One of the most important parts of your body if you are a surfer is your feet. This is why Scott Tominaga believes all aspiring surfers need to exercise their feet in particular. This is what helps them absorb shock, and give them agility, strength, flexibility, power, control, force, and balance. But how do you get started?
Scott Tominaga Explains Feet Exercises for Surfers
Sit down and roll a ball, such as a tennis ball or baseball, under your feet. This wakes up the fascia, which is the connective tissue of the foot. You should not put your full weight on the ball. Instead, switch to smaller, harder balls over time, thereby increasing the pressure. The pressure should not come from your toes and arches, but rather from your outer edges, the balls of your feet, and your heel. You should do this for one minute at least.
Next, use your toes to pick up small objects. Once you can do that with ease, try flinging them up in the air. You should then use your toes to write the name of your favorite person, or anything else quite long and complicated, in the air. Make sure you move them about a lot.
Place your feet back on the ground and start dragging and pushing your toes and the ball of the feet away from the center in an outwards direction. Once you are duck footed, lift the front part of your foot up, leaving the heel stationary. Repeat around 15 times.
Next, press down four of your toes and attempt to raise the big one. This is very hard and you may have to keep your toes pressed down with your hand or your other foot. Repeat 15 times. Then turn it around, pressing down the big toe while attempting to rise the four others. Spread your toes wide apart. When the toes are up, hold them for five seconds. Repeat 10 times. Lastly, rock your feet from toe to heel 20 times.
You then need to stand up, since much of your surfing will be done in standing position. Walk the length of a room on your heels, then walk back on your feet’s balls. Repeat this a few times and then lift your big toe. You should feel the arch of your foot rise. Bring the toe back down, but try to keep your arch up. Hold for a few seconds.
Next, find a step somewhere and place your feet’s balls on the step itself. Your heels should hang down, over the edge. Slowly and with control, use the front of your foot to go up as high as you can. Then, just as slowly and controlled, drop your heels as far down as you can possibly get. Repeat this 20 times.
A final thing Scott Tominaga wants people to remember, is that if any of the exercise hurt, you should do them. Few people exercise their feet, which means the above could be quite difficult for some time. Simply work your way up and do what you can.