Nice to read so many replies from my fellow Silverbacks. At 61 I am just getting back in the water after being away from surfing for many years. Getting in shape is the key I would say doing some yoga along with arabic and weights really helps. since I am on the gulf coast of Fla The wave count is vary very low. A SUP is in the works to just get out on the water.
I’d thought you closed or changed your site since the link in your signature has been different for awhile. I was all excited about turning fifty this past July and being able to contribute and then the link was gone…
I decided to celebrate my fifty years by running the L.A. Marathon. Last weekend and I did an 18 mile run and at the end all I could think was, “And now I’d have to run 8 more miles???”
i try to stay active in a variety of ways- i guess it's considered "cross training". jog, bike ride, horse ride, swim stretch, weight machines at the local Y, each am i might go for a bike ride/surf check, or a little jog, followed by stretching on inversion table and yoga mat along with some stuff on an exercise or therapy ball. in the afternoon, if the surf isn't happening, it's off to the Y or some other activity. that said, i do like to throw down a couple cold ones when all is said and done. like mike doyle said workout in the day (deposit) in case you want to have a drink or two and some fun at night(withdrawl). pushing 55. 6'180lbs, though my "fighting" weight is 175-which i haven't seen in 7 years.oh well, enjoy life and get it while you can...
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If you're not over 50 yet, you're still welcome - if you plan to still be surfing when you are! http://surfersover50.blogspot.com/
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I'll be 50 shortly, and I've got the elderly injuries already. In addition to surfing, I run 3-4 days a week (about 5 miles a session), and I x-country ski which is awesome cardio with almost no stress to the body.I also rock climb and do mountaineering, which is why I run-need that cardio for the high-altitude hobbies. I have a bulging L5 which almost put an end to all my passions, but a great doctor perscribed plainking and core exercises and this keeps the problem in check. I've never liked working out, but now I have to do it or all the fun stuff comes to an end.
llililbel and anyone else: pm me with your email, and I'll send an invite by email to sign you up as a contributor. Nothin' special, just a way to check in once in awhile and share, or read up, a little networking / pep talk etc. to keep the stoke goin' after 50, its a bit more of a challenge no doubt, might as well tap into each others' stoke and wisdom!
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...a great doctor perscribed plainking and core exercises and this keeps the problem in check. I've never liked working out, but now I have to do it or all the fun stuff comes to an end.
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well, at least he didn't prescribe owling or tebowing LOL!
Ha, Ha!
Good one Huck…
Now if you can only photoshop in some kitelines off of that cane that would be me…lol
I’m turning 55 on Feb 5th.
I’m building myself 2 @ 5’-10" kite surfboards which will be as big as I’d ever go…
I’m building a 5’-6" x 5’9" asymmetric, and 2 @ 5’-6"x 19" and 5’-6" x 19.75" Kite- Twinzers…
I’m 6’-3" tall and svelt 250 #
Ahhhh… Ain’t the power of the wind a wonderful thing???
I am 50 , I love my shortboards but use a 7-6 mini longboard when its small for that wave count we all need. As far as my short board I tend to sit deeper the older I get.Dont ever give up , keep pushing, get in shape surf everyday!!!
I’m 59. Surfed the TX coast for 20 years. Landlocked now for 23 years. Thought the career I chose would keep me on the coast.
Doing my best to keep my surfing skills alive, on the streets, so I can paddle out on the occasional trip to the coast.
Sadly what you lose quickly when landlocked, and slowly with age, is your take-off timing/quickness.
66 y/o in April 2012, 6’1", 185#'s, been at it for 60 years, started paipo boarding in Waikiki, moved to surfing and never looked back. Lived and surfed in California in the late 50’s / early 60’s, surfed for Dewey Weber then. Never made the move to the shortboards, though I do ride an 8’6" Steve Lis quad, 10’0" 3 stringer Brewer, 9’6" Billy Hamilton, or either of my, 2, 3 stringer 9’6" “Ole” surfboards.
Passion driven surfer, though have hit dead spots every now & then , stoke up, and get back in the ocean. Poop happens and you hit dead water.
Lucky to be home in Hawaii and living on the Garden Island of Kaua’i for years now. Being able to surf Hanalei Bay or the surrounding beach breaks keeps the mind & body alive as well as the surrounding beauty. Warm waters, scenic beauty and a wonderful wahine, who loves the beach, keeps me, a happy man.
Been the announcer for the PineTrees Longboard Surf Classic for 16 years now and 10 years doing the Iron’s Brothers Keiki Surf Classic. Been watching all these Kaua’i kids grow up and seeing there advancments in surfing. Stokes, an ole guy like me. Makes me smile. Being Stoked and Happy!! boogie till ya puke!
PPK, you’re a F’n legend man. You knew all the right people during the right decades, and were quite a surfer as well.
I hope all is well. I would love to see you all at Hanalei again. Maybe Bernie will drag me out there for a surf one of these days.
God bless, Harry.
I’ll be 53 in June. Always lived in central n Florida 2+ hours from the waves. For the first time in my life I’ve started thinking about all the bad things I do to my self, smoke, too much of the wrong foods, one beer too many… Need to make a change and shed 25#. Look for my build thread.
Hit 62, hard to believe, since I’m basically 18 between my ears. 6’3" and 185lbs. I don’t ride anything over 6’6" and do have a timing issue now and then. I like to blame my surfboard for that but, as has been pointed out more than once, it’s the archer and not the arrow. The fix is always to practice popups out of the water and let muscle memory take over in the lineup. I am lucky, though, and have the opportunity to surf every morning. The waves have to be really pathetic for me not to paddle out.
Squat thrusts are my solution. Still doesn’t help my land-locked take-off timing though.
When I was youger, I did squat-thrust push-ups to train.
At 59, I do the push-ups separately.
61 here, I just entered my 50th year of surfing. Last year I lost a considerable amount of weight by a diet change and daily exercise. I was strictly a F.A. longboarder but have since stepped down to a 7’10" fun board, then a 7’2" with a 5 fin set up & last week made my first board, a 6’4" twinnie. I still surf 2-3 times a week and can stay out 3 hours no problem. After the weight loss I feel 25 years younger. I remember my best friend in high school & I made a pact to surf until we were old, like 50. I still feel the stoke just like always and have always been a dawn patroller & always will be.
Keep Surfing…
old is.........................
as old does......................
from the movie,"world's fastest indian"..............
.........underneath this baggy old body is the mind of a 18 year old,and i can show you up anyday !
aloha surf braddas, i told my friends and kids i not having birthdays after my 55 birthdate… that feels like a couple years ago, but as denial goes, it’s been 7 years …i don’t think of being a social security qualifier, but theres a few things i do to maintain my body on a daily basis that i did not do 40 years ago…
i broke a gath helmet on the inside reef 12 years ago and my neck has not been the same since… i’ve come up with a few remidies that i like to share with others as i read this thread of 50’s… i call this aid a ‘neck ez’…i use it regularly even if i get weird remarks…some guys say it really looks like a good idea, and i’ve given it to friends who complain about tired necks, but none of them have really used it… so any way i’ll make the offer for any one who wants to be the first on their break to try it, i’ll send you a demo…
and just to show how much i’m in denial about 50+, i made my first wood boards in the last 6 months… i used wiliwili or hawaiian balsa which has become pretty sacare so i’ve planted some and also planted balsa… they should be ready to shape in 5 to 10 years…my dad just died last year at 100 so if i don’t off myself head planting on the reef again, i should have time to shape my trees…
aloha, ike
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aloha surf braddas, i told my friends and kids i not having birthdays after my 55 birthdate... that feels like a couple years ago, but as denial goes, it's been 7 years ...i don't think of being a social security qualifier, but theres a few things i do to maintain my body on a daily basis that i did not do 40 years ago...
i broke a gath helmet on the inside reef 12 years ago and my neck has not been the same since.. i've come up with a few remidies that i like to share with others as i read this thread of 50's... i call this aid a 'neck ez'..i use it regularly even if i get weird remarks...some guys say it really looks like a good idea, and i've given it to friends who complain about tired necks, but none of them have really used it... so any way i'll make the offer for any one who wants to be the first on their break to try it, i'll send you a demo...
and just to show how much i'm in denial about 50+, i made my first wood boards in the last 6 months... i used wiliwili or hawaiian balsa which has become pretty sacare so i've planted some and also planted balsa... they should be ready to shape in 5 to 10 years...my dad just died last year at 100 so if i don't off myself head planting on the reef again, i should have time to shape my trees...
aloha, ike
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Ike, Can I put in an order for one of your Wiliwilli boards You will have to wait untill the trees are at least 8'8"
My biggest issue after a long spell on dry-land is serious rib and sternum soreness/pain – one of several reasons I loved my Morey-Doyle. After 2 days of paddling out, my sternum and the bottom edges of my ribs are killing me.
I’ve seen those inflatable chest pads but they look really bulky. Have been thinking about making a rash guard with a foam chest pad.
Anybody got a solution.
That neck thing sounds interesting gutrs. Got a close-up photo. Not sure I see how it works.
Hello, New Member and I read this post. I am 55, I don’t consider myself old, and I may be the exception, but I will chime in here.
I have no problem what so ever with paddling, surfing, aging. But then again there are some reasons.
You said; I’d love to know what other surfers over age 50 are doing regarding the
challenges of surfing while ageing. Stuff like conditioning, board
selection, etc. etc.
I can tell you this, I train with weights, I don’t lift that heavy, but controlled steady short work outs only 20 minutes a day.
I changed to a vegetarian diet, I don’t eat like a pig.
I ride a longer board.
I run 4 days a week only 2 miles each day.
I drink lots of water.
I have never been to the doctor in my life.
I have never ever been sick.
I have never been injured in the water, surfboard, nothing.
I have more energy than when I was 16.
But, I have no 9-to 5 job, no bad marraiges, divorice, don’t watch television, don’t interact with stupidity and people in society fascinated with general stupidity.
I married a younger woman half my age.
Just some thoughts, heres a recent picture at 54. 163 lbs. 6 foot 30 waist
Nobodys old, you just 'think" that way, the mind can do anything!
[img_assist|nid=1064571|title=Old Guy|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=579]