It’s summer, the sun is blazing down, the water is invitingly glassy, and wakeboard season is just around the corner! However, perhaps it’s best to getback into suitable shape first to avoid little niggling injuries that might keep you off the water when it matters most! Take a look at these exercises meant to get you into peak wakeboarding shape.
Shaun Murray, four-time World Champion wakeboarder, uses this routine to get back into shape. He believes wakeboarding is a very core-centred sport and one should therefore take care to keep this area (from the bottom of your rib cage to your knees) in peak physical condition. It’s very tough to mimic the forces at work while wakeboarding, but these 10 exercises is said to prepare one as well as possible for a wakeboarding season. Murray performs this routine four to five times a week in preparation for a wakeboarding season.
1. Frog Hops — StraightPerform 10 straight-forward jumps from a full squat and focus on fully extending your legs and arms. Try to gently cradle your landings — imagine landing on a scale and trying to keep the weight from spiking to a high number. Wakeboarding benefits: More explosive leg strength for more powerful takeoffs, improved strength, technique and range of motion on landings, and core strength for better balance. |
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2. Frog Hops — AnglePerform 10 jumps at a 45-degree angle.Just as you did with straight frog hops, focus on full extension and soft landings. Wakeboarding benefits: Increased dynamic range of motion, which contributes to more powerful takeoffs and controlled, injury-free landings |
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3. Jumping RopeStart with 50 two-footed jumps at a leisurely pace. Next, perform 25 onefooted jumps on each foot. Go back to two-footed jumps, but this time, accelerate your pace. Finish up with 10 double-unders. Wakeboardin benefits: Coordination, cardio and injury prevention. |
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4. Hanging Leg-UpsHang from a bar with your arms fully extended and your feet together. While keeping your legs straight, lift them slowly over a one-second count. When your legs reach a 90-degree angle, hold for a count of “one Mississippi”, and then lower them slowly over a one second count. Each rep should take approximately three seconds. Do a few reps past burn. Wakeboarding benefits: Improved grip and stronger core. |
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5. Pole or Rope ClimbThe rope climb or the pole climb is one of the best upper body and grip workouts. Use both arms to pull, then hold strong with one arm while reaching as high as you can with the free arm. Make each reach count. At first, use your legs to rest, but don’t use them to help you get higher. Work up to eventually using no legs at all. Wakeboarding benefits: Improved grip and stronger shoulders, arms, back and core. |
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6. Single-Leg Box JumpOn a set of stairs, start with the first step and perform 10 jumps with your left leg and 10 jumps with your right leg. Move on to the second step and perform five jumps with your left leg and five jumps with your right leg. Take your time and focus on soft, controlled landings. Don’t move to the next rep until you are planted and in control. Wakeboarding benefits: Increased power and control on takeoffs and landings as well as stronger legs and core. |
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7. Standard Box JumpJumping up is important, but coming down is just as important, so really focus on cradling your landing. Don’t make your box jump super-high to prove a point. Make it a height at which you can stay in control. If it doesn’t feel good, stop and make the jump lower. Do three past the initial burn but be careful not to push it too far. Wakeboarding benefits: Increased power and control on takeoffs and landings, stronger legs and core, and more pop off the wake. |
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8. Two-Footed Step JumpsOn a set of stairs, jump up steps 1, 2, 3 and 4, turn and then jump down 4, 3, 2, 1. Repeat until it burns and then do one more set. Wakeboarding benefits: More explosive leg strength for more powerful takeoffs, improved landing control and better coordination. |
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9. Chin-UpsFull extension is a little harder, but focus on maxing out your range going up and going down. To add a degree of difficulty, keep your legs straight and see how far out in front you can keep them while going up and down. Wakeboarding benefits: Increased grip strength and stronger arms and core. |
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10. Pull-UpsForm is key, so focus on extending fully at the bottom, getting at least your chin over the bar, and staying in control all the way down — don’t just drop. Alternate between a wide and a narrow grip. You might be able to do only three or fewer reps, but do your best to work up to at least 10. I do at least three after I start to feel a burn. Wakeboarding benefits: Improves grip strength, toughens soft hands, and strengthens your shoulders, arms, back and core. |