Why Surfing is a Great Workout

Man surfing
Photo by BEN SELWAY on Unsplash

If you’re looking for a workout that you can do that is more exciting and fun than just going to the gym, lets you spend time in nature, and gives you the opportunity to learn a cool new skill, then you might be interested in trying out surfing. Although many people view it as more of an adventurous activity than a form of exercise, surfing is still highly active and physical, offering a great workout. Here are a few of the ways how.

It’s Great for the Core

Surfing requires you to use the abdomen to stabilize and balance your body. As a result, you’ll have a much stronger core which will make you stronger and in better shape for many other activities.

It Gets Your Upper and Lower Body Muscles, Too

But it’s not just your core muscles that surfing hits. Paddling also gets your triceps, biceps, deltoids, while all of the squatting you do while balancing on your surfboard is great for your quadriceps, gluteus, and gastrocnemius muscles.

It’s Great for the Heart

According to the American Heart Association, the best cardiovascular benefits come from when you can maintain a heart rate between 50 percent and 80 percent of your maximum. Surfing is one of the best activities that allow you to stay in this zone for an extended period of time.