Hi guys,
I was wondering if anyone else needs 3-4 days to recover from an intense kitesurfing session like myself. My entire body aches, sun burn on my legs (the only place I didn't apply sun screen), eyes burn, sea water taste in my mouth for a couple of days, blisters on my hands, a bruise or two from my board.
Sounds familiar?
I went for a 45min surf in some solid surf on saturday, found every part of my body was aching from the beating i took.
Riding flat water can ride all day no problem.
Suggestion for surviving after 4 hours on the water....Be thankful you got 4 hours on the water?
Failing that do some exercise other than kiting - great for stamina - doing weights in the gym for your legs and back really help with explosive movements like when jumping unhooked
Spent 6 hours kiting yesterday. Can handle the burnt arms and legs (my stupidity) its my eyes being burnt i can't handle!
No other soreness
I went out both days this weekend and yes, I feel like an old man today but I had a blast and will just go out again tomorrow! Even though you might feel the pain afterwards I never feel it during kiting and what is more important? Having an awesome time on the water or being a bit sore the next day?
MORE THAN WORTH IT!
We had 12 days straight a while back 3hrs+ for 10 of them, started hoping for a down day. looks like you need to keep fit between sessions!
I hit it hard over the weekend. I feel fantastic. I love that leaden feeling in the arms and legs and the little ouch I get standing up. It lets me know I'm still alive and still having way too much fun.
If it's just one day then get out and do it again. Getting moving again is great to warm up the muscles and mobilise the joints. Maybe pace yourself and have a "light" session. Cruise around on a raceboard or noodle around the local beach doing little air gybes and stuff.
If you've been going hard for days on end then it is important to take rest days and avoid over training. The hard days are the stimulus for growth but the rest days are when the growth actually happens.
A couple of asides, my favourite thing is extreme toe side riding. Edging super hard, and jamming upwind fast and furious feels great. The position is similar to low back stretches I have been given to do. I have not had an instance of crippling low back pain (and I have not grovelled around on the floor doing stretches) since I got into riding a directional with lots of dynamic toe side riding.
I am skeptical of the benefits of supplementary training (weights, running, etc). Certainly do something else to keep you fit in the off season or if there is a gap of several days between sessions. But, if you are kiting for a couple of hours each day, and doing it with intensity, then you are getting more than enough exercise. It's more important to get adequate rest than to hammer your body harder than you are hammering it already.
Just get out and run on soft sand or the beach a lot. Better lung capacity for sessions and gets the quads going for holding an edge. It's free too.
I to had the 9 days straight a couple of weeks back. Felt my body getting tighter and tighter and the day I said righto, time to sort this out...
bang there goes an intercostal muscle. Thankfully not much came through (missed a couple of epic days but not many).
I feel if you are kiting every day for a a number of days, the bare minimum you should do is a long slow stretch morning and night.
This will reduce fatigue muscle strains like I got. New it was coming.. to late.
On the off days no harm in a little aerobic exercise like bike riding.
Also (as of now) a big believer in strenghting your core.
But yeh you do get wrecked, but man it feels good.
Calcium caseinate after a good few hours kiting + magnesium + valerian before sleep. And wear sunnies.
Works like a charm ( no sunnies while sleeping tho:)
After 18 years of regular mountain biking and 7 years of kiting i have some awesome endurance. 4 hours bearly registers the next day.
My week link is my knees and hips.
push to hard on consecutive days then the pain starts. Sometimes it can take weeks to go...
grrr old age is setting in!
I am skeptical about super foods, although there are people who claim to get benefit from them. I am 56. Got to go. Wind is blowing.
I often kite for 2+ hours every day of the week there is wind, because i only in the flat water unhooking i often get sore shoulders the next few days. I use one of these, get one from rebel sport, it roles the lactic acid out of you somehow, try using it after a heavy session and stretch for 30 mins, it leaves your muscles feeling way better the next day. Theres heaps of youtube videos showing you different ways to do it - try it out and see if it helps.
Yes we all pretty sore but there is several things to help you recover. 1.Cross train with any other sport. 2 . stay hydrated before and after (try endura magnesium powder. 3. Flexibility. Stretch or attend some yoga classes! It will make a big difference!
Just back on the FORUM after a long break and can't believe how "soft" kiters have become...4 hrs on the water and exhausted...4 hrs is a warm up... What's happened ....where have all the hard men gone...!
now that i'm 30 years sadly no warm up stretch = niggle in 30 mins flat
light gym over winter made big diff i found especially squats only 20kg tho
realised eyes get sore no sunnies as they burn just like skin, i had just never thought about it as such ?! at least at noon, take em off in later avo to enjoy in full HD
Get back tomorrow
Woooow, lads, slow down. I said intense kitesurfing, going out 100 m, Practice a trick, go back, try another trick, and so on. Plus the water was pretty choppy.
Some stretching could help before and after the session, but never really seen anyone doing it though.
