When I first decided that learning to surf was something I wanted to try, my main concern was whether I was fit enough to start learning to surf. After doing some research on what level of surfing fitness a beginner surfer would need to achieve, this is what I discovered.
As a general rule, most surfers are good swimmers. Having the ability to swim well will help a surfers stamina when paddling while catching a wave and duckdiving. Being surfing fit will improve your overall surfing experience and the best training for beginner surfers is swimming.
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 Quote
Are you going to become as good as Kelly Slater? Here’s a list of all the different types of surfers there are and where you fit into the mix.
Do Beginner Surfers Need To Swim?
Surfing requires a high level of swimming ability and cardio endurance. Paddling a surfboard over a surf current, paddling onto multiple waves, then repeating this for an hour or more, takes a level of surfing fitness that can be trained out of the ocean.
When a surfboard snaps and/or a leg-rope breaks, the surfer has no other option than to tread water and swim to shore. This requires a certain level of surfing fitness
Before a beginner gets into the surf to start their surfing journey, I recommend all beginner surfers start with having the ability to swim one kilometer without stopping in the pool. Plus being able to tread water for at least 30 minutes without stopping.
The surfing fitness requires for beginners is having the ability to do both a 1km swim, then tread water for 30mins straight after is the threshold I would recommend all beginner surfers to achieve before jumping in the surf.
The amount of swimming that is needed can be up to the individual. Generally, having a solid foundation in swimming before paddling out in the waves, is highly recommended.
Surfers are cool. And have great bodies, this is how you can get a surfers body too.
How Do I Improve My Surfing Fitness?
- Swimming
- Burpees
- Planking
- Squats
- Pull-ups
- Chin-ups
- Running
- Crunches
- Lunges
Do Surfers Need To Be Good Swimmers?
As a whole, before taking surfing lessons, you should become a competent swimmer. Although, most surfing lessons are in shallow water that you can stand in, having the ability to tread water should be a skill you’d like to have.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be an advanced swimmer to take surfing lessons.
Is Swimming Good For Surfing Fitness?
The similarities between surfing and swimming are endless. It’s not just about being submerged in water, or paddling a surfboard using similar muscle groups as swimming.
It’s the cardio that is required for both swimming and surfing that is why swimming is perfect for surfing fitness.
There will come times when you find yourself in awkward situations out in the surf, no matter how experienced a surfer you may become, you’ll get stuck from time to time.
One time I was surfing on a beautiful sunny weekend day, the surf wasn’t too big, I’d say around the 4 foot mark, the tide was mid to low too. Surely a good surf session where an experienced surfer like myself would have absolutely no problems at all.
When…
I caught a left hander wave towards the rip current, it was a nice glassy wave that could possibly become a barrel. As I bottom turned left, I heard a snap and wiped out. When I popped up, I saw that my board had literally snapped in half.
The half I had left was of no use to me, it was way too small for me to paddle on or use as a floatation device. That’s when I felt myself being dragged out to sea along the rocks.
If you find yourself in this situation, you have no choice but to tread water and start swimming. It took me a long time to swim towards the sand bank (away from the rip current), then I needed the stamina to swim back to shore.
Surfers often develop the same injuries, you should try avoid these injuries by reading my tips of ways to not get injured while surfing.
Should I Learn To Swim Before Surfing?
If your surfboard snaps or your leg rope breaks and you find yourself alone in the ocean, you will only have your swimming ability left to rely on.
If you can swim well, then you’ll be fine, but if you don’t have solid swimming skills, this could be a bad situation for you.
I estimate that the above swim to shore took at least 30-45 minutes for me to swim to shore after my surfboard broke.
Can You Surf If You Are Not A Good Swimmer?
Learning basic swimming techniques is important before attempting to learn to surf. Surfing is a sport that deserves your respect. If you don’t prepare well, by having basic swimming skills, let’s just say… Something bad could happen to you out in the surf.