Surf Flex: Flexibility, Yoga, and Conditioning Exercises for Surfers [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Paul Frediani (Author), Peter Field Peck (Photographer), Jim Lucas (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Surfing is one of the fastest growing recreational sports in the United States. More than 5 million men and women regularly pick up a surfboard and hit the waves. Surf Flex is the first book to address the fitness and conditioning requirements of this popular sport. Perhaps no other sport requires more agility and flexibility than surfing. Wiping out is no fun and a solid flexibility program will help prevent injuries, and keep you surfing longer and stronger. So before you hit the water, try the exercises in Surf Flex. It's guaranteed to keep your Wednesdays big and your summers endless. Whether you are a beginning or advanced surfer, Surf Flex will get you in top form to ride the waves. With contributions by leading surfers from around the world, Surf Flex includes sections on: yoga-based pre- and post-surfing stretches, cardio and strength conditioning, balance and coordination training, swimming, injury prevention and more.

From the Author
"If you want to attain your highest level of performance you better be conditioned. Surfers who are at the cutting edge of performance must make training and conditioning a conscious part of their lives" Fred Hemmings former world surfing champion and current state senator of Hawaii. Well that pretty much sums it up! Although the number of surfers that surf for a living is small, the greater portion live to surf. Maintaining a high level of fitness will keep a surfer healthy and in the water. If your a young surfer, establishing a solid fitness program now, is a blueprint for your future. If your a older surfer getting back to the water or feeling pains in the joints and lower back, the flexibility and exercises in Surf Flex will serve you well. Some of the world top surfers who are in theirs 40's are surfing the biggest waves of their life's. From the conventional to the cutting edge,the workouts in Surf Flex are designed specific for surfers. So surf long! and surf strong! Because the only thing that bums a surfer out more than bad surfing conditionings, is having great conditions but being injured or not fit to surf.

Aloha Paul Frediani

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Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Hatherleigh Press; illustrated edition edition (August 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578260787
• ISBN-13: 978-1578260782
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #312,546 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who let the dogs out?, May 13, 2002

By A Customer

As a 35 year old surfer I pride myself in my ability to rip! I keep right up with the younger puppies in the water. Lots of them ask me how I do it? I just smile and say 'surf alot'. Fact is I've been doing yoga for 8 years 4-5 times a week. A couple of years ago I was introduced to working out with a swissball. These two elements changed my conditioning radicaly. I never shared it with anyone, because when I'm 45, I plan to still be ripping while most of the young'un have stopped surfing because of bad backs,and shoulders. It may have been a bit selfish, but I thought it would keep the surf population down. So I could have just as easily given Surf Flex a 0 star rating, more healthy surfers more people in the water, bummer dude! But that would have been bad karma! Seeing that I haven't shared my conditioning secrets with my fellow surfers, I must say this is an excellent book. Its not a book that was published by the big surfing guns, Surfer Mag, or Surfing, so it not slick,thats what great about it. What it lacks in slick, it compensates with heart and passion. Ain't that something! Great swissball workouts, good foundations for yoga, dry land training and comments from world class surfers. I applaud the author, but, if I see him out in the water, he owns me a couple of waves :)

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars yaba daba do, January 15, 2002

By A Customer

I'm 16 years old,I skate,surf and snowboard . I don't do any other exercise. I hate gyms and the jock mentality. So what do i get for xmas from mommy dearest. SURF FLEX.At first i thought cool cover, then i open it up to discover exercises.BARF! Having nothing else to do one afternoon(no swell,raining) I pick up SURF FLEX and start to read. The first section is on yoga and flexibility, i go thru that real fast cause i don't need it. i can put my heels behind my head! then its like exercises we do in gym. that ok but whats cool is it tells you why and how these relate to surfing. but what really interested me was the swissball workout. Its done on a big inflated ball. Looks kinda funny. But I've seen these balls before, its where my fat P.E teacher sits and barks orders to us. So I ask him if i could use it to try surf flex during class.it was totally cool and it ain't easy! For someone like me who snowboard,skates and surf its like the best workout You need balance,flexibility and strength. And it totally fun, but be ready to SWEAT-A LOT! Be doing it now for about 3 weeks and i can tell how strong i'm getting and how it relating to the sports i love. It was a great surprise. I guess mother knows best.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book for Surfers, March 25, 2002

By A Customer

For anyone who wants to improve their surfing, Surf Flex is a must have book. I incorporated many of the flexibility and dry land workouts into my exercise routine, and my surfing has taken off! Not only did my riding and balance get better, but I felt so much better condiditoned to stay out there as long as I wanted. In rough conditions, I immdediately notice the added strength I've developed through the exercises from Surf Flex. If you want things to do outside the water to optimize your time in the water, BUY THIS BOOK. -- DAS, avid longboarder