One of the most important preventative steps you can take is having a skin exam. The American Cancer Society recommends “a skin exam every 3 years between the ages of 20 and 40 and annual exams over the age of 40.”

There are other important preventative steps. Years ago, a friend told me Australians use the phrase “slip, slap, slop” to remember how to protect against the sun’s powerful and potentially damaging rays. It’s an easy phrase to remember:

1. Slip on a shirt. A  tee-shirt, jacket, or rash guard makes for a good sunblock when you are in the great outdoors.

2.  Slap on a hat.  Wearing a hat protects not only your face and forehead from the sun but also the crown of your dome as well.

3. Slop on some sunblock. Experts agree that a sunblock with at least 30 SPF (for UVB protection) is the way to go. Practice wearing it daily, and definitely when you are out in the sun for prolonged periods of time. It’s important to find a sunblock that works for you, won’t irritate your skin, etc. The crew at Surf Stronger loves KiNeSYS Performance Sunscreen. It goes on great, is engineered with the athlete in mind, and really does a great job in extreme conditions. It’s also  Paraben, PAPA, preservative, alcohal and oil free.

In addition, try to avoid being out in the sun for prolonged periods of time during the peak hours of the sun’s intensity — namely 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. But if you must be out there — surfing, working out, or just plain cruising, remember to slip, slap, slop, — in the long run, you’ll be stoked you did.

Stay healthy, and see you in the water.

Remember slip, slap, slop for sun protection: Slip on a shirt, slap on a hat, and slop on some sunblock.

Two Great Surf Stronger DVDs, one killer price! Get both Surf Stronger Volume 1 and 2 for just $39.95. Check it today.

To help you get there, for a limited-time, we have some unreal pricing on all DVDs in our store. Save heaps on our top selling Surf Stronger–The Surfer’s Workout, Surf Stronger–Core Training and the popular Power Yoga Surf Edition DVD. Save even more when you buy packages. Check out the store today. These prices won’t last long, and fall surf will be here before you know it, so get on it!

Cheers,
The Surf Stronger Crew

If you are looking for a great yoga routine for surfing, check out Eoin’s Power Yoga For Happiness 2, Surf Edition. Or, check out this value pack of DVDs, featuring Surf Stronger 1 & 2 plus Power Yoga for Happiness. Three DVDs, one great price.

Namaste,

The Surf Stronger Crew

Now is a great time to get a TRX suspension trainer. For a limited time, we are including a free DVD of the Surf Stronger TRX workout with every purchase. Simiply buy a TRX through this link and e-mail your receipt to info@surfstronger.com for the free DVD. The workout DVD features pro surfer Holly Beck, and is a thirty-five minute, follow-along, surf-specific workout that will get you in killer shape.

Stay healthy, see you in the water!

Surf Stronger team member, Holly Beck, has put together what looks to be a really cool surf camp down in Nicaragua. And, she has a couple spots left for her July 17-24 camp. The camp — based in beautiful northern Nicaragua — features daily surf sessions in warm, uncrowded waves with Holly, yoga, horse back riding and even some community volunteer work. If you are looking for a unique, warm water surf getaway this summer, check it out!

Your surf coach for the week, Holly Beck.

Need more? See our Top 5 Reasons to Train with TRX for Maximum Surf Fitness.

The Surf Stronger TRX Workout trailer from Surf Stronger on Vimeo.

Pull-Ups
The equalizer of exercises. If you keep your weight healthy and your fitness up, you should be able to knock out three sets of 8-10 reps. Hit you local park and get after it.

Stand Up Paddling (SUP)
Love it or hate it, you have to admit, this is a great workout activity. In the average SUP session, you work on balance, endurance, and core strength, all of which directly benefit your surfing. And, there is the added benefit of getting out on the water — a much nicer setting than your average gym. One of our Surf Stronger athletes is paddling not one, not two, but ALL channels of the Hawaiian Islands in the Destination 3 Degrees adventure. Now if that doesn’t get you motivated to get out there, then I don’t know what will.

Indo Boarding
15 minutes on an Indo Board will make you a better surfer. We get “Indo it” nearly every day. Once you are beyond the basics, grab a partner and do squats with a chest pass. An 8-12 pound medicine ball works great.

Skating
The original cross training program for surfers. Skating is not only a great activity when the waves are flat, it’s a great commute activity too. We cruise our longboard skates to the grocery store, for beer runs, and the local parking lots at sunset. The long days are great for getting out and carving some pavement.

Swimming
Open water season is upon us! Coach Todd hit the ocean this weekend in Santa Barbara. I prefer the pools until the ocean warms up a bit more. Either way, get in the water and work and keep your paddling muscles ready for your next session. Check out this swim workout that targets all of the energy systems used in surfing.

Stay fit and we’ll see you out there.

Program Director
Scott Adams, CSCS, CES

Balance, core, endurance training all in one.

Indo board training -- great balance training for surfing. (Photo: Nikki Brooks)

Open water swimming is here!

Skating - the original cross training sport of surfing..

We met Morgan back in December and soon after, Coach Scott, had her on a cross training plan to prepare for the adventure. So far the expedition is off to a great start! The amazing paddling duo recently penned a great article on how to best train for Stand Up Paddling. There’s obviously some cross over between stand up paddling and surfing and the article has some great tips.  Check it at Outside Online.

For more on their adventure, and to follow it online, see, Destination 3 Degrees.

Best wishes for the rest of the paddle!

Cross training leading up to the adventure paddle.

The show is really focused on hand shaped, custom boards and as such, many shapers were on hand and were happily discussing board design with stoked attendees. Another interesting part of the show was the “Tribute to the Masters Shape-off”  honoring legendary Santa Barbara shaper,  Renny Yater. The shape-off featured six shapers (Todd Proctor, Wayne Rich, Matt Moore, Michel Junod, Nick Palandrani, Dennis Ryder) replicating a classic Yater Spoon. The shapers did their thing on the show room floor in a hermetically sealed shaping bay(!)  while attendees could watch them shape in real time. The shaper who most closely replicated the classic spoon won $1,000.

Expo Director, Scott Bass, summed up the show best, stating “It is not fair and quite frankly rather impossible to pigeon-hole the exhibitors into any one category,” said Expo Director Scott Bass. “Really the only category on display at Sacred Craft is passion; a passion that manifests itself as a cornucopia of surf design ideas with limitless synergy.”

If you ever get the chance to check out Sacred Craft, do it, you won’t be disappointed.

Hulls seemed to be popular at the show. Here are some sweet Andreini hull surfboards.

Glenn Gravett painting on the show floor. Turned out great!

Boards from the 1940s.

Check out this Michel Junod single fin. Beautiful.

Veteran shapers Ward Coffey and Lauren Yater hanging at Sacred Craft. Some nice Michel Junod boards in the background.

Meeting Gerry Lopez AKA "Mr. Pipline". Super cool, super chill, just like you'd expect.

"Eco" or "Green" boards were not prevalent, but this exhibitor showed off 100% recyclable foam blanks.

Live shaping on display in the middle of the expo hall.