Surf Workouts – How to Train Smarter, Not Just Harder
Most surfers know they “should” be training out of the water. But many end up just doing random exercises – push-ups, balance drills, or a bit of surf skate – without asking the bigger question: is this actually making my surfing better?
Here’s how to structure your surf workouts so they build real progression, not just sweat.
1. Don’t Just Go Through the Motions
Repeating sets and reps works for fitness, but surfing is a skill sport. If you just crank out exercises without connecting them to how you surf, you risk wasting time or reinforcing bad habits.
Always ask: How does this movement change my surfing? How would my board respond?
2. Ask Questions While You Train
Surf training is as much about awareness as effort. Each rep is a chance to connect theory to movement.
- What’s the goal of this drill?
- Am I closer to a good surfing posture, or just burning energy?
- What feels better, and why?
This curiosity makes every session a learning experience.
3. Play With the Feeling
Progress isn’t about nailing it first try – it’s about experimenting. Push movements to the extreme: make one attempt awkward, then another smooth. By contrasting both, you’ll start to feel the difference.
Think of surf skating: exaggerate a bad turn, then a good one. The gap between them teaches you what to chase in the water.
4. Build a Feedback Loop
Video is your best training partner. Film yourself in short cycles – 3 to 5 reps, then review. The camera doesn’t lie: if it looks awkward, it probably felt awkward too.
This cycle of try → review → adjust compresses learning. In 15 minutes, you can make changes that might otherwise take weeks.
5. Keep It Short, Keep It Purposeful
Your workout doesn’t need to be hours long. A handful of focused cycles – 10 to 20 minutes – beats two hours of mindless drills. Train until you’ve made one small improvement, then stop. Quality over quantity.
How TRAX Makes Surf Training More Effective
TRAX takes the guesswork out of practice. It measures your stance, weight shifts, and turn angles – showing you if those land drills are actually translating to the water. With TRAX, you can turn curiosity and feedback into clear, measurable progress.
Related Reading:
→ Break down surfing to progress faster — Why smaller steps lead to bigger gains
→ Fix your surf stance – from Poo Man to Power — A good stance is the foundation of all training
→ Embrace the suck – why struggling helps you progress — Frustration means you’re in the learning zone
