Surfing for nutrition and fitness

No, this is not a post about river surfing, which is becoming popular in eastern Canada. That's the Takhini River viewed from the Research Forest outside Whitehorse, YT. I've been hiking there regularly as part of my quest for staying in surf shape and to give the dogs a good run. I'm still waiting for the Canada Games Centre pool to reopen September 13th before I can get in a good swim and really need to find some alternative for stretching in the meantime. I did wade into Marsh Lake, about 45 minutes south of Whitehorse, on the hot summer days, but most bodies of water in the Yukon are a little chilly. We did also spent a night out camping by the Takhini with the Muktuk crew who had all been in for a swim: www.muktuk.com. But I was busy hammering in tent pegs and only my dogs Owl and Wolf went in.

I've also been researching surfing, fitness and nutrition guidance online. I found a few good articles that talk about what to eat to stay in shape and the most popular snacks to bring with. Chocolate is a favourite energy booster, and bananas. Of course, you should always bring water to the beach. I can vouch for the fact that you get really hungry after burning calories off on and between the waves. Personally, I brought dried fruit and nuts to Wickanninish Beach and that seemed just enough. Before my first lesson in Ukee, we stopped off at a local cafe and I had a potato blintz and bottled orange juice as a bit of a pre-workout boost. I was always starving afterwards and would indulge in a big caesar salad back at the hostel. (See my article: Sunbathing with Bears at trazzler.com)

For most exercise, they don't recommend eating right before a workout, at least that was true for martial arts. But when I was training for my bronze and bronze cross for lifeguarding, I always made sure to eat a hearty breakfast before hitting the pool and I think that's just as valid for hitting the ocean. My regimen in those days was 1 single cup of coffee, and a huge homemade omelette filled with cheese, tomatoes, green peppers, onions and mushrooms and 2 thick slices of toast.

Mark at Inner Rhythm surf shop: www.innerrhythm.com talked about the importance of supplementary salmon capsules as well as a healthy diet that included seafood. In other words, we should eat like the other sea creatures. Luckily, I have fresh salmon in my freezer right now.

A lot of the articles I read talk about burgers and beer, but since I'm a piscatarian (lacto-ovo vegetarian including fish) and not a beer fan, I'll be sticking to the veggie burgers and pure berry blend juice. For vegetarians chick peas, lentils and leafy greens are recommended.

Here's a sampling of some of the better articles:
http://www.surfinghandbook.com/health-benefits-of-surfing.html
http://www.surfing-waves.com/surf/surfersnacks.htm
http://www.surfingcal.com/nutrition.html
http://www.surfingcal.com/surfing-fitness.html
http://www.clubofthewaves.com/surf_nutrition.php

surfergrrrrrl

Surferggrrrrrl joins the local Yukon blogging community

btw you can also now find surfergrrrrrl through my local blogging community, Urban Yukon:
http://urbanyukon.com/author/surfergrrrrrl/

Take some time to check out the other blogs - there are a lot of great writers and interesting people here in my new hometown.

surfergrrrrrl

If you're a beginning surfer who doesn't live near the ocean, it can be a challenge to stay in shape for the next time you hit the waves. In fact, according to one estimate, Whitehorse, YT where I live, is 1,911 km away from Tofino. (As the raven flies?) That's where the O'Neill Surf classic will be held in late October:
http://www.surfingvancouverisland.com/surf/newz.htm

As an eager new enthusiast, I'd like to go to see surfing at it's finest and experience that watershed moment - the first time a world qualifying competition has ever been held on Canadian shores. From here, it's only a quick plane ride to Vancouver, a ferry ride and then the Tofino bus: www.tofinobus.com

In the meantime, I've started cross-training slowly with run-walks in the bush 2 minutes away from my neighbourhood bordering the wilderness. Swimming will also become an important part of my regime. But I'll have to wait for the annual maintenance to be completed before I can resume laps at the fantastic pool at the Canada Games Centre. It reopens mid-September: http://www.canadagamescentre.whitehorse.ca/

When I was in Ucluelet, I asked about cross-training to build my core strength, work my arms for paddling and my legs for snap-ups. I learned that the following should all help:
swimming
running and hiking
biking
yoga for stretching
pilates to build muscle
salmon capsules for building lean muscle

I've been looking online for advice and found this article:
http://www.surfitness.com/surflifewomen.htm
I'll share more as I discover it and report in on my progress.

I know I'm not the only surfer in Whitehorse, so if anyone else would like to share their cross-training routine, please comment on this post and it would be great to hear about surfing experiences elsewhere in the world. Personally, I have my sights set on Bali in the future, a wonderful place to escape to warm waves once it hits -40 in the Yukon.

I've been told that Ian Rinn operates a great surf-yoga retreat and have also been dreaming about wwww.surfgoddesss.com

surfergrrrrrl

Talking about Ukee

My friend Gord wondered if Ukee was a strange language. No, and it's not a musical instrument either but the nickame for Ucluelet, on Vancouver Island, a wonderful surf destination. I took my lessons on nearby Wickannish Beach and stayed in the local hostel, a great launchpad for any adventure.

Here's a quick travel quip I wrote for Trazzler.com about Ukee:
http://www.trazzler.com/trips/c-n-backpackers-hostel-ucluelet-bc-in-ucluelet-bc-v0r-ca-2

Enjoy,
surfergrrrrrl

Surf's up early

I'm up early to work on my Surf 101 article, trying to describe that aha moment when you realize that riding a wave into the shore is about to become a lifelong passion.

This is something that even the beginning surfer shares with the most professional accomplished competitor - that clicking into place as you stop battling the ocean and harness its power. It's also about harnessing your own power and recognizing that innate connection to nature that allows you to work in harmony with it. It's that moment when you stop wrestling with your own fears and just do it.

Sometimes that's a matter of breaking it down into baby steps. In the ocean that may mean a belly ride on your board instead of standing up, catching the thrill of the ride without pushing beyond your boundaries, but sooner or later you have to get up.

I started my cross-training last night, conquering a fear of not being able to breathe when I run.
I don't know if it's my allergies or lung capacity but apart from short sprints I've never been able to maintain the momentum without gasping for air. I have the same problem with long flights of stairs. Those of you who know me know I can hike forever - 7 and 1/2 hour stretch up Golden Horn Mountain no problem, so this time I combined my attempt with a familiar hiking trail for that added comfort factor. I didn't have to think about where I was going - I just had to keep going.

Last night, I did one of my favourite loops in the bush behind my neighbourhood, and I ran a good third of the hour walk. I didn't approach it like a race, expending all my energy in the first burst, but focused on each segment instead. I'll just run until I get to the valley, I'll just run around this corner until I reach the connecting trail ....

Instead of negative self-talk, I encouraged myself - you can do this, this feels okay, keep going, you can go a bit further. I came home energized and excited because it was the furthest I have ever run.

I'll talk more about the different forms of exercise that were suggested to me for cross-training next time.

Stoked on surfing in Ucluelet

Welcome to my brand new blog - surfergrrrl!

I took my first lesson in Hawaii this March and I was hooked from the minute I got up on the board. No, even before that - every time I tried to get up on the board and fell off into the warm welcoming ocean I wanted more.

Wanting to learn more led me to Uclulet this summer, a tiny surfing town about 20 minutes outside Tofino on Vancouver Island.

Thanks to my instructor Joel at Inner Rhythm www.innerrhythm.ca I learned how to catch my own wave and had an introductory lesson on understanding the mysteries of the ocean surf. This blog will be a record of my progress as I learn more about surfing, explore some cross-training options until the next time I get near the ocean (since I live in the Yukon) and investigate the heart of the ocean.

Until next time, surfergrrrrl signing off.