Adults learn to surf almost as easily as teens. Adults seem to have one advantage is they understand and translates instructions to their bodies better than young adults, but have the disadvantage of flexibility.
Learning to surf has great parallels with how you are able to learn any new body movements, for example dance or yoga. The more new challenges you introduce to your body, the easier it is to learn.
The second aspect is the body’s ability to move. Adults fall into the trap of prioritizing careers over exercise (which may be necessary) and then lose the opportunity for many recreational outlets. Flexibility should be the first consideration, followed by movement and aerobics such as walking, biking, swimming, yoga, running, and hiking.
Strength training is important not only for new recreation activities, but to maintain lean muscle mass for health and daily activities. There are so many opportunities to develop strength that can occur with isometric and isotonic exercises (resistance without moving muscles and moving resistance by pushing, pulling, lifting, and raising.)
Surfing requires certain muscle groups. Paddling is the most energy demanding and the exercise that tires surfers and students first. I like pulleys to develop upper body strength. Pushing off the surf board for a pop up is developed by practicing pop ups and push ups or burpies are great.
Weight can become a detriment for adults that want to learn to surf. As we get more sedentary, we stop exercising, and therefore lose the power to weight battle that allows us to get our body off the board. Usually a big midriff increase is accompanied by a loss of strength in the upper body.
Surfing is a full body and mind/body coordination sport. It is great for conditioning or as a target for conditioning. Most adults are successful in their first lesson even if they realize they could use more body training.
For surf lessons in Oceanside, See the Home Page