Spring is not far away and I'm starting to see more and more people hitting the water or the gym to get ready for another season of paddling.
I have been hitting the gym, playing hockey, rock climbing, paddling and trying to mix up my workouts as much as possible to stay entertained and well rounded as I workout.
I've been spending time working with some awesome people at some local gyms and we've put together a couple of awesome exercises that I think are great for paddlers getting ready to start the season.
Thanks to Jian Pablico at Distrikt Movement in North Vancouver for setting me up with the battle ropes. Distrikt just opened up in January and has an awesome mix of crossfit/mma style conditioning classes along with some fun and challenging yoga classes.
Rope Slams are a great workout to develop some good explosive power. This kind of power is great for starting a race, accelerating to pass or accelerating to catch a wave. The real benefit comes from the fact that it uses a wide range of large muscle groups and does not just isolate one muscle or group.
Cross Country skiing is a great way to cross train for SUP and this exercise is a great way to train for both. The bands allow you to get into the same rhythm as you would on your board and combined with another strength exercise it will keep your heart rate up while you train.
Workin' out with the Dog! Scott from Sundog Adventure Sports in White Rock as helped me with some meal/nutrition planning as well as some killer crossfit workouts. Here's a couple gooders from Scott that target your paddling muscles.
This straight arm lat pull down will isolate some paddling specific muscles. You don't need much weight to make it work and you need to keep a solid core through each stroke. You can experiment with different degrees of knee bend and forward bend just make sure you keep a strong core and back.
Wide grip pull ups are awesome for your lats. As an alternative while you are on the bar try this one to help develop a strong core and shoulders.
Combine some of these exercises with your on water routine and you'll be laughin!
Be sure to check out Distrikt Movement in North Vancouver: http://www.distrikt.ca
and
Sundog Adventure Sports/ Westbeach Crossfit in White Rock: http://sundogadventuresports.com/
