Is Surfing Every Day Good For You?
Surfing every day — is it a dream come true or an impossible task? Everyone knows that surfing is a great way to get exercise, but can it really be beneficial to surf every day?
The truth is, there are both pros and cons of surfing every day. As someone who loves to hit the waves as often as possible, I know the struggle of balancing the desire to surf with the need to protect my body from injury and burnout.
In this post, we’ll explore the question of whether surfing every day is good for you, and if so, how often you should go surfing to balance getting better at it.
Can You Surf Every Day?
Although the idea of surfing every day may seem like a dream for many surfers, it’s often not feasible due to a single factor: the unpredictable nature of wind and water conditions.
Even if you have easy beach access, a flexible job, and the necessary equipment, you’re still at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Surfing is heavily dependent on factors like swell size and direction, wind direction, and wind speed, which means that there will be days when conditions simply aren’t right.
When the weather conditions don’t align with the location, it’s simply not possible to surf.
However, whether it’s okay for you to surf every day depends on a few factors, other than nature’s conditions, like your fitness level and how you feel physically and mentally.
If you’re in good physical shape and surfing in safe conditions, then surfing every day can be a great way to improve your skills, get a workout, and have fun in the process.
That being said, it’s important to listen to your body and take rest days as needed.
Surfing is a physically demanding activity, and doing it every day can put a lot of strain on your body, increasing the risk of injury and exhaustion.
So how often should you go surfing? The frequency of your sessions will depend on your schedule like your day job, your goals, and your level of experience.
If you’re just starting out, you might want to aim for two or three sessions per week to build up your skills and get comfortable in the water.
But if you’re a more experienced surfer, you can definitely increase your frequency to four or five sessions per week to maintain your skills and challenge yourself.
How Surfing Every Day Impacts You
There are plenty of benefits to surfing every day, both for your physical and mental health.
First, surfing releases feel-good hormones like endorphins and adrenaline, which can improve your mood and reduce stress.
Additionally, surfing is a great full-body workout that can improve your cardiovascular health, build strength, and increase your flexibility.
Not to mention, being out in nature and enjoying the ocean can have a calming and meditative effect, promoting mental clarity and reducing anxiety.
And that’s not all of the benefits that surfing every day grants — as the most obvious and major benefit is that surfing every day can help you to master your technique faster.
By consistently practicing, you can build muscle memory and improve your muscle strength, making it easier to perform maneuvers and catch waves.
Additionally, surfing every day can help you to learn how to read the waves and currents better, which is crucial for making strategic decisions while in the water.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to surfing every day. One of the most significant is sun exposure, which can lead to sunburn and an increased risk of skin diseases.
Wearing protective clothing, when needed, and sunscreen, always needed, is essential.
And even then, it’s still important to be mindful of your sun exposure, especially during peak hours, normally between 10 am to 4 pm.
Additionally, surfers may be at risk of developing “surfer’s eye”, a condition caused by long-term exposure to saltwater and UV rays that can lead to irritation, dryness, and in rare cases even vision loss.
It’s quite common though.
Another potential downside of surfing every day is the risk of burnout and exhaustion. Surfing can be a physically demanding sport, and overdoing it can lead to injury and fatigue.
It’s essential to listen to your body and take breaks as needed to avoid burnout and injury.
Additionally, surfing every day can become, for some, repetitive and makes them lose their sense of novelty and excitement, leading to a loss of motivation and enjoyment. Don’t overdo any activity if eventually, you will hate it.
How Often Should You Surf to Get Better
It is clear to say there’s no definite number of sessions or waves you need to catch, or how many times a week you need to surf in order to get better at surfing, as it will depend on your experience level and the amount of time you’re able to dedicate.
And as with everything in life that requires consistency (what doesn’t?), if you’re looking to improve your surfing skills, the frequency of your surfing sessions will play a big role.
The key to improving your surfing skills is to focus on quality over quantity. Rather than trying to cram in as many sessions as possible, focus on making each session count.
Set specific goals for each session, such as improving your paddling, practicing your turns, or catching bigger waves.
As mentioned earlier, make sure to take breaks as needed to avoid burnout and exhaustion, and always listen to your body.
Final Thoughts
While it may not be feasible to surf every single day due to the unpredictable nature of the ocean and wind conditions, it is possible to surf almost every day.
In fact, some surfers are able to surf for hundreds of consecutive days, which depends on where they live.
Surfing regularly can offer numerous benefits for both the body and mind, and can help you to quickly improve your skills.
Yet, it’s important to avoid overdoing it and to always pay attention to your body. Staying hydrated and taking rest days are crucial for preventing burnout and avoiding injury.
And most importantly, go out surfing whenever you feel like it and whenever you can, the waves are waiting for you.