Performance Analysis of Surfing: A Review

Abstract

Farley, ORL, Abbiss, CR, and Sheppard, JM. Performance Analysis of Surfing: A Review. J Strength Cond Res 31(1): 260-271, 2017-Despite the increased professionalism and substantial growth of surfing worldwide, there is limited information available to practitioners and coaches in terms of key performance analytics that are common in other field-based sports. Indeed, research analyzing surfing performance is limited to a few studies examining male surfers' heart rates, surfing activities through time-motion analysis (TMA) using video recordings and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data during competition and recreational surfing. These studies have indicated that specific activities undertaken during surfing are unique with a variety of activities (i.e., paddling, resting, wave riding, breath holding, and recovery of surfboard in the surf). Furthermore, environmental and wave conditions also seem to influence the physical demands of competition surfing. It is due to these demands that surfers are required to have a high cardiorespiratory fitness, high muscular endurance, and considerable strength and anaerobic power, particular within the upper torso. By exploring various methods of performance analysis used within other sports, it is possible to improve our understanding of surfing demands. In so doing this will assist in the development of protocols and strategies to assess physiological characteristics of surfers, monitor athlete performance, improve training prescription, and identify talent. Therefore, this review explores the current literature to provide insights into methodological protocols, delimitations of research into athlete analysis and an overview of surfing dynamics. Specifically, this review will describe and review the use of TMA, GPS, and other technologies (i.e., HR) that are used in external and internal load monitoring as they pertain to surfing.

Monitoring physical performance and training load in young surf athletes

“…One of the main purposes of the present study was to analyse the hypothetical association between physical tests and IL and EL variables, but unexpectedly no correlation was found. This finding may be explained, in part, by the fact that training outcomes are ultimately the interplay of many variables across the training process (Impellizzeri, Rampinini, & Marcora, 2005) and the physiological responses to activities like paddling, wave riding or sprint paddling change with surf training (Farley et al, 2017). Moreover, the physical performance tests used in the present study are more related with the magnitude of lower extremity asymmetry and postural control than surf training requirements .…”

“…R. L. Farley et al, 2012). Nowadays, sport scientists and coaches can obtain objective and quantitative information from athlete's work by heart rate (HR) monitors, evaluate training loads, movement patterns and activity profiles of athletes via global positioning system (GPS) units (Farley, Abbiss, & Sheppard, 2017;O. R. L. Farley et al, 2012;Fernández-Gamboa, Yanci, Granados, Freemyer, & Cámara, 2017).…”

“…Both technologies provide a monitoring for the internal (impact of the work on physiological responses) and external load (physical work) of surf athletes in both training and competitive scenarios (Bourdon et al, 2017). Using this type of instrument, the physiological and physical effects of surfing process allow to adjust the training plans and to achieve better conditions for adaptation (Farley et al, 2017;Gabbett et al, 2017). During competitive conditions, internal load (IL) analysis allows to identify that 60% of the surfing time is spent in moderate intensity (54 to 76% HRmax), 19% in light intensity (above 46% HRmax) and only 3% of time is spent above 83% of HRmax (O. .…”

“…There is currently a lack of studies detailing the physiological demands of competitive surfers during training and free surfing (Farley et al, 2017), with no associations tested between physical fitness levels and training load in surfers during training. This may help to understand the impact of specific training programs in performance outcomes.…”

Performance evaluation of humpback whale-inspired shortboard surfing fins based on ocean wave fieldwork

“…fins) does not perform maximally. Surfboard and surfing fin hydrodynamics [24][25][26][27], and surfer performance [28][29][30][31][32][33] have been investigated. However, reports combining studies coupling fin design with surfer performance are scarce [6,34].…”