Edinburgh Napier University

  The study provides an in-depth descriptive and quantitative time-motion analysis of competitive surfing, using Global PositioningSystem (GPS) units and video synchronization, which serves toextend upon the results of Farley, Harris, and Kilding (Journal ofStrength and Conditioning Research, 26, 7 [2012]). In addition,comparisons between locations and surfers competing in thesame heats were performed. Global Positioning System andvideo data were collected from 41 male competitive surfers(23.266.1 years, 71610.3 kg, 177.266.4 cm) participatingin 3 professional domestic surfing events, with competitive heatsof 20-minute duration. Fifty data sets were analyzed across the 3competitions, with velocities and distances covered, proportionof time spent performing various surfing activities, and totalwork-to-relief ratio determined. Results revealed surfers paddled44% of the total time, followed by stationary periods (42%).Surfers performed at a significantly (p#0.05) higher work-to-relief ratio (1.7:1) at the Beach-break (an exposed beach) com-pared with point-break 1 and 2 (waves breaking around a rockypoint). Point-breaks 1 and 2 had longer continuous durations ofpaddling, with significantly longer rides at point-break 1 over theBeach-break (p#0.01) and point-break 2 (p#0.01). Theaverage maximal speed (24.8 km$h21) from point-break 2 wassignificantly faster than point-break 1 (p#0.01) and Beach-break (p#0.05). This information should influence surfing drills and conditioning methods to prepare these athletes for the disparate demands, such as training for a point-break competition involving longer durations of continuous paddling and short, high-intensity workloads for a Beach-break.