What to do when it's flat...

vaughandenny · Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 1:58 pm Post subject: What to do when it's flat...

If you want to keep fit for surfing then there are lots of things that you can do. Here are a couple that are both good fun and build some skills.

Surfgym
http://surfgym.com/
Circuit training designed for surfers. Lots of upper body strength, core stability and quickness training. Mason has designed the circuit using balance balls, paddle bands, indo boards, reaction balls and loads more. Cost is £7 and it runs on saturday morning at T47 near London Bridge.
You may ache the next day but you'll have earned your bacon sandwich.

vaughandenny · Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 2:00 pm Post subject: Flow-rider

Flow-Rider
http://www.surftheloop.co.uk/
If you're down in Cornwall and the waves don't show - you might want to give flow-riding a go.

Shannon's write-up follows

What’s it all about?

The Flow Rider shoots a thin sheet of water over a trampoline-like surface that’s been formed into the shape of a wave. Riders can slide down, carve into or ride up the simulated wave.
By virtue of the fact that the Flow Rider puts you on a tiny piece of buoyant material on top of a rapidly shifting surface on an incline, it calls upon many of the basic skills needed for board-based water and snow sports.

Getting started

We tested the Loop Flow Rider at Retallack in Cornwall, where four different instructors uttered assurances that no one – not even seasoned snowboarders and surfers – pick it up instantly.
Even with a background in board sports, it takes about six hours to get proficient enough to stand up, turn and do the most basic tricks on the Flow Rider. Everyone starts out by getting to grips with the basics on a specially designed soft foam cousin of a bodyboard.

So what exactly do I do?

Climb the dry incline on either side of the Flow Rider, step into a shallow pool of relatively calm water, then hurl yourself over the edge while grasping your board. The forceful current of water travels in the opposite direction to you. The slightest shift in weight will tip your balance and send you flying backward into a churning froth isolated to a padded pool at the top of the wave.

Just riding in a prone position is a challenge requiring rock-hard triceps. Holding your arms braced gives you stability, while turning or gently gliding sideways is achieved by subtly shifting your weight to one side. Practicing tricks is a chance to work on balance. By the second session you’ll be rolling over, releasing the board and catching it again, popping to your knees and converting from a knee-stand to a seated position on the board.

Right from the start, there’s also plenty of opportunity to practice on special stand-up boards. These share a bit more in common with snowboards than surfboards. To begin, an instructor holds you by both arms in slowly moving shallow water while you get the hang of it. With the slightest shift in weight from heels to toe, you inch away into faster water. Balance depends on the ability to keep your back leg strong and your centre of gravity low. Eventually, the majority of tricks – which you can launch either from the top of the incline or the deck at the bottom – are relatives of those found in skateboarding and snowboarding.

What are the benefits?

Standing up you’ll work your legs; lying down you’ll tax your arms. Either way, Flowriding calls on excellent strength in your core. With water flowing so powerfully beneath you, a session is like a Swiss ball workout with the added dimension of a dynamic surface. It also helps to develop flexibility, as fluid motion is paramount to maintaining balance while landing tricks.

Who does it suit?
For fans of surfing, bodyboarding, wakeboarding, snowboarding or skateboarding, the Flow Rider offers a chance to get on a board when the weather conditions aren’t ideal. It also provides a uniquely controlled environment, so you can get a taste of these extreme sports without extreme commitment.

Finding transferable cross-training activities for board sports isn’t always easy. Flowriding is an way to not only hone existing skills, but work on new ones too. Although it shares plenty in common with other board activities, Flowriding is essentially a new sport in itself, with innovative tricks constantly evolving. There are over 100 Flow Riders in 22 countries around the world, and the sport of Flowriding is already popular in America and South Africa.

Anyone who is easily bored will enjoy the energetic thrill and fast action, as well as the elimination of long paddles out back or queues for ski-lifts.

Where can I do it?

The FlowRider at The Loop at Retallack Resort opened 1 April
Retall