Riding the waves at home
These days, water sports require a ton of stuff. Just like surfing, you need the board, perfect balance and waves, of course. Meanwhile, wakeboarding calls for a boat or cable park to drag you around. With all the gear, just don’t let the strenuous attitude weigh you down.
But if you want to get really stoked and fit at the same time, try the Indo Board, a mini-surfboard balanced atop a cylindrical roller or cushion developed by surfer Hunter Joslin, whose 40-year expertise in the sport translated to a tool that was intended to help surfers train out of the water. And it doesn’t cost as much as the $2,100 Gucci-logo surfboard.
“My interest in surfing gave me reason to explore beyond the conventional use of the balance board,” says Joslin. “Once I had the basic stance master, I changed my approach to the device and started learning how to walk on the board from end to end.”
Since core is the new buzzword in fitness, using the Indo Board, you’ll work every teensy-weensy core or midsection muscle in your body, which provide strength and stability. The challenge is to stay balanced and not make the board touch the ground. Once you’ve gotten the hang of the regimen that will keep you on your toes, it feels exactly like riding the waves without the water.
“The action of the board moving back and forth on the roller was a totally similar sensation to riding the surfboard. It was fun and I could do it for hours at a time. As a result of this practice, I advanced much quicker than my friends in surfing abilities.”
Thanks to Freddy Gonzalez of Aloha Boardsports Inc. and the surf tourism initiative Onboard Philippines, the Indo Board is now available here. Gonzalez says, “Consider the amount of time you are up and riding a wave, the average ride lasts about 10 to 15 seconds. The Indo Board allows you to ride for minutes on end, utilizing the exact same muscles that are used when surfing.”
The good news is for those who are beginning to surf, the Indo Board is a great opportunity to learn at your own pace to practice balance and coordination for those who already know how to surf.
At the launch, surf star Corey Wills was doing yoga poses on the Indo Board. Cool, huh? Well, he made me try the board with a cushion. At first I had a difficult time balancing, but then in just five minutes, I was already sweating. Plus, my inner thighs were given a workout like never before.
Extreme sportsmen won’t have any problem hopping on the Indo Board at all. No wonder Corey did such a great job because of his core strength. Oh, even golfer Annika Sörenstam has been using it for five years since golf requires a lot of muscle memory. Just bend low and you’re all set — perfect for kids and even the elderly.
The benefits of the Indo Board is that this core workout makes you sweat and opens hips and pelvic girdle,” concludes Joslin. “The basis is fun. It’s about balance and getting people fit, which is a nice addition to any workout.”
Just be careful, surfing indoors can be highly addictive.
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Aloha Boardsports Inc. is the exclusive distributor of the Indo Board. For information, call 899-7332 or visit the shop at Level R3, Power Plant Mall, Makati.
