Hey Kitebt, where were you yesterday? The wind was good when it was on, but there were some very long lulls. More of the same today!

Right. So the first week of July panned out like this.
Mon. 13m kitesurfing
Tue. 15m land board 2, night mountain bike ride
We'd. 13m land board
Thurs. off
Fri. 15m buggy
Sat. 10m land board and kitesurfing
Sun. 10m and13m kitesurfing and land board, 1.5m kite skateboard

So I guess I stand by my original statement.
What off season?

So plummett, you have a wife and kids, and do you have a job as well? That is some seriously good amount of time spent away from them during a normal week. I too kite all year around, if there is wind I am on it. However, winter is when I work a little harder so summer can be dedicated to fun.
Saying that, i had a great two days of butter smooth water and jumping session on the tt and my abs are killing me. I struggled out bed this morning! Haven't had a good boosting session in months as there have been loads of southerlies which is all surf for me.

kitebt said...
Warmup - good 5 - 10 minutes of running and dynamic stretching

20 sets x 2 chin ups - alternate between hands facing forward with wide grip on the bar and hand facing backward with narrow grip on the bar and allow 20 sec rest between sets.

5 sets of 6 overhead squats (bar overhead)

5 sets of 4 front squats (bar on the front of your chest)

5 sets of 2 back squats (bar on your back) Its a lot squats but great for strengthening quads, butts and hamstrings to protect knees.

20 x 5 sets of hanging knees to elbows. Hang onto a chin up bar bring your knees to touch your elbows and slow release back to hanging (allow 30 - 45 sec between sets)

This provided for a general all over body workout and worked the big muscle groups you would use when kiting being legs, back, arms and abs its a solid workout.

Keen to hear what other types of workouts members do to stay fir in the off season.

I am a big fan of strength training using compound exercises. Google "Starting Strength" or "Strong Lifts 5x5".

However I don't do a lot of strength training these days. Surfing, swimming, yoga, and a weekly PT session do it for me. I also have a young dog demanding my time and attention so plenty of jogging on soft surfaces (grass or sand).

The biggest draw back to strength training is the loss of flexibility which goes with it. Obviously stretching counteracts this, but stretching can't be a 5 minute addition to a workout, it must be say 30 minutes to gain flexibility.

Maintaining strength and fitness is of course important, however it is lack of flexibility which leads to injury.

I have held back on this post but will throw my hat in the ring here, for what it's worth...

I suggest rising 30 minutes earlier each morning and completing a 30 minute dynamic breathing, stretching and meditative sequence to start your day. You can of course stay longer than 30 minutes - this morning took me 90 minutes - which is the normal time to compete the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series.

This 30 minutes includes a warm up (Sun Salutes A and B - 5 x each) and Standing Poses. It is the Standing Poses which in particular work extremely well as stretch training for surfing and kiting. Further, breath training through yoga increases lung capacity.

If you're interested, read up or check some videos on correct breathing and "Bandhas" (core muscle locks).


Surya Namaskara A (complete 5 times)




Surya Namaskara B (complete 5 times)




Standing Sequence




Breathing and Bandhas

For sure you don't need to do yoga, just stretch and breath. Stretching feels good, under-rated!

That is essentially how I got into yoga. Through stretching. I had tight muscles, lower back issues and stretching was the only thing which helped.

I also had a copy of Rocky Snyder's "Fit to Surf" book. The book introduced full body stretches I had never done before;

- Triangle pose + variations
- Warrior pose + variations
- Upward dog
- Downward dog

At some point I started going to a few classes here and there. Anyway I'm 30 now and am far more flexible than when I was 16.

Good find. I like this website.

stjepan said..

Plummet said..

Right. So the first week of July panned out like this.
Mon. 13m kitesurfing
Tue. 15m land board 2, night mountain bike ride
We'd. 13m land board
Thurs. off
Fri. 15m buggy
Sat. 10m land board and kitesurfing
Sun. 10m and13m kitesurfing and land board, 1.5m kite skateboard

So I guess I stand by my original statement.
What off season?

:)

amusingly this week.... zero sessions. !.... a comedy of inconvenience that led to nothing!... grrr.... though there was wind!... oh well that is life.