Whether you’re new to the sport of stand up paddling or preparing for an exciting Maui Maliko downwinder, having upper body paddling endurance and excellent balance will get you through the deepest troughs, maybe help you pass a competitor or help you enter bigger waves and swells with extra confidence and success!I like to be as efficient as possible when training, so combining the two is perfect.The following exercise is just a sample of what you can do to get stronger, develop faster reflexes, increase the rapid firing of your finite muscles that stabilizes your larger muscles, improve your timed runs and possibly reduce fatigue and/or risk of overuse injuries.It’s well known that SUP requires the entire body to perform and respond in unison. You’re never isolating one muscle group at any given moment.As you paddle, your entire shoulder complex, upper/lower back, feet, ankles, knees, hips and core (everything excluding your extremities) are executing each short or long stroke in a smooth, connected motion. Conditions can and do change, so adding some balance work is also a huge plus. I totally can tell that when I balance train, my reactions are sharp and quick.Based on your current level of fitness, ease into some of these more advanced moves and change the variables accordingly. You can simply start with your own paddle or select one of the suggested weights. I usually start light and advance to heavy, to fatigue.
The Exercise: Balance/Weighted Paddle Stroke Repeats:
Equipment: A weight: 4-10 lb medicine ball, 9-12 lb body bar or regular dumbbell
A balance platform: a small 12” inflatable disc or BOSU, INDO Board 24” Gigante inflatable disc, INDO Board or your own SUP Caution: if using an SUP board on a Gigante, you may want to remove the fins.
This is a very advanced exercise that targets the triceps, shoulders and chest!
“Don’t let your body burn out before the next set! “pushing up” to your feet requires chest and tricep strength. “
Difficulty Level: Advanced Strength
Muscle Group(s): Triceps, shoulder and chest. Great for core stability
Equipment: BOSU, or inflated disc
Progression: Raise one leg off the floor, have friend sit on back, or place feet on another BOSU
Preparation: Place one hand on the BOSU, one hand in push up position on floor.
Legs extended on floor, feet together.
Movement:
From the start position, lower chest to ground, keep head down and in a nuetral position, and push up back to start position.
Push up with the strength of your entire shoulder girdle back to a straight-arm position.
Repeat movement sequence for recommended repetitions, switch.
NOTE: wider hand postion = more chest action, a narrower position = more tricep involvment
You’ll really feel this, so take it slow at first. Good luck! Tom Callan, surfer and SUP enthusiast makes it look easy!
Any questions, feel free to contact me: Suzie Cooney, CPT
Want To Reach Your Fitness Goals Faster? Keep on Your Fitness Track with an Exercise Log
By Suzie Cooney, CPT Suzie Trains Maui
Keeping an exercise log can help you stay on track with your fitness and diet goals.
I know making progress toward your health, diet and fitness goals isn’t easy … especially if you aren’t keeping track of that progress. People hire me to hold them accountable. But once you are on your own, you will have longer lasting results and continue to see your body changing if you keep track of your progress. I always try to impress upon that you will see a change more quickly in your body if you keep track. Just like keeping a food journal will more than like double your weight loss!
Here are some great tips to ensure you the success you desire!
Measure your success and progress:
One of the basic principles of weight training is progression. During each additional workout you need to challenge yourself to stress and overload the muscle a little more than the last workout. I love to help clients with this. First set we may go easy, but the second set, get ready! Depending on your goals, this progressive overload will continuously strengthen the muscle, increase endurance, size or a combination of the three.
However, if you don’t know how much weight you used, the number of repetitions or how many sets of a given exercise you performed, it becomes very difficult to consistently overload the muscle and make progress.
If you keep detailed notes of your exercises, the order in which they were performed in, the weight used, repetitions, sets and rest periods, you’ll always know exactly what you did in your previous workout. This will help you make sure that your next workout is slightly different and slightly more challenging than the last.
Exercise Logs Help You Identify “dull points and plataues” in Your Workout
Actual Exercise log 3 days a week
Here’s an example of a real training log of one of my clients. He trains 3 times a week and by the end of the week we made great strength gains which is one of his goals.
Ever have a workout where you felt weaker than normal during a particular exercise?
This can be the result of many factors, including over training, the order in which you performed your exercises, the intensity or volume of the exercises you did before the current one, or even whether you did cardio before your weight training.
Training logs provide a quick way to look at all of the different variables in a given workout and identify factors that could be impacting your performance. A variable can be either, speed of the repetition, if you are on 1 leg or 2, or by simply increasing the weight or by decreasing your rest period in between sets.
Jeremy Riggs, elite stand up paddler and surfer, talent is amazing on the water and off! We’re working on a little cross training to increase his performance so he’s ready for any glide, bump or swell and for the surf this winter. Jeremy recently came in first place in his age group, 14 foot no rudder class, at the 5th Annual Naish Paddle Championships here on Maui July 18th. Jeremy finished with an impressive time of 1:18:45. Click here for more race info. This is the 5th year in a row he’s won the Naish rudderless division. I know he wants to keep this streak going!
“Suzie’s training keeps me at a high level of fitness without paddling. I’ve learned some really challenging exercises that are fun and will keep me strong outside of paddling. I also want to prevent injury. The number one thing Suzie gives me is more confidence and now I feel more prepared. Suzie’s helping me out tremendously. I’m doing more, so I should be better. ”
Jeremy Riggs Naish Race photo Jimmie Hepp
Jeremy photo by Darrell Wong
Just prior to the Naish race, he placed in the top ten elite class of the Mormaii Maui to Molokai Race July 10th, 2010 he placed 7th with a time of 3:44:01. On June 12th, 2010 the prestigious and brutal IRONMAN of all SUP races, Battle of the Paddle
Jeremy Riggs BOP Oahu photo Simone Reddingius
in Oahu, his time was 1:39:15! Along with relay partner Mark Raaphorst, they took first place in the April 24th, 2010 Maui to Molokai, put on by the Maui Canoe and Kayak Club, with a time of 3:41:49 .
Jeremy is definitely strong and focused. We’re keeping it simple for now and introducing core and stabilization work, in addition with specific exercises to increase paddle power and endurance. Here in this photo, he’s performing a shoulder press with light, 10lb kettle bells while balancing on a Vew Do board to help promote quick reactions, glute strength, shoulder endurance and independent leg performance.
Jeremy Riggs, photo Jimmie Hepp
By keeping his body in tip top shape, this will help Jeremy prevent injury and overuse incidents. Over training is common in top athletes and learning how to balance a training routine is paramount to break through to the next level.
Jeremy photo Dale Kanekoa
If you want to be the best in your sport, I’m here to help you! No matter what level of performance you’re seeking we can increase your performance and endurance.
Jeremy lives in Maui with awesome wife and mother, Jill, baby Ruby and big sister Natalie.
Advanced! Single Leg Bicep Curl with foot on Stability Ball This is very advanced, and one should only progress if hips and knees are strong and stable.
Preparation
Balance on a single leg with foot pointing straight ahead and knee slightly flexed while maintaining a stable position over your 2nd & 3rd toe.
Hold a dumbbell in each hand with arms extended by side of body.
Movement
Maintaining level hips and a drawn in position, perform a bicep curl by flexing the elbow.
Slowly lower the dumbbell back to the side of the body by extending the elbows.
For the Hammer Curls, switch feet to continue your balancing!
Challenge: Balance of Course! Tall upper body, smooth and controlled. Remember, your arm is a lever, your hand is there just to hold the weight. Lighten your grip! Concentrate on the contraction of the bicep..hold it all the way through the movement…!
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Category: Abs/CORE, Articles, Exercises, Naish Updates, Quick Fitness Tips, SUP Enthusiasts | 
Tags: advanced core training, advanced fitness training, balance training, BOSU, core training, endurance training, health, Kaenon Polarized Eyewear, leg strength, Maui, medicine ball, Naish, Naish Mana, paddle endurance, Quick Fitness Tips, Robby Naish, shoulder strength, Stand Up Paddling, Stand Up Paddling Fitness, SUP conditioning, SUP Core Training, SUP Cross Training, SUP Fitness, SUP fitness trainer, SUP Maui, SUP paddle strokes, Suzie Cooney, Suzie Trains Maui
Advanced!
Movement
