WPH Press
Each Wednesday the WPH features the WPH Wednesday Workout, designed to help you become a stronger, fitter, faster, and better handball player. From leg and shoulder strengthening exercises to HIT Training, biking, balance, footwork, agility, coordination, first-step explosiveness, hydration, cooling down, upper body strengthening, circuit training, altitude training, swimming, jogging, and much more, the WPH Wednesday Workouts focus on the areas that every handball player needs to reach their peak form.
To view all WPH Wednesday Workouts, go HERE
On this WPH Wednesday Workout, we’ll discuss how surfing can become your next cross training tool to improve your handball game.
You will not see many unfit surfers. According to thewave HERE, surfing is considered a vigorous exercise by health experts, because surfing burns as many calories as playing a high intensity sport or a session in the gym, while being easier on your knees and joints than running and high impact activities.
According to the Los Angeles Times HERE, surfing is a whole-body workout – paddling to catch a wave works the upper back muscles and the deltoids (shoulder muscles), pushing up to climb on the surfboard works the pectorals (chest) and triceps, and standing upright on the board requires the use of the core muscles that stabilize the body while standing on the board.
Playing good handball requires tremendous balance, which is the cornerstone of surfing. Lifting weights, running, and other cross training exercises are often linear, meaning very little balance is required. If you can catch a wave and ride it to the end, moving to your right to hit a corner kill will feel effortless!
Wavetribe HERE seconds the Los Angeles Times, in that surfing will strengthen the core muscles that improve balance and stability, resulting in better posture and less injuries. Wavetribe cites strengthening your heart as another cross training benefit to surfing, because surfing, unlike running or biking for a long period of time, does not make your heart rate speed up very high and allows you to sustain and pace your pulse rate. Surfing, like handball, is also fun and lowers stress.
Surfing combines swimming and balance (both discussed on previous WPH Wednesday Workouts, in addition to building your cardiovascular health and overall strength, all enabling you to play better handball!
Wednesday Workout: Swimming for Cardiovascular Health HERE
Wednesday Workout: Improving Your Balance HERE
David Fink
WPH Fitness Director