What do I do to stay in shape besides windsurfing?
A change in the weather pattern lead to a week of lighter wind, even a couple of days without wind at all here on Isla Margarita. It was nice to rest a couple of days after the relentless last 2 months. Relentless windsurfing, but also various other training to stay strong and healthy without injuries.
The most difficult part of my training is to take 1 day off the water per week. A windsurfer will understand that if it’s blowing, and you’re at the beach, your sail rigged and ready to go, then it’s nearly impossible to NOT go windsurfing. However, I find that giving my body and mind a break from the sport I love, helps me get better at it, and love it even more.
On the windsurfing days of the week I do 4 different workouts in the evenings; Upper Body, Core, Legs, Interval Training. I choose to do them after windsurfing as I would rather be tired for my exercises than for windsurfing. I think it’s smarter to push your strength and endurance limits in controlled exercises and not on the water.
On top of that, and the most fun besides windsurfing of course, is doing other sports. Thanks to Casa Nora I am able to borrow a mountain bike, on which I ride twice per week in the mornings. Check out my ride on Strava here:
I also try to play tennis once a week with a friend of mine Arthur. Last week he was a bit busy, but I made up for it with a nice ping-pong evening in Gollito Estredo’s garage, and a short SUP tour with my girlfriend.
Still, the best and most fun exercise for windsurfing is the sport itself, so enough of this no-wind nonsense and let the wind return!
