Abstract

Farley, ORL, Secomb, JL, Raymond, ER, Lundgren, LE, Ferrier, BK, Abbiss, CR, and Sheppard, JM. Workloads of competitive surfing: work-to-relief ratios, surf-break demands, and updated analysis. J Strength Cond Res 32(10): 2939-2948, 2018-The study provides an in-depth descriptive and quantitative time-motion analysis of competitive surfing, using Global Positioning System (GPS) units and video synchronization, which serves to extend upon the results of Farley, Harris, and Kilding (Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26, 7 [2012]). In addition, comparisons between locations and surfers competing in the same heats were performed. Global Positioning System and video data were collected from 41 male competitive surfers (23.2 ± 6.1 years, 71 ± 10.3 kg, 177.2 ± 6.4 cm) participating in 3 professional domestic surfing events, with competitive heats of 20-minute duration. Fifty data sets were analyzed across the 3 competitions, with velocities and distances covered, proportion of time spent performing various surfing activities, and total work-to-relief ratio determined. Results revealed surfers paddled 44% of the total time, followed by stationary periods (42%). Surfers performed at a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher work-to-relief ratio (1.7:1) at the beach-break (an exposed beach) compared with point-break 1 and 2 (waves breaking around a rocky point). Point-breaks 1 and 2 had longer continuous durations of paddling, with significantly longer rides at point-break 1 over the beach-break (p ≤ 0.01) and point-break 2 (p ≤ 0.01). The average maximal speed (24.8 km·h) from point-break 2 was significantly faster than point-break 1 (p ≤ 0.01) and beach-break (p ≤ 0.05). This information should influence surfing drills and conditioning methods to prepare these athletes for the disparate demands, such as training for a point-break competition involving longer durations of continuous paddling and short, high-intensity workloads for a beach-break.

Highlights

  • Competitive surfing has undergone substantial growth, and as a result, there has been a rapid increase in the examination of methods to enhance abilities and fitness qualities of surfers [8,11,22,24]

  • Detailed performance analysis data are lacking within competitive surfing; the purpose of this study is to establish surfers’ workloads, distances covered, and activity durations during surfing competitions through performance analysis using Global Positioning System (GPS) and time-motion analysis (TMA) methods

  • The aims of the study were to determine the workloads experienced during competitive surfing and determine whether the demands differ between locations offering different surfing conditions and surfers competing in the same heats

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Summary

Introduction

Competitive surfing has undergone substantial growth, and as a result, there has been a rapid increase in the examination of methods to enhance abilities and fitness qualities of surfers [8,11,22,24]. Research analyzing surfing performance has been limited to examining male surfers’ heart rates [11,21,22], activity durations with TMA [11,21,23,27], and GPS data [3,11,27] These studies have been implemented during competitive surfing events [11,24], training [27], and recreational surfing [3,21]. See Farley et al [9] for an in-depth literature review on performance analysis in surfing

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