Can Surfing Help You Lose Weight? How to Stay Fit Between Sessions

Surfing is more than just an exhilarating way to connect with the ocean—it’s a powerful full-body workout that can help you shed pounds and build strength. From paddling out to balancing on your board and carving across waves, surfing engages your core, arms, shoulders, and legs, all while improving your cardiovascular fitness.

But beyond the physical benefits, surfing is also a mental escape. The combination of ocean air, rhythmic movement, and sheer focus needed to ride a wave makes it a fantastic way to reduce stress and boost overall well-being.

However, unless you live somewhere with year-round waves—think Australia, California, or Hawaii—you probably find yourself out of the water for long stretches. So, how do you maintain your surf fitness and stay in peak condition when the ocean isn’t delivering?

Why Cross-Training is Key for Surfers

Surfing is an intense but irregular workout for most people. Conditions aren’t always perfect, and unless you're in a tropical surf paradise, you may only get a handful of sessions each month. That’s why cross-training is crucial—it helps you stay surf-ready even when you're away from the waves.

Common cross-training options include:
✅ Swimming – Builds endurance and strengthens paddling muscles.
✅ Skating – Helps with balance, coordination, and lower-body strength.
✅ Strength Training – Targets key muscle groups to improve power and stability.
✅ Yoga & Mobility Work – Enhances flexibility, core strength, and injury prevention.

But if you’re looking for the closest thing to surfing on land, there’s one standout option: Snakeboarding.

What is Snakeboarding & How Can It Help Surfers?

Snakeboarding is a full-body workout that mimics the dynamic movement of surfing. Unlike traditional skateboarding, where you rely on pushing, Snakeboarding uses body-driven motion—a combination of twisting your upper body and shifting your weight, much like carving a wave.

Key Benefits for Surfers

🌊 Engages the same muscle groups – Snakeboarding works your core, shoulders, arms, and legs, just like paddling and riding waves.

🏄 Improves balance & coordination – Staying upright on a Snakeboard strengthens your stabiliser muscles, helping you feel more controlled when popping up on a surfboard.

🔥 Great cardio workout – The constant motion keeps your heart rate up, making it an effective fat-burning activity to help with weight loss.

🧘 Boosts mental well-being – The flow state of carving around on a Snakeboard delivers the same stress relief and endorphin boost that makes surfing so addictive.

🎯 Can be done anywhere – Whether you live near the coast or in a city, Snakeboarding lets you train anytime, anywhere, keeping your surf fitness sharp.

Stay Surf Fit & Shred Year-Round

If you’re looking to lose weight, stay fit between surf sessions, or just keep that surf-stoked feeling alive, Snakeboarding is the perfect addition to your routine. It’s the ideal way to train when the waves aren’t working, helping you stay in peak shape for when your next surf session calls.

So, next time you’re counting down the days until your next surf trip, grab a Snakeboard and keep carving—on land or sea!