STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

WINDSURFING: THE APPLICATION OF COMMON GYM EXERCISES TO ALTERNATIVE SPORTS

WARNING: Little is known about the people who participate in alternative sports. Could one be hiding at your gym, can you help them and should they be encouraged?

By Nikki McLeary, BSc

Over the past 20 years there has been a burgeoning of 'alterna- tive' sports. Catagorised by a participatory ideology that promotes fun, hedonism, involvement and self-actualisation (1) these sports can represent a new avenue of sporting participation and social integration for people, regardless of age or sex, who have previously been alienated by traditional sports (2). This article will focus on the alternative sport of windsurfing.

Although the surface area of the UK is far exceeded by its surrounding seas, and no point of land is more than 128km from tidal waters (3), 80% of the British population live in urban areas (4). Research suggests a wide variety of barriers to outdoor sport participation exist although different groups are affected by different barriers; a substantial amount of the population do not feel they have access to an appropriate outdoor environment, while others consider themselves simply too obese and too sedentary (5).

With regards to those who are already active and have an interest in watersports, the University of Brighton Consortium (2001) found that bad weather, the availability of equipment and tuition and a general impression that British waters are polluted, forced many people to participate in watersports only when abroad; the extreme sports overseas holiday market, involving Brits, was worth around £400 million in 2001 (6).

Although it would appear alternative sports like windsurfing may be undertaken only by a small percentage of the population, infrequently and during a limited time-frame, the very fact they are involved in physical activity should encourage fitness professionals to target them. In addition, a greater understanding towards a greater range of physical activities may spark an interest in the most unexpected of people.

WHAT IS WINDSURFING? Windsurfing is a wind reliant, water-based activity with a variety of disciplines; freestyle, wave-riding, speed, slalom and a mixture of these during 'super-cross' competition. In light wind conditions the sport is accessible to anyone regardless of sex, age or body type (the current UK speed record holder has shown that his heavy weight coupled with his sailing style is an advantage while one of the world's leading freestyle experts is a 15 year old girl). However, across all disciplines during high wind execution certain physiological attributes are advantageous, and in return the sport

www.sportex.net

offers many psychological rewards. Both of examined below.

these areas are

WINDSURFING EQUIPMENT Underneath the sailor is a board. On the board are footstraps. Attached to the middle of the board is a mast. Attached to the mast is a sail. Around the centre of the sail is the boom which the sailor holds either side of the harness lines. The sailor wears a harness around the waist which has a hook. This hook is used at will to attach or detach the sailor with the harness lines on the boom. The mast, sail and boom are collectively known as the rig.

PHYSIOLOGICAL DEMANDS OF WINDSURFING Very few scientific based studies are available on windsurfing. The studies that are available tend to be laboratory based as many inherent aspects of windsurfing offer challenging obstacles to researchers (7). Some studies are available on dingy sailing and certain principles can be applied to windsurfing. The following muscular analysis was provided by Caroline Hobson, a UK based osteopath with extensive experience in preventing and treating watersports injuries.

To ensure good technique and to prevent injury the following three areas of the body need special attention: 1. Core stabilisers of

the trunk – transversus abdominis,

multifidus, internal oblique, paraspinals and the pelvic floor. All of these provide active support of the lumbar spine. Optimum contraction of all of them gives support through the thoracolum- bar fascia and maintains intra-abdominal pressure. Transversus abdominis and multifidus contraction is important for trunk stability prior to movement of the limbs 2. Rotator cuff strength around the shoulder and glenohumeral joint – supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres major, teres minor. 3. Scapula stabilisers – trapezius, rhomboids, levator scapulae, serratus anterior, pecteralis minor.

Also required to keep the rig upright, while sheeting in the sail for speed and while pumping the sail to propel the board are pectoralis major and minor, deltoid, latissimus dorsi, triceps and all the forearm muscles – flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, palmaris longus, flexor digitorum longus. In addition, flexibility through the hips joints, radioulnar joints, wrist joints, forearm interosseous membrane, all the spinal joints and good muscle tone and symmetry along the spine from the base of the neck right through to the pelvis.

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