undertow

Question
1. How can a heavy undertow affect the breakers above it?
2.I am an avid surfer and i surf everyday there are waves. On days there are no waves i would like to be working out for surfing. Is there anything i can do to improve my surfing on land?

Answer
1. How can a heavy undertow affect the breakers above it?
2.I am an avid surfer and i surf everyday there are waves. On days there are no waves i would like to be working out for surfing. Is there anything i can do to improve my surfing on land?

Okay sorry for delay been mired in work!

Good questions.

1. In a typical rip current (flowing outwards from the beach), a current of water forms to take water back out to sea. You can spot them by the fact the waves don't break as well and the water is choppy. In this case the current is doing the waves no favours, but it can take you out the back easier so you can get to the banks that are working.

A sideways current/undertow is generally further out than the breaking waves, so probably wouldn't affect them very much.

I'm really not the expert on coastal processes so for more info on stuff like this I would highly recommend Surf Science by Tony Butt & Paul Russell - well written and fascinating, not a dry old textbook type.

2. Many pros say they only surf and don't train otherwise, but that's not practical for most of us. I think swimming in the sea and paddling your board/a longboard/SUP is the best surf-specific training, but many people overlook the value of cross-training. Anything cardiovascular (especially where you do things in short bursts, which is what you do paddling for waves) like circuit training, running, rowing machine etc. is great. It's best to find something you like doing ?I don't like the gym, I love laps in the pool.

Grab or make an Indo Board which will help your balance and is good fun. Skating, snowboarding and stuff like that are good crossovers which will help and are fun, although I'd hate to be out of the water due to hitting concrete/ice!

For flexibility, strength, breath control and general well-being you can't beat yoga, it really does go well with surfing. Best to take a class but if you can't, Peggy Hall's excellent Yoga for Surfers series is really popular, or there's a new one called Surf Into Yoga with Rochelle Ballard fronting it.

There's also a book called SurfFit which is really good, been out a while but still great, surf-specific workouts galore.

Have one day off a week to let your body recover and build that muscle, and balance exercising with good nutrition.

I hope that helps some.