fitness after 50

Just found this website - haven't had a chance to peruse it in depth, but looks like some interesting stuff, eh? Cool url also! Check it out, see what ya think!

http://www.fitness-after-50.com/

---------------------------

Here's a link to an article on fitness after 50 ("the gym goes gray")

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/fitness-after-50

---------------------------

another interesting one

http://www.squidoo.com/tomlevenduski

---------------------------

Let me know if you've found any intersting websites or blogs on fitness after 50!

Think carefully before you buy a board off the rack

Let's get straight to the point - hardly any of the manufacturers are designing boards for the middle aged surfer. Oh sure, there are lots of models of longboards and funboards and eggs that the older surfers tend to gravitate toward because of their increased volume and length, but few of those models were actually designed for those older surfers and the manner in which they are trying to surf a wave.

Obviously this discussion doesn't apply to the classic longboards because like fine wine that type of surfing remains timeless, even if it did fall out of favor for a while. The younger kids might be a bit more nimble with their cross stepping but they don't have any advantage as far as wave judgment or their ability to slip in and out of trim.

Most of the high performance longboards are designed based on the input from the Hi-Po LB surfers, who on average are much younger, fitter and more aggressive than the average middle aged weekend warrior. How many 55-yr old guys are trying to charge DOW waves on a longboard? Let us all pray that it is only the select few who never really stopped charging DOH waves on longboards.

The infamous funboards certainly have their merits, but in the hands of an experienced surfer they are generally perceived as being fairly utilitarian and bland. That's because they were primarily designed for novice surfers.

The disconnect here is the underlying assumption that an individual's physical attributes relative to paddling into a wave will generally match their skill set and experience. While that assumption may be relatively well founded among the younger surfers it is highly debatable when an older surfer is involved.

I reckon that there are few people who start surfing on a regular basis after 40. If someone is surfing regularly at 50 or older it's likely because they've been at it to one degree or another for a long time. There are exceedingly few novices in the 50+ age ranges. Many people in our age ranges learned on and primarily surfed lower volume equipment and naturally favor the type of surfing that prevailed in the 1970s and 1980s. That being the case, why are so many veteran surfers devolving away from that type of surfing and those types of boards by buying boards designed for novices?

Is it really for the increased float and length? I don't believe those two elements alone should override every other consideration.

If I don't get completely blasted (by you folks) for opening this line of discussion I intend to hack out several follow-up entries that I hope will inspire some of you to question every aspect of the equipment you currently ride as well as your own perceptions of your surfing.

Greetings from France!

(note: click on the pictures to see them larger)

Hi,

This is Guilhem. I like your blog. Here are a few shots of myself and long-time friends:

First photo : from left to right, myself, then Jean-Baptiste (he was born on the exact same day, month and year as I. We were in the same school as kids and I took him surfing for the first time in 1968 or so. He lives in Paris but still manages a few weeks holidays in Guéthary each year), myself (just turned 55, started surfing in 1966, shaping in 1969) and Esteban (we started surfing together. I believe he must be one or two years older than I. Owns and operates a surf-shop in Guéthary.)

Second photo : same people with boards + my youngest son Christian and my daughter Gabrielle.

Cheers. Guilhem.

"I'm surprised he can remember how to surf"

I recently ordered the movie Surfing for Life, about older surfers who chose to continue surfing as a lifestyle on into their senior years. On the website, there is a funny story about what motivated the maker to produce the film. It starts with an overheard conversation of two young boys at the beach...

Boy #1 said, "Do you know how old that guy is out there?" Boy #2 responded, "No, but he sure has a lot of gray hair! How old is he?" Boy # 1 shot back emphatically, "He's 45! Same age as my Dad!" Boy #2 came back with, "Wow! I'm surprised he can remember how to surf. Don't people get real forgetful when they get that old?"

anyone know what to do about leg cramps?

Sometimes I get leg cramps when I'm surfing - I hate it. It ruins my session. I never had this problem when I was younger! Anyone got a good solution to this problem?

a surfboard is more fun than shuffleboard!

Forget those "senior centers" - a surfboard is a lot more fun than shuffleboard!

My daughter took these pics of me having fun in small surf when she visited from Montana. Funny thing, she's 24, and I've been away from surfing for 23 years - she grew up not even knowing her dad could surf. Now, she wants to learn too!

blog entries - authors take note

Don't be shy about entering stuff - you can always go back and edit, add, subtract, change, delete, etc. Also, if you have any questions I might be able to help with, you can email me. My email is listed - scroll down to my name under contributors, click on it, then click email under the word contact. BTW, you can make your email available, as I do, or not. Its up to you.

I can also help you post photos - just let me know. Its easiest (but not necessary) if you have an online photo storage site, like flickr.com, picasa, photobucket, etc. Most of them are free.

Also, if you know some cool websites related to this subject, let me know and I can add links. I've already linked to a bunch of cool blogs on the right. And if you want, add the url to this blog on your swaylock's signature (like I did), always good to get some interest going in our blog! Heck, there's more guys joining our ranks every day!

fitness regimen

I know a lot of guys have more rigorous fitness programs than me! But I'm working on improving mine. Right now, here's what has worked for me:

• diet - by eating less (usually just skipping lunch) and exercising more, I've dropped 15 lbs, going from 180 to 165. I try to eat healthier, and skip some of the junk food I used to eat. I still have a weakness for a warm apple fritter, 'tho! You can see my before and after pictures here. My wife has me on a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements, but as with exercise, I'm not always as diligent about it as I should be!

• exercise - I belong to a gym, and try to get a weekly workout with weights, treadmill, and a variety of gym equipment, focusing on my torso, back, arms, and cardio. At home, I try to do situps, pushups, and elliptical on a regular basis. I generally try for 100 cals on the elliptical (about 8 minutes), 30 situps, and 20 pushups, per session.

I recently read Laird Hamilton's Force of Nature book, and was impressed with the seriousness with which he approaches his fitness, health, and workouts. A very inspiring book.

Huck here

I'm known on the net as Huck, and I recently paddled back out into the lineup, after a 23 year layoff from surfing. I have my own blog on my personal journey back, http://retrosurf.blogspot.com/.

There are a lot of surfers over the age of 50 who have managed successfully to keep their stoke, and stay healthy enough to surf. I think the main issues that face the over-50 surfer are these:

1. Health and fitness
2. Board (or quiver) selection
3. Surf conditions

As we have all discovered, the ageing process affects our bodies, and our physical and athletic abilities. That has a direct bearing on our surfing. Surfing requires a physical involvement on a number of levels: the stamina and strength to paddle out, the ability to swim, and to hold our breath, in the advent of a wipeout, the flexibility, dexterity, and reflexes to stand up and to control our boards while surfing. As we age, many of us gain weight, and this can hinder our surfing. Even our vision, when it starts to go, becomes an issue in our surfing. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays can take its toll after a lifetime of surfing in the sun.

Our board selection becomes more of an issue as we age. Shorter boards become more difficult to paddle and to ride (but not impossible - many over-50 surfers are still active short-board surfers!). Many of us begin looking for "easier-paddling" boards that still allow the freedom of maneuverabilty of a shorter board. Many go to longboarding, or even kneeboarding, or belly-boarding. All done in an effort to stay out in the surf, enjoying the ride!

Wave and surf-spot selection becomes more of an issue for the over-50 surfer. Most of us can't take the late drops and split-second popups like we did when we were younger. Also, crowds (of mostly young, agile, and aggressive surfers) can become more intimidating to the older surfer.

Oregon ladies hit the surf!

Here's a link to an inspiring story - 5 women, all 50 years or older, decide to take up surfing!

New Blog for us Old Guys!

These days, there are a lot of gray hairs in the surfing lineup. That wasn't the case when I began surfing, 38 years ago.

I started this blog for surfers like myself, who are ageing, and looking for ways to stay in the lineup and keep up the stoke - or who have something to share to help others.

So health, fitness, training, board and quiver selection, etc., is all fair game. And please post photos of yourself, your board, etc., also!

I'm inviting numerous authors to join me - if you'd like to be an author and contribute to this blog, send me an email and let me know.

Welcome! - Huck