THE RISE OF SURFING PERFORMANCE, BACKED BY SCIENCE

Performance-enhancing scientific research for skill-based sports has been ignored in the past by athletes and coaches. It is usually assumed that the only path to improve performance in such specific movements is to practice them more often and for longer periods. However, the popularity of radical sports like surfing is growing exponentially, culminating with its introduction to the olympic games, and fomenting progress in how training is approached. Professional surfers are now changing their perspective on strength training and starting to see themselves as elite athletes. What does the literature tell us about this? Is strength & conditioning for surfing a futile time drain or an unexplored method to increase performance?

Performance analysis and profiling athletes

The nature of the sport, taking place in a continuously changing environment with very complex movements makes it exceedingly hard to assess load, kinetic and kinematic parameters. However, researchers are now conducting performance analysis and correlations between strength qualities and performance outcomes to help coaches improve their training programmes (Farley, Abbiss, & Sheppard, 2016; Forsyth, Riddiford-Harland, Whitting, Sheppard, & Steele, 2019).

The first obstacle researchers faced while analysing surfing performance was monitoring load. Global positioning system (GPS) was used to determine the distance covered while paddling and surfing the wave. However, considering the variation of ocean energy depending on atmospheric conditions and characteristics of the surf spot the athlete might experience periods of high effort without even changing position. As so, a combination of heart rate monitor use, rate of perceived (respiratory and muscular) exertion, time-motion analysis and GPS monitoring was determined as the most efficient way to monitor load in surfing (Farley, Abbiss, et al., 2016; Fernandez-Gamboa, Yanci, Granados, Freemyer, & Cámara, 2017). Relevant findings include that the vast majority of time in surfing is spent paddling and heart rate mean values are relatively low (125-140 beats per minute) with really high bursts of effort (180-190 beats per minute), normally correlated with caught waves (Farley, Abbiss, et al., 2016).

Profiling the physiological characteristics of athletes is another valuable practice used by strength and conditioning coaches. High VO2peak and anaerobic power were significantly associated with superior levels of performance (Farley, Harris, & Kilding, 2012; Furness et al., 2016). This relates well with the previously described discoveries regarding heart rate values. These findings allow coaches to create training protocols focused on improving these characteristics.

Correlations between physical qualities and performance

What can also help coaches with programme design is finding correlations between specific physical qualities and performance outcomes. A recent review found that variables such as higher peak force and rate of force development of the pushing movement in the upper limbs had a positive correlation with a shorter time to take off (surfer standing up on the board). Also, lower vertical ground reaction forces during landing movements were correlated with an increased success of manoeuvre completion since this motion is essential for complex skills, such as aerials and floaters (Forsyth et al., 2019). The use of force platforms had also helped reveal that advanced level surfers present better postural ability and proprioception on a series of balance tests when compared with amateurs (Paillard, Margnes, Portet, & Breucq, 2011).

Regarding strength and power qualities, it seems that greater values of countermovement jump, squat jump and isometric mid-thigh pull are positively correlated with manoeuvre performance (Secomb et al., 2015). High maximal strength characteristics of elite surfers regarding upper-body pulling movement, measured by a one-repetition-maximum pronated pull-up had a significant positive correlation with sprint and accelerating paddling ability (Sheppard, McNamara, Osborne, Andrews, & Chapman, 2012). The same findings were reported regarding a correlation between sprint paddling performance and upper extremity strength, measured by a one-repetition-maximum pull up and dip movement (Coyne et al., 2016a).

Controlled trials and the dynamic correspondence conflict

When creating relevant program designs for improving athletes’ performance, S&C coaches choose the exercises based on the famous dynamic correspondence model, from Siff & Verkhoshansky (2003). The problem with this method is its limited applicability to skill-based sports. Exercise transferability from the weight room to surfing is very hard to define due to the nature of the sport, with its multiple complex movements and continuously changing natural environment. This might explain why in the past some researchers have published more generalist fitness programmes destined for surfing athletes (Everline, 2007), as research was lacking in what regards correlation of specific training and surfing performance.

This is not the case anymore, as mentioned before, many correlation studies have now been completed, which should help contribute to the beginning of a more detailed and tailored approach to training. Still, correlation does not imply causation and surfing performance is now taking a step further into controlled trials. This is what will help guide coaches in designing successful training programmes.

5 weeks of maximal strength training based on the pull-up and dip exercises have shown to increase paddling speed in sprint and endurance tests performance both in competitive and recreational surfers when compared with a controlled group (Coyne et al., 2016b). Additionally, five weeks of sprint and high intensity paddling interval training improved both aerobic and anaerobic ability in a group of adolescent surfers lowering the time required to complete a 400m time-trial and a repeated-sprint paddle ability test (Farley, Secomb, et al., 2016). As stated previously, surfers spend most of their time paddling during competition so these findings can clearly help them catch more waves or win position during a competitive heat.

Conclusion

Surfing has reached a new level regarding performance research. No longer should athletes be seen as unprofessional or slack competitors. This is just the beginning of a new approach to the sport and I hope, as a passionate surfer and S&C coach, to be part of the process where surfing reaches unprecedented levels and continues to grow in the upcoming years.

References

· Anthony, C. C., & Brown, L. E. (2016). Resistance Training Considerations for Female Surfers. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 38(2), 64–69.

· Coyne, J. O. C., Tran, T. T., Secomb, J. L., Lundgren, L., Farley, O. R. L., Newton, R. U., & Sheppard, J. M. (2016a). Association between anthropometry, upper extremity strength, and sprint and endurance paddling performance in competitive and recreational surfers. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 11(5), 728–735.

· Coyne, J. O. C., Tran, T. T., Secomb, J. L., Lundgren, L., Farley, O. R. L., Newton, R. U., & Sheppard, J. M. (2016b). Maximal Strength Training Improves Surfboard Sprint and Endurance Paddling Performance in Competitive and Recreational Surfers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31, 244–253.

· Everline, C. (2007). Shortboard performance surfing: A qualitative assessment of maneuvers and a sample periodized strength and conditioning program in and out of the water. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 29(3), 32–40.

· Farley, O. R. L., Abbiss, C. R., & Sheppard, J. M. (2016). Performance Analysis of Surfing: A Review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31, 260–271.

· Farley, O. R. L., Harris, N. K., & Kilding, A. E. (2012). Anaerobic and Aerobic Fitness Profiling Of Competitive Surfers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(8), 2243–2248.

· Farley, O. R. L., Secomb, J. L., Parsonage, J. R., Lundgren, L., Abbiss, C. R., & Sheppard, J. M. (2016). Five Weeks of Sprint and High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Paddling Performance in Adolescent Surfers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30, 2446–2452.

· Fernandez-Gamboa, I., Yanci, J., Granados, C., Freemyer, B., & Cámara, J. (2017). Competition Load Described by Objective and Subjective Methods During a Surfing Championship. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(5), 1329–1335.

· Forsyth, J. R., Riddiford-Harland, D. L., Whitting, J. W., Sheppard, J. M., & Steele, J. R. (2019). Essential Skills for Superior Wave-Riding Performance: A Systematic Review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Researchtrength and Conditioning Research, 34(10), 3003–3011.

· Furness, J. W., Hing, W. A., Sheppard, J. M., Newcomer, S. C., Schram, B. L., & Climstein, M. (2016). Physiological Profile of Male Competitive and Recreational Surfers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32, 372–378.

· Paillard, T., Margnes, E., Portet, M., & Breucq, A. (2011). Postural ability reflects the athletic skill level of surfers. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 111(8), 1619–1623.

· Secomb, J. L., Farley, O. R. L., Lundgren, L., Tran, T. T., King, A., Nimphius, S., & Sheppard, J. M. (2015). Associations between the performance of scoring manoeuvres and lower-body strength and power in elite surfers. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 10(5), 911–918.

· Sheppard, J. M., McNamara, P., Osborne, M., Andrews, M., & Chapman, D. W. (2012). Strength a strong predictor of paddling performance in competitive surfers. Journal of Australian Strength & Conditioning, 20, 39–42.

· Verkhoshansky, Y., & Siff, M. (2003). Supertraining (4th Editio). Denver, USA: Verkhoshansky.