1.
Where are you studying, what year and what is your thesis
on?
AUT - Auckland's North Shore.
I am in my final year at university studying towards a Master of
Sports and Exercise.
My thesis is on Elite Surfing: Physiological demands of
competition and upper-body anaerobic power and aerobic fitness
profiling.
2.
How did you come up with the idea?
My original idea was to look at fitness training for elite
surfers; investigating water based and gym based training, but we
realized that surfing research was in its infancy, so some
fundamental research into competitive surfing was needed before
looking at training techniques. With my supervisor at Uni we came
up with what I thought were important fitness aspects of surfing -
This was power to catch the waves (Anaerobic power) and endurance
(Aerobic fitness) to last long surfing durations.
After we found out how to test for these fitness aspects, I
wanted to investigate and back these up with evidence - so using a
heart hate monitor to determine what energy systems are being used
and the durations they are used for, as well as timing the
activities (wave riding, stationary, paddling). In addition to this
idea, we came up with the idea of using GPS monitors to track the
surfer's speeds, durations and distances traveled too. That is
where the idea of performing Time Motion Analysis at surfing events
originated (Physiological demands of competition).
3.
What results were you expecting leading into the Export Gold
Super 16?
I was expecting to see some high heart rates around the 190
beats per minute and speeds of around 18-25 km/h. I had no idea how
far the surfers would travel but I presumed it would be around 800
meters - 1km.
4.
Early days but analysing the data now what are the biggest
changes to your expectations prior to the event?
The speeds and distances traveled were fascinating.
A top speed of 44.1 km/h was hit on the first day. I was
skeptical at first at the speed traveled. But after analyzing more
data, speeds of 30-32km/h came through, which is incredible giving
the conditions they were surfing in.
The distances traveled were incredible. Distances of up to
almost 2.5km where covered by the surfers in the water over the 20
minute heats which is phenomenal. This data really gives a good
perspective of what really goes on when surfing and how fit you
need to be.
5.
Comparing the data to other sports, how do some of the stats
stack up in terms of heart rates and energy consumption?
The results are extremely high. I figured they would be, being a
surfer myself I knew I was pushing the body hard every time I went
out, but did not realize just how hard.
A heart rate of 190 beats per minute is extremely high - like a
100 meter sprint. With this being hit around 5-10 times over 1 hour
of surfing, the body has to be able to recover quickly, therefore
the fitness has to be high - similar to that of a soccer player.
But because a surfer is almost continually paddling, it is actually
more consistent than soccer.
The energy consumption and heart rates are comparable to that of
middle and long distance runners as well as Nordic skiers. Although
the surfer is not in a race like an endurance runner, a surfer has
to battle against all sorts of variables such as currents, rips,
the resistance of the water, paddling for the wave and to waves and
of course duck driving though the waves.
6.
When do you hope to have your thesis concluded and what needs to
happen between now and then?
The thesis will be completed by March/April next year 2011.
Between now and then I have to analysis all of the heart rates,
GPS and video recorded data from the super 16 at Piha. In addition
I will need to conduct some more testing using the heart rate
monitors and GPS units at the next competition. After this I need
to implement the fitness tests on the top surfers - so the power
test and the aerobic fitness test. Analysis of all the data and in
conjunction with writing a big literature review will keep me
busy!
7.
If any surfers out there are keen to partake in your experiments
what do they need to do?
If any one is keen to partake or would like some information on
the study they can contact me via email - yph9838@aut.ac.nz