Something that I have always been curious about - how do different crew prepare for a surf..whether it is night before prep or on the day.
Does it change if the surf is going to be pumping or if you are about to surf onshore slop with a raging hangover (which I have found really hard on a SUP btw!)
Nutrition, stretching, quirky habits - I know for me a good nights sleep, really good stretching and heaps of water helps, have toyed with the idea of shakes/supplements in the past.
Dont be shy guys and girls, lets hear it, the funnier and weirder the better!
I get to bed early, to have a full night sleep.
Then on waking up, I feed the cats :-), get a good expresso, a good glass of water, crap as much as possible, wait a bit reading seabreeze and other forums (or write posts like this one) till I can have a glimpse in the early light of the webcams to get a feel of where I will go and which board I will use, letting my body at least 30mn to fully wake up. Most of the time I have watched the cams long enough so I do not even have to check the conditions before suiting up (I cannot see the water from most parks here). Although in Summer I go blind to beat the crowds.
I used to get a full breakfeast (porridge, or omelet, or nuts+berries+yogurt), but I realized recently I didn't need it as I have enough body fat to go for days without eating anyways, and I feel better on the water with an empty stomach.
On the beach, I run to the water line to pump up the cardio, and try to mobilize all muscular groups (core, ankle, calfs, neck, arms...) warming up rather than actually stretching. Duck-walking is quite efficient.
After a session, get some croissants at local bakeries, and of course a fresh local beer from the fridge, rinse the suit, cook the lunch.
I only work in the afternoons, so I nearly always get a quick 10/20mn nap after lunch in order to not be totally useless at work :-)
If I stay more than one day out of the water I do daily 20mn training sessions on my paddling simulator that I described in www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Paddle-Trainer-out-of-the-water . It helps a lot avoiding micro-injuries.
That's a pretty solid pre-surf write up Colas - thanks for sharing!
I do the jog to the beach to get the blood moving as well, the times I have got injured is when I have not warmed up so try my best to do that - its easy when you are pumped to get to the beach.
A lot of what you do is similar to my routine with having a dunny trip and checking conditions, I use raw swell and wind data instead of generic forecasts, once you know how to use that data pretty rare to miss out on a session or have the wrong board.
I too have gone away from big meals, only thing I do notice is if I am surfing for more than a couple of hours I run out of energy.
Your post surf routine is sweet - pastry and a beer, I prefer a can of rum but the theory is the same - relax!
If im not crappin drinking or eating or working and i drive to some beach i mite fluke a surf ! Im spoilt ??
I'm too eager to do any prep... It's been howling wind over in the UK for months and months.
When the next no-wind day and swell turns up, I'm heading out and just gonna thrash myself until I fall over and puke.
Wake up...look out the window to check the wind....if unsure i will scooter to the beach (150mtrs)....confirm which board....scooter back...maybe take a crap and then head out.
Select to expand quoteSunnyBouy said..
I'm too eager to do any prep... It's been howling wind over in the UK for months and months.
When the next no-wind day and swell turns up, I'm heading out and just gonna thrash myself until I fall over and puke.
The desperation is real!
We are having a lean patch over here as well, stars just not aligning.
A bit of prep sees me getting injured less (more about the warm up)
Wake up 5.00 am
Go to Dunny check bouy heights and real time wind on Ipad
A coffee in the car on way down.
Get as many waves as i can
Coffee on way home
Breakfast with family
Egg & Bacon roll and coffee at the bakery before surf keeps me going for at lest 3 hours of surfing. I consider the paddle out enough of a warm up.
Select to expand quoteLastSupper said..
If im not crappin drinking or eating or working and i drive to some beach i mite fluke a surf ! Im spoilt ??
Na, we are in the norm
Use the weather models to make a plan of when and where to surf a couple of days ahead. Sort the board and whatever required essentials for the planned spot the night before, all packed and ready to go. Back in the day I could fall into the trap of checking spots, one to the next looking for the best. Sometimes after time wasted looking and considering, would end up not surfing to to wind or tide or whatever. Hated it!
These days I find the webcams pose the same danger. So now after a quick actual wind check to see if the plan is still valid, I head to the spot and surf as planned.
My van is always fully loaded with everything I need I never remove or rinse gear -
I just put it on, wet and stanky
Check Surf Cams
Check video on computer, from last session (sometimes they simply disappear overnight) 
if footage is still in iMovie:
I turn on cams and format all SD cards
All 3 cams are on chargers overnight (still cam, Kook Hat Cam and SoloShot)
Grab all cams, and associated gear
I pretty much always know where the wind and swell will be best from cam checks.
Drive to todays spot (could be 5 minutes or 2.5 hours)
Grab the board that you need footage of.
Set up Soloshot - 20 minute process
Turn on TAG, check for satellite connection
Put dishwasher spot remover on Kook Hat Cam - rinse in salt water
Put on Kook Hat
Calibrate Soloshot
Put TAG in armband and check if SoloShot is following (iffy)
Look up to find wind has switched or the tide got too high while I was dicking around with the cameras.
I never stretch or anything. the cameras take forever to set up
Go surfing - thats the easy part.
Turn Kook Hat Cam on before every ride
Check SoloShot to see if it is tracking
Sessions over.. go in, shut down SoloShot and pack it up
Take off Kook Hat Cam
Go home, Download video from all cameras
Put all cameras on chargers
Eat lunch, pass out
Wake up check video to see if SoloShot followed me or if Kook Hat Cam is all water spots
Go through 3 hours of video, scanning for useful footage
Pass out several times in the process
Realize you got nothing worthy of a video.
Go for a bike ride
Select to expand quotesurfinJ said..
Use the weather models to make a plan of when and where to surf a couple of days ahead. Sort the board and whatever required essentials for the planned spot the night before, all packed and ready to go. Back in the day I could fall into the trap of checking spots, one to the next looking for the best. Sometimes after time wasted looking and considering, would end up not surfing to to wind or tide or whatever. Hated it!
These days I find the webcams pose the same danger. So now after a quick actual wind check to see if the plan is still valid, I head to the spot and surf as planned.
Ok I will now give my account-
I only go surfing in the early mornings (I usually hit the ocean on sun rise) when ever I can (a few days in a row, or every second day or a few times a week) depending on my work / days off etc.) I only take the short board out every second day (if the surf is perfect or really crappy & windy) otherwise I sup surf most of the time, I pick my board, fins, get ready the night before, I try to check the surf the night before If I can or just look at the weather and swell maps etc. I do not eat anything (only water) till I am home and ready (about 10am) this is also a form of fasting / diet control, I only eat a super healthy breakfast (oats with nuts, fruit, greek yogurt, green tea, also I do a few sets of chin ups (in my wetsuit while watering the garden and removing & washing my gear etc.)
This routine has worked for many years and I am in my late 50's now but surf and feel 20 years younger & fitter :-)
Select to expand quotesupthecreek said..
Turn on TAG, check for satellite connection
A little trick: you can turn on the TAG in the car, 10mn before arriving, it thus sets up through the windshield.
Ditch the wife and kids. Spend some quality time with Mary Jane. Get into some waves.
Seems to work for me!
STC:
Re: Put dishwasher spot remover on Kook Hat Cam - rinse in salt water
Put on Kook Hat
Which dishwasher product?
Wake up, do some planks and perhaps a quick stretch while I make coffee (usually before sunrise). Then I drive 35 minutes to surf. Put on my wetsuit and get to the beach. Maybe a little stretch, but I feel that SUP Surfing, unless its really gnarly to get out, is a good warmup. To me, the key is exercising when I can't surf. Alot of balance ball and boss ball balance stuff combined with a good overall workout.
Select to expand quotebillekrub said..
STC:
Re: Put dishwasher spot remover on Kook Hat Cam - rinse in salt water
Put on Kook Hat
Which dishwasher product?
Small bottle of Cascade Dishwasher rinse
rub it on, then dip rinse in water before using.
Works pretty well!
Select to expand quotesupthecreek said..
My van is always fully loaded with everything I need I never remove or rinse gear -
I just put it on, wet and stanky
Check Surf Cams
Check video on computer, from last session (sometimes they simply disappear overnight)
if footage is still in iMovie:
I turn on cams and format all SD cards
All 3 cams are on chargers overnight (still cam, Kook Hat Cam and SoloShot)
Grab all cams, and associated gear
I pretty much always know where the wind and swell will be best from cam checks.
Drive to todays spot (could be 5 minutes or 2.5 hours)
Grab the board that you need footage of.
Set up Soloshot - 20 minute process
Turn on TAG, check for satellite connection
Put dishwasher spot remover on Kook Hat Cam - rinse in salt water
Put on Kook Hat
Calibrate Soloshot
Put TAG in armband and check if SoloShot is following (iffy)
Look up to find wind has switched or the tide got too high while I was dicking around with the cameras.
I never stretch or anything. the cameras take forever to set up
Go surfing - thats the easy part.
Turn Kook Hat Cam on before every ride
Check SoloShot to see if it is tracking
Sessions over.. go in, shut down SoloShot and pack it up
Take off Kook Hat Cam
Go home, Download video from all cameras
Put all cameras on chargers
Eat lunch, pass out
Wake up check video to see if SoloShot followed me or if Kook Hat Cam is all water spots
Go through 3 hours of video, scanning for useful footage
Pass out several times in the process
Realize you got nothing worthy of a video.
Go for a bike ride
Similarly, I have everything in the van.
Nothing gets removed for rinsing or drying unless worn in to the shower post paddle.
I do however have hanging racks slung under the roof of the van, hangers for wetsuits, so stuff generally dryish.
Only in winter, with booties in the back with dryers in them has my daughter commented "Your Van smells really quite bad, Dad"
All cameras - 2 x Gopro, 1 x land based mega zoom still, 1 x waterproof still / video are in the van and charged- spare batteries for all on 12 volt chargers.
Start with an apple and a coffee, take the dog to the beach - I am not in a hurry.
Return to usually a pre determined location regardless of conditions - I will take what I find when I get there.
Dick around with board, getting changed, taking photos, setting up cameras for an inordinate amount of time - as I said, I'm not in a hurry.
Go paddling, minimal if any stretching or anything.
Select to expand quoteNozza said..supthecreek said..
My van is always fully loaded with everything I need I never remove or rinse gear -
I just put it on, wet and stanky
Check Surf Cams
Check video on computer, from last session (sometimes they simply disappear overnight)
if footage is still in iMovie:
I turn on cams and format all SD cards
All 3 cams are on chargers overnight (still cam, Kook Hat Cam and SoloShot)
Grab all cams, and associated gear
I pretty much always know where the wind and swell will be best from cam checks.
Drive to todays spot (could be 5 minutes or 2.5 hours)
Grab the board that you need footage of.
Set up Soloshot - 20 minute process
Turn on TAG, check for satellite connection
Put dishwasher spot remover on Kook Hat Cam - rinse in salt water
Put on Kook Hat
Calibrate Soloshot
Put TAG in armband and check if SoloShot is following (iffy)
Look up to find wind has switched or the tide got too high while I was dicking around with the cameras.
I never stretch or anything. the cameras take forever to set up
Go surfing - thats the easy part.
Turn Kook Hat Cam on before every ride
Check SoloShot to see if it is tracking
Sessions over.. go in, shut down SoloShot and pack it up
Take off Kook Hat Cam
Go home, Download video from all cameras
Put all cameras on chargers
Eat lunch, pass out
Wake up check video to see if SoloShot followed me or if Kook Hat Cam is all water spots
Go through 3 hours of video, scanning for useful footage
Pass out several times in the process
Realize you got nothing worthy of a video.
Go for a bike ride
Similarly, I have everything in the van.
Nothing gets removed for rinsing or drying unless worn in to the shower post paddle.
I do however have hanging racks slung under the roof of the van, hangers for wetsuits, so stuff generally dryish.
Only in winter, with booties in the back with dryers in them has my daughter commented "Your Van smells really quite bad, Dad"
All cameras - 2 x Gopro, 1 x land based mega zoom still, 1 x waterproof still / video are in the van and charged- spare batteries for all on 12 volt chargers.
Start with an apple and a coffee, take the dog to the beach - I am not in a hurry.
Return to usually a pre determined location regardless of conditions - I will take what I find when I get there.
Dick around with board, getting changed, taking photos, setting up cameras for an inordinate amount of time - as I said, I'm not in a hurry.
Go paddling, minimal if any stretching or anything.
Oh dear, I am the complete opposite of you guys, always in a hurry before the wind & crowds, put wetsuit on at home, drive home in wetsuit afterwards, stretching before surf & warm up, heaps of exercises (sit ups, push ups, squats,) during and after a surf (I look like a bit of a wanker) on the sand between waves in full wetsuit etc. doing my thing but I don't care :-)
Too busy rushing to get into the water to do warm ups, just a good drink of water before I leave home and I'm into it.
