Let’s face it: even if you really want to surf every day, it’s tough to make it happen. Trust me, I know…
So, after that sad reality check, how do I stay fit onboard, so when I CAN surf, I’m ready to go?
Well, let’s dive in!
Sort of Related:
How to Kitesurf Off a Boat: The Ultimate Guide
How We Transport Surfboards by Dinghy Without Damaging Them
Workouts (Without a Gym)
Yeah, kind of obvious, but we don’t have a hidden gym anywhere on our 46ft home, so how do we work out? Well, bodyweight exercises are the answer, along with a few clever hacks we’ve figured out.
We’ve got an amazing deck space at the bow where I work out daily. I focus on surf strength and power — meaning lots of squats and push-ups!
Besides the deck, we also swing the boom out to the side and use the reef lines for chin-ups! It’s awesome, and it works great at anchor, though on passage it’s a little tricky (okay, it doesn’t happen because we’ve got the sail up!).
All up, I probably work out for around 20-30 minutes a day, but this varies. The boys love smashing out chin-ups and push-ups, and then stretching at the bow while I work out. This routine is usually done in the dark, as we’ve just returned from a surf/dive/kite/whatever session.
So yeah, we do work out! And as an extra note: it is much harder to do some exercises on a moving boat!
Running on a Boat
Next up, we love to run (when we can)! This usually happens when we’re not in the middle of water sports… like in Thailand.
Whenever we land in a new town, Dad and I grab our shoes and head out for an explore. It’s an awesome way to get the lay of the land and use our bodies for the day.
Thailand was one of my favourite places to run — we’d run the 700m dock twice, then peel off to the main road for takeaways. Oh, pad Thai… I’m not drooling at all!
I also love running in New Zealand, as the cooler weather (and not dripping with sweat) is a rare treat for us, especially after spending a lot of time in the tropics close to the equator.
Swimming for Fitness
Yeah, it’s an obvious one. I don’t swim as often as I probably should, but the rest of the crew does a lap or two around the boat each day. It’s always good to jump in!
Also, a job we have to stay on top of is cleaning the hull every two weeks or so. That takes about an hour of scrubbing, diving, and scraping… so I guess you could say that adds to the swimming exercise.
Sailing = Fitness
Yep! Sailing definitely counts as fitness in my book!
When we’re on passage, we’re constantly doing sail changes: pulling them out, getting the spinnaker up, winching this in, letting that out… It’s constant and definitely keeps you moving!
So yes, sailing equals fitness, and it definitely contributes to staying fit on board.
Boat Life = Active Lifestyle
Okay, you might be thinking, “Yeah right, that’s just life, not fitness.” And for what it’s worth, I’d agree with you because it’s just “life” for me now. But when you really think about it, you realize it’s a pretty active lifestyle. Some examples:
- Pulling the dinghy up
- Moving fuel jerries
- Getting groceries on board
- Just getting in the dinghy (especially in rough conditions!)
- On passage, just walking around without losing balance can be an adventure (seriously, not exaggerating!)
- And many, many more things!
You can probably see what I mean now — it’s always active. And that’s another reason why I love it!
Skipping for Cardio
Haha, skipping on a boat, really? Yep!
It’s one of Pip’s (my little sister’s) favourite things to do, and it’s one of the best ways to get the heart rate up. Plus, we’ve got enough room up at the bow to do it!
So believe it or not, we all know how to skip. It was a big hit in the remote parts of Indonesia.
Pilates
Pilates is amazing and is definitely Mum’s go-to. She does it most mornings and has done so for a while.
It’s great and works well with the space we have, though the balancing part is always a bit challenging!
Boxing for Fitness
Yes… we bought boxing gloves.
It’s by far the quickest way to get your heart rate up — especially when you’re facing off against your huge younger brother, knowing you’ve got to somehow beat him just to remind him you’re still the oldest 😂
The gloves live up at the bow, and every now and then we pull them out for a few rounds on the trampoline. There’s often some sore heads the next morning, but it’s fun, and we’re totally spent by the end.
Summary And A Story
We’ve made it to the end of the list, but I’ve got one more story to share…
We had just pulled into an anchorage right at sunset, and we wanted to do some exercise. Mum said something about laps, and we decided to run them (I still don’t know why). As the sun set, we challenged each other to do at least our age in loops around the deck. Let’s just say Mum regretted it as we kids all stopped, and she had to keep going! We joined in because we felt bad that she was still going. Then, we all jumped in the water to cool off and do a few swimming laps. That day’s fitness was a success, and Mum didn’t have jelly legs at all…
So, we’ve come up with ways to stay fit. Some are ridiculous, but they work! When we’re near surf or wanting to get into a watersport, we tend to go all in. And since we’re prepared (aka fit and ready), we can do that.
For some surf spot inspo, go check out the Top 5 Surf Destinations We’ve Found While Sailing (So Far). Also, here are some surf-specific workouts for you to checkout!
I’m sure there are plenty of other ways people stay fit on boats. I’d love to know if you have any suggestions! Please comment and let me know!!
Love reading about your different ways to stay fit 👏👏👏👏
Thanks Sue 😊
Great information. I often wondered how yall stayed in shape between runs. I enjoy your videos so much!
Thanks Taylor that’s awesome!
I often wonder how long you kids are going to continue your time traveling around the world. Eventually you want to maybe go to college, date… I enjoy watching your adventures and seeing different parts of the world, and watching you guys grow older.
Hey Paul! Well, for me, I love this lifestyle and at the moment am enjoying it, so for now I’ll be onboard! I’m stoked you enjoy our videos, thanks for your comment 😊
I think Pilates is a good workout on a boat . I’ve seen Mum do it .
Yep, pilates is a go to onboard for sure!