly’s sleek surf bikinis or rash guards—it’s all about looking and feeling powerful.

2. Pop-Up Practice: Burpees
The pop-up is crucial in surfing—it's how you go from lying flat on your board to standing in one swift motion. To ensure you have the strength and speed to pop up quickly, burpees are your go-to exercise.

How to Do It:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Drop into a squat position, place your hands on the floor, and kick your feet back into a plank.
• Jump your feet back towards your hands, then explode into a jump.
• Repeat for three sets of 10 reps.

Are you feeling fancy? Try doing these burpees on the beach. The soft sand adds extra resistance, making your legs work even harder.

3. Balance Like a Pro: Bosu Ball Squats
Balance is everything when it comes to surfing. If you can’t stay steady, you’ll wipe out before you get going. Bosu ball squats help build stability and balance, simulating the feeling of riding a wobbly surfboard.

How to Do It:

• Stand on a Bosu ball with your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Slowly lower yourself into a squat, keeping your core engaged.
• Hold for a second, then push back up to standing.
• Do three sets of 12 reps.

Can’t find a Bosu ball? No worries. You can do bodyweight squats on an unstable surface like a soft mat or a pillow to train your balance.

4. Core Strength for Stability: Russian Twists
A strong core is the secret sauce for every surfer. Your core keeps you balanced while riding a wave, and it helps generate power for turns and tricks. Russian twists are an excellent way to strengthen your obliques and get your core wave-ready.

How to Do It:

• Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet hovering off the ground.
• Lean back slightly and hold your hands together in front of your chest.
• Twist your torso to the right, then to the left, without moving your legs.
• Do three sets of 20 twists (10 on each side).

Upgrade the challenge by holding a medicine ball or your beach towel from Belly’s Luxe collection for added resistance.

5. Leg Power for the Waves: Jump Lunges
When riding a wave, your legs work overtime to control the board. Jump lunges will help you build explosive strength in your legs to stay agile on your board, no matter how big the swell is.

How to Do It:

• Start in a lunge position with your right foot forward.
• Jump up and switch legs mid-air, landing with your left foot forward.
• Repeat the movement, alternating legs with each jump.
• Do three sets of 12 reps.

Bonus tip: Perform these exercises in Belly’s performance-ready swimwear to test its resistance to high-intensity movement. Spoiler alert: It’ll pass with flying colours.

6. Flexibility for Fluid Movement: Downward Dog to Cobra Stretch
Flexibility is often overlooked, but it’s essential for fluid movement and preventing injuries. Surfing demands flexibility in your back, shoulders, and hips, which is where Downward Dog to Cobra stretches come in.

How to Do It:

• Start in a downward dog position: hands and feet on the floor; hips lifted towards the sky.
• Shift your body forward into a plank, then lower into Cobra pose, with your chest lifted and your hips on the floor.
• Hold each position for 5 seconds before moving back to the downward dog.
• Repeat ten times.

This is the perfect stretch in Belly’s eco-friendly, sustainable swimwear after a long day of catching waves.

7. Cardio for Endurance: Running Intervals
Surfing is an endurance sport—you’re constantly paddling, popping up, and riding waves. To boost your stamina, include running intervals in your surf fitness routine. It’ll increase your heart rate and mimic the burst of energy you need to paddle out and catch a wave.

How to Do It:

• Warm up with 5 minutes of light jogging.
• Sprint for 30 seconds, then walk for 30 seconds.
• Repeat this cycle for 20 minutes.

If you can, try running on the beach. The soft sand provides extra resistance, making the workout tougher (and more fun).

Catch You on the Waves!
Incorporating these exercises into your fitness routine will keep you in prime surfing condition. Whether paddling out to your first wave or surfing for years, staying fit and flexible will help you handle the ocean’s challenges. Plus, don’t forget to rock Belly’s surf-inspired swimwear while you train—you’ll look amazing and feel connected to the ocean-loving community Belly represents.

So, what are you waiting for? Hit the gym, hit the beach, and get ready to shred!

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