Is sunbathing near the lifeguards the
closest you have come to surfing? Make this the year you get more from your
holiday, with uor insider summer sports tips to help you perform like a pro.
Surfing
Surfing burns over 200 calories an hour
(minus time spent falling in)
Loving the sunshine but missing your weekly
spin session? Make like Cameron Diaz and Jennife Aniston and rent a surfboard
at the beach- it is a killer core, leg and arm workout, not to mention a major
stress soother. Climbing on for the first time (and staying upright) can be
daunting but these key tips will get you riding those waves faster than you can
say ‘surf’s up/:
Kit up
All boards are not created equal. ‘Size
really matters when you are starting out,’ says pro surfer and board designer
Rocky McKinnon (mckinnonsurfboards.com). ‘Long boards are ideal to learn on
because they are super- buoyant and very stable. They also catch waves much
more easily than shorter boards.’ He advises starting off with a board between
about nine to ten feet (2.7 to 3.0m).
Pop up
It may seen a far easier option to climb
onto your knees before you stand up on the board but Rocky’s on a one- man
mission to stop new surfers doing this. ‘Never go onto your knees- it is a bad
habit to get into and will only stall your progress. Instead, when you are
ready to stand up, use those abs and arms to plank, then pop up quickly into a
squatting position,’ he advises.
Open your eyes
When paddling for a wave, do not focus on
the beach, no matter how lovely it might look. Clance over your shoulder and
keep an eye on the wave, so you will know whether you have to paddle harder to
catch it or pull back and let it pass over your head’ say Rocky’s on a one-
man mission to stop new surfers doing this. ‘Never go onto your knees- it is a
bad habit to get into and will only stall your progress. Instead, when you are
ready to stand up, use those abs and arms to plank, the pop up quickly into a
squatting position,’ he advises.
Tennis
Tennis player have
lower anxiety level than other athletes
Ooh, it looks so civilised does not it? The
neat white outfits, a quick chat over the net, and that satisfying thwack. But
do not just watch from your balcony- get involved. Most hotels have rackets and
balls available, and perfecting your strokes does not require hours on court
before you head to Heathrow. With a few simple pointers, you will be ready to
hold a rally with confidence.
Fancy footwork
Moving your feet is as importants as being
able to hit. Do not stand still and reach out to the ball, position yourself
behind it instead,’ says Annabel Croft, former wimbledon Girls’ Champion and
founder of the Annabel Croft Tennis Academy (annabelcrofttennis.com). adopt a
boxer is stance and stay on the balls of your feet, so you are ready to whizz
towards the ball, wherever it lands. You will be in a better position to whack
it, and burn loads more calories, too.
Worl together
Buddying up in tennis might sound like an
excuse for a giggle with your BFF but it can be as stressful as it is fun.
Decrease your risk of playing the blame game by having each others’ backs.
‘Imagine the two of you are a set of windscreen wipers. When your partner
moves, follow them as if you are connected by an invisible rope. That way, you
will be ready to step in and return any shots she might miss,’ says Annabel.
Serve like a pro
It sounds strange, but as you serve, stop
thinking about your racket and imagine you are throwing a ball: ‘Once you toss
the ball in the air with one hand, your other arm should mimic the action of
throwing- your elbow stays high as your hand and the racket drop behind you,
then they accelerate up to whack the ball,’ says Annabel. And try to make
contact with the ball at its highest point. Once it starts to drop, it is
harder to hit.
