Surfing Pre-Season Training Plan

$59.00

  • Intense, focused 5-Week, 6-day/week training program
  • Designed to prepare athletes for the beginning of the surfing season
  • Assessment based plan that automatically “scales” to the incoming and individual fitness level of each athlete
  • This training plan is one of the 250+ Plans included with an Athlete’s Subscription.

Description

This is an intense, focused 5-Week, 6-day/week training program is sport-specifically designed to prepare athletes for the beginning of the surfing season or a 1 to 2-week surf vacation.   

This is Version 2 of the plan, updated in April 2021.

Research has proven and experience has confirmed that the primary fitness demand of early-season surfing is paddling. Often, shoulder fatigue and/or low back fatigue from paddling is limiting factor early in the season and early in any surfing vacation. This training program is sport-specifically designed to prepare you for the fitness demands of early-season surfing or a surf-focused vacation. Another fatigue issue for beginner surfers is simply fighting the surf to make it out to the line up.

Fitness-wise, the focus is on shoulder strength and strength endurance and low back strength and strength endurance. However, the plan is multi-modal, and total body (lower/core/upper pull) strength as well as general endurance, are also trained. 

Technique-wise, the primary focus of early season surfing or a surf vacation should be on your pop up form. This training program includes programmed pop up training. Pop up technique can vary from athlete to athlete, and from coach to coach. YouTube and the internet are ripe with pop-up technique tips. We personally recommend Barefoot Surf and in the plan link to their Technique Videos (see below). However, if you have your form or have another technique you prefer – this is fine. Just practice your Pop Ups as programmed in the plan.

How to Pop Up like Advanced Surfers – The Standard Take Off | How to Surf

How to Take Off on a Surfboard | 4 Different Techniques: Which one is Right for You?

 

FITNESS ATTRIBUTES

This training program has 4 general objectives:

(1) Increase your shoulder strength and strength endurance for the primary fitness demand of surfing … paddling.

(2) Increase your low back strength and strength endurance for paddling

(3) Increase your overall fitness including upper and lower body strength endurance, core strength endurance, and general work capacity and endurance.

(4) Force you to practice Pop Ups

This is a limited equipment program. The strength work in the plan is all bodyweight. Swim pool access is optimal, but if no pool is available a jump-rope based alternative is prescribed.

This program is designed to be completed the 5 weeks directly before your surf season starts or you depart for your surf vacation.

Shoulder Strength / Strength Endurance, Low Back Strength and Strength Endurance
Shoulder strength and low back strength endurance are trained multiple ways in this plan: 

Swimming Sprints, Swim PT, Moderate Paced Swimming or Jump Roping – for those without swim pool access

Bodyweight Upper Body Exercises including push ups, burpees and multiple pull up progressions

Isometric Superman Holds

Isometric Low Back Holds

Various Core Bridging and other bodyweight core exercises

Total Body Strength, Work Capacity, General Endurance
In addition to the shoulder and low back focus, this plan trains lower body strength, and dryland and pool-based multi-mode work capacity in addition to general endurance (running). 

 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

  • Mon: Bodyweight Strength Assessment or Progression, Low Back Strength Endurance, Pop Up Practice
  • Tue: Swim Sprints + Swim PT, or Jump Rope Intervals + Lowback/core strength
  • Wed: 40-60 Minute Recovery Run, Pop Up Practice
  • Thu: Bodyweight Strength, Low Back/Core Strength, Pop Up Practice
  • Fri: Swim Sprints + Distance Swim or Jump Rope Intervals + Lowback/core strength
  • Sat: 40-60 Minute Recovery Run, Pop Up Practice
  • Sun: Pop Up Practice, Total Rest or Outdoor Recreation

 

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

  • Swimming Pool or Jump Rope
  • Pull Up Bar

 

COMMON QUESTIONS

How fit do you need to be able to begin this plan?
This is an intense program designed for fit and active, incoming athletes. Click the “Sample Training” tag to see the first week of programming. We recommend athletes try the first week before purchasing. If the programming is too intense for you, email coach@mtntactical.com for advice. 

How Long do the Sessions Last?
40-90 minutes.

What does 3/5x Chin Ups mean
3/6x Chin Ups = Women do 3x, Men do 6x.

What if I miss a day?
Begin where you left off when you return to training. This program is progressed – each session builds upon the prior session – so don’t skip a session or skip around. Follow the training sessions in order, regardless.

Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE.

What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.

Can I see sample training? 
Yes. Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming.

How do I access the plan?
Access is online, via username and password. You can log in either through our website or through our app (Mtn Tactical Fitness) available for IOS and Android.

Can I print out sessions to take to the gym?
Yes – you can print a week of programming at a time.

More Questions? Email: coach@mtntactical.com

DISCLAIMER

Before beginning any exercise program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health. Physical training contains inherent risks including, but not limited to, muscle strains, tears, physical and bodily injury up to and including death. This training program is not meant to provide medical advice; you should obtain medical advice from your private health care practitioner. If you are unable to assume these risks then you should not engage in this training program. No liability is assumed by Mountain Tactical Institute, Inc, its owners or employees, and you train at your own risk. Mountain Tactical Institute makes no warranty, express or implied, of any kind in connection with this training program.

Required Equipment


  • Swimming Pool or Jump Rope

  • Pull Up Bar

Sample Training

Below is the First Week from this Training Plan:

MONDAY
SESSION 1
Obj: Bodyweight Strength Assessment, Low Back Strength Endurance

Warm Up:

3 Rounds
10x Hand Release Push Ups
5x In-Place Lunges
10x Sit Ups
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch
5x Pop Ups

Training:

(1) Max Rep Hand Release Push Ups in 2 Minutes.
You can stop and rest if needed. Also, go to your knees if needed. Just keep working for the entire 2 minutes.

(2) Max Rep In-Place Lunges in 2 Minutes.
You can stop and rest if needed. Just keep working for the full 2 minutes. 

(3) Max Rep Pull Ups in 2 Minutes.
You can stop and rest if needed. Just keep working for the full 2 minutes.

(4) Max Rep Sit Ups in 2 Minutes.
You can stop and rest if needed. Just keep working for the full 2 minutes.

RECORD SCORES

(5) 3 Round Grind ....
30% Max Rep Hand Release Push Ups
30% Max Rep In-Place Lunges
30% Max Rep Pull Ups
30% Max Rep Sit Ups 

"Grind" = work steadily, not frantically through the exercises in this circuit for 3 rounds

For example:  if you scored ...
35x Hand Release Push Ups
46x In-Place Lunges
9x Pull Ups
54x Sit Ups

35 x .3 = 10.5 or 11
46 x .3 = 13.8 or 14
9 x .3 = 2.7 or 3
54 x .3 = 16.2 or 17

So do 3 rounds of ...
11x Hand Release Push Ups
14 In-Place Lunges
3x Pull Ups
17x Sit Ups

(6) 2 Rounds
15/15 Standing Founder
15/15 Low Back Lunge
15/15 Kneeling Founder
10x Face Down Back Extension

******************************

 

TUESDAY
SESSION 2
Obj: Swim Intervals

Warm Up:

Swim 100m, easy to moderate pace (front crawl)

Training: 

(1) 5 Rounds
Sprint 25m
Rest 1 Minute

(2) Swim 20 Minutes, moderate pace

"Moderate" = comfortable but not easy

*********************

NO POOL OPTION:

Warm Up:

3 Rounds
2 Minutes Jump Rope
10x Squats
10x Sit Ups
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch
5x Pop Ups
Training: 

(1) 8 Round Grind ....
2 Minutes Jump Rope
20x Step Ups on a 12-20" Box or bench or Run 200m (down 100m, back 100m)

"Grind" = work steadily, not frantically through the exercises in this circuit for the prescribed number of rounds.

(2) 5 Rounds
30 Second Superman Hold
Rest 60 Seconds

(4) 3 Rounds
30/5/30 Sean Special
10x EOs

******************************

 

WEDNESDAY
SESSION 3
Obj: Recovery Run

Training:

(1) Run 40 Minutes, Moderate Pace

"Moderate" = comfortable but not easy

(2) 4 Rounds
5x Pop Ups
Rest 1-2 Minutes

******************************

 

THURSDAY
SESSION 4
Obj: Bodyweight Strength, Core Strength, Low Back Strength Endurance

Warm Up:

3 Rounds
10x Hand Release Push Ups
5x In-Place Lunges
10x Sit Ups
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch
5x Pop Ups

Training:

(1) 20 Minute Grind ...
5x Bodyweight Rob Shauls
2/6x Chin Ups
10x Toes to Sky

"Grind" = work steadily, not frantically through the exercises in this circuit for the prescribed time or rounds

(2) 5 Rounds
30 Second Superman Hold
Rest 60 Seconds

(4) 3 Rounds
30/5/30 Sean Special
15/15 Standing Founder
10x Plank Walk Up
15/15 Kneeling Founder

(5) 2 Rounds
Hip Flexor Stretch
Instep Stretch
Pigeon Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch

******************************

 

FRIDAY
SESSION 5
Obj: Swim Intervals

Warm Up:

Swim 100m, easy to moderate pace (Freestyle/front crawl)

Training: 

(1) 5 Rounds
Sprint 25m
Rest 1 Minute

(2) Swim 20 Minutes, moderate pace

"Moderate" = comfortable but not easy

*********************

NO POOL OPTION:

Warm Up:

3 Rounds
2 Minutes Jump Rope
10x Squats
10x Sit Ups
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch
5x Pop Ups

Training: 

(1) 8 Round Grind ....
2 Minutes Jump Rope
20x Step Ups on a 12-20" Box or bench or Run 200m (down 100m, back 100m)

"Grind" = work steadily, not frantically through the exercises in this circuit for the prescribed number of rounds.

(2) 5 Rounds
30 Second Superman Hold
Rest 60 Seconds

(4) 3 Rounds
30/5/30 Sean Special
10x EOs

******************************

 

SATURDAY
SESSION 6
Obj: Recovery Run

Training:

(1) Run 40 Minutes, Moderate Pace

"Moderate" = comfortable but not easy

(2) 4 Rounds
5x Pop Ups
Rest 1-2 Minutes

Show More

1)  Mission Direct

Gym numbers mean nothing. All that matters is mission performance. 

To this end, MTI’s fitness solutions and programming are not boxed in by convention, tradition, orthodoxy, public opinion or any other artificial constraint driven by inside or outside forces.

We begin with the raw fitness demands of the mission and build a fitness solution which directly prepares the athlete for those demands.

 

2) Fitness Solutions Built from the Ground Up

MTI’s programming is not “re-tread” bodybuilding, football, CrossFit, kettlebell, strength or general fitness programming. We’ve built our fitness programming for mountain and tactical athletes from the ground up.

The Fluid Periodization methodology we deploy to concurrently train multiple fitness attributes is completely original and has continued to evolve and improve over the years.

Our mid-section training methodology, Chassis Integrity, is also original, as is our endurance programming, 7 strength training progressions, tactical agility, and work capacity programming.

Our mountain sports pre-season training plans, tactical PFT, selection, school, course, and fitness improvement training plans across military, LE and Fire Rescue are MTI-developed, tested and athlete-proven.

Over the years hundreds of athletes and coaches have taken our advanced programming and unit fitness leader programming courses and MTI is widely recognized within the mountain and tactical professions and fitness media as a thought leader in fitness programming for military and tactical athletes.

 

3) The MTI Method

→ Research: MTI begins program design with extensive research of the fitness demands of the mission, sport or event, identifies the exercises and progressions which sport-specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the training plan.

→ Deploy & Assess: We deploy the training plan “Lab Rats” at our Wyoming facility. Training session and cycle issues are identified and fixed as we work through the training plan. Post cycle we assess the programming’s effectiveness and efficiency. We keep the stuff that works, and fix or toss the stuff that doesn’t.

→ Publish & Assess Again: Plan is published for purchase as an individual training plan and made available to our subscribers. Feedback/results are assessed.

→ Iterate: We take what we learn from lab rats and athletes, re-visit, update and improve already published training plans. Several of our individual training plans are on their 4th or 5th version.

 

4) Mission-Direct Research

MTI exists to “Improve Mountain and Tactical Athletes mission performance and keep them safe.” To that end, we have developed a unique research methodology aimed at identifying real world areas of improvement and identifying immediately deployable mission-direct solutions. Click HERE to learn more about MTI’s Mission-Direct Research methodology, and Here to read about just few of our research efforts.

5) Field Proven

Our stuff works. Weekly we receive unsolicited reviews of our programming and testimonials to its effectiveness.

 

6) Programming Breadth

MTI’s library of 200+ sport-specific fitness plans for mountain and tactical athletes is unmatched. Resources range from specific programming for tactical special forces selections, to specific plans for climbing Rainier and Denali, to general fitness solutions such as running improvement, to post-rehab from injury.

Over the past decade, MTI has partnered with hundreds of athletes throughout their individual mountain and tactical careers, and provided fitness solutions as they face new mountain objectives, tactical schools, selections, PFTs and deployments, and came back from injury.

 

7) Worldwide Influence

Our work is not limited to US Athletes.

We’ve developed selection-specific training plans for Canadian, UK, Australian and German Special Forces Selections and worked with individual military personnel from Scandinavia, South, and Central America.

Canadian, Australian, UK and western European law enforcement and fire/rescue athletes have used MTI programming for mission-direct fitness.

On the mountain side, Alpinists from Japan to Slovakia have consulted with MTI and used MTI’s programming to prepare for mountain objectives.

 

8) Mission Performance beyond Fitness

MTI’s exists is to improve Mission Performance for mountain and tactical athletes and keep them safe. 

This focus on “mission direct” solutions, enhancements and improvements drives our work and research and extends beyond fitness solutions to include training, leadership, gear, team culture, and safety. 

Fitness is just one area of our work.

Our non-fitness research has included tactical cultures, combat uniforms, and gore-tex performance, and effect of stress on marksmanship.

Our work on defining what it means to be a Quiet Professional has had penetrating influence and driven healthy conversations with both mountain and tactical professionals.

 

9) Direct, Honest, Clear Answers

Since 2007 we’ve taken and answered dozens of questions weekly from mountain and tactical athletes. We’ve saved these individual Q&A’s and now thousands are archived on our site.

We’re not salesmen, and our answers are noted for their directness, honesty, and clarity. Our stuff isn’t for everyone. If we can help, we’ll let you know. If we can’t, we’ll let you know that, too.

– Rob Shaul, Founder

 

All of the Above is Backed Up By Our Promise: Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.

Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.

By Rob Shaul

I received notes frequently from athletes hesitant to purchase a subscription or training plans asking me to sell them on why they should make the purchase.

While I understand the question, I’m not a salesman – so I can’t put a hard sale on anyone for our programming.

I can tell them the process we go through to design our programming.

We begin with extensive research on the fitness demands of the event, identify the exercises and progressions which sport specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the plan.

Then we test the cycle on ourselves and our lab rats here in Wyoming. We document, note what works and doesn’t work, re-assess, and make changes and modifications.

Then we publish the programming in the form of one of our plans or as part of our subscription daily training sessions for tactical and mountain athletes.
We don’t stop there – our daily programming is the “tip of the spear” for our programming evolution. We use these sessions to learn and make continuous improvement.

As we learn more and improve, we go back, and update the sport-specific training plans on the website. For example, we’re currently on Version 5 of our Ruck Based Selection Training Plan and Version 3 of our Dryland Ski Training Plan and Version 4 of our Big Game Back Country Hunting Training Plan.

We understand our programing isn’t cheap, but we believe it’s a great value. The $79 for the Ruck Based Selection Training Plan, and $39 for the Dryland Ski Training Plan reflect the, research, work, innovative theory, iteration, testing and feedback we’ve put in and received to make these plans effective.

All that matters for us is outside performance, and we feel strongly that Our Stuff Works in the real world.

Here’s our guarantee:

1) Individual Training Plan Purchase:
If you purchase an individual training plan, follow it as prescribed before your season/event/pft/selection, and if you don’t feel you were physically ready for your season/event/pft/selection, and/or didn’t see dramatic improvements in your early season performance, we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

2) Athlete’s Subscription
If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

Questions?
Email: rob@mtntactical.com

COMMON QUESTIONS:

Do you have any reviews or testimonials from athletes who have used your Athlete’s Subscription
Yes. Click HERE.

Is it true you guarantee your stuff works?
Yes. If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

How is MTI programming different than CrossFit?
This is a common question. Read our answer HERE.

You have a lot of competitors. Why should I choose MTI?
MTI is driven to improve mountain and tactical athletes’ mission performance and keep them safe. This emphasis and focus on mission performance sets us apart. Read about more that sets us apart HERE.

If I purchase a plan or subscription, how do I access the programming?
All of our plans are online, accessible via username and password.
You can log in through our →Website  or Mobile App →IOS and Android.

Do you have downloadable .pdf’s of the training plans?
No. But you can print the programming, by week, from your browser. You access individual training plans online via a username and password.

Do you have a mobile app?
Yes, we do. Available for IOS and Android.

What is the difference between purchasing an individual training plan, packet of plans or an Athlete’s Subscription?

  • Plan – Like purchasing the DVD of the first Star Wars movie. You own it forever, including any updates we make to the plan.
  • Packet – Like purchasing the DVD’s of all the Star Wars movies. You own them forever, including any updates we make to the plans.
  • Athlete’s Subscription – Like subscribing to Netflix. You get access to all 200+ plan in our library, but lose access if you unsubscribe.

If I purchase an Athletes Subscription Can I cancel on my own, anytime?
Yes.

Do I have to contact MTI to cancel or can I do it myself?
You can do it yourself. Instructions HERE.

If I purchase a subscription and have questions about where to start or what plans(s) to use for my goals, will you help?
Yes. We answer dozens of training questions from athletes weekly. Email coach@mtntactical.com.

If you add new plans or update existing plans after I subscribe will I have access to them?
Yes. We are continuously adding training plans and packets (2-5/month) and updating plans. With your subscription you’ll have access to all new plans, new courses and plan updates.

What Equipment is Required?
Click the “Required Equipment” tab to find out what equipment is required for the specific plan you are interested in.

Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run and Ruck Calculators are listed as exercises.

What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.

Can I see sample training?
Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming. You are encouraged to do it before purchasing.

What if I have more questions?
Email rob@mtntactical.com

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