Nov 142009
Kitesurfing is an activity that has seen vast increases in its popularity lately. In fact, according to the sport’s acting governing body, participation figures are increasing faster than any other water-based sports. It is also one of the fastest growing extreme sports in general, and it seems people are ditching their snowboards in favour of kites, as snowboarding growth has recently been overtaken by this great sport . You will need to seriously work on your body however if you’re considering trying out the sport properly. Here are the elements that should be high on your priority list.
- Upper Body Strength. This is definitely among the top most important fitness elements you will be required to build on. 80% of the work you’ll be doing in the water will come from the upper body and you will need to really develop those muscles if you want to stay in control of the kite. Your “deltoids” or shoulder muscles are the main ones that need developing. These muscles work as ‘fixator’ muscles, providing stability for the rest of the body. Also pay attention to the muscle of the upper back and the major pectorals
- Core Strength. Because the sport is so dynamic and is largely focused around controlling body weight, your core strength will need to be great. A core stability ball is a very useful piece of equipment to use to develop core strength. You may also have to add extra weights to your core stability exercises in order to truly match the kind of forces you will face in the when in the water. Often the kite will want to pull you in a direction you do not want to go so it will be your developed core strength that will let you remain planted
- Aerobic Fitness. Although you might not associate the sport with aerobic fitness, your lungs and heart will need to be in shape. Various muscles groups will be under pressure constantly and so will be screaming out of large quantities of oxygen and will likely be producing substantial amounts of lactic acid and CO2. You will get tired pretty quickly if your heart and lungs are not up to the job and cannot provide the muscles with oxygen and remove waste products rapidly. Swimming or jogging are both useful ways to boost up you cardiovascular fitness.
If you want to get into extreme water sports get used kitesurfing gear and also grap second hand bikes at Extreme Sports Trader
