Eight Reasons Surfing Is The Gnarliest Sport

If you’re a surfer, you’ve heard the haters—the ones who claim surfing isn’t a sport. The ones who don’t know the upper body strength it takes to paddle for hours. The ones who have never tried to jump from stomach position to standing in a matter of seconds. The ones who don’t recognize the continuity between balance and core. But you, the seasoned surfer, know the truth. You know the minute you paddle into the waves, it doesn’t matter what others think, because it’s just you, the board, and the water. Here are eight reasons surfing is the gnarliest sport:

1. Surfing is Physical

tumblr.com

Surfing is ridiculously challenging and physically demanding. I mean, have you ever seen an out of shape surfer? Wait, let’s rephrase that. Have you ever seen a good out of shape surfer? Probably not. Wetsuits don’t exactly hide much.

2. Surfing is Adrenaline

gifbin.com

For all those adrenaline junkies out there, surfing is the ultimate sport. The rush of adrenaline you feel as you anticipate the wave that's coming is undeniable, not to mention the adrenaline that's coursing through you as you ride the wave. But, there's nothing like the feeling of wiping out and tumbling through the ocean waves as it throws you and your board around. And even if the waves break your board and you have to seek out new surfboards for sale, you can't wait to do it again.

3. Surfing is Spiritual

i.imgur.com

The ocean is an out of control force of nature that can’t be tamed. It’s vast and unpredictable. You understand the magnitude of the water and its ability to hurt you. But you also respect it. When a giant wave crashes over you, you recognize how feeble humanity is. And in order to succeed past the elements, you have to develop a relationship with the water.

4. Surfing is Emotional

gifbin.com

Because the ocean allows you to recognize your humanity, you find a self-awareness you didn’t possess until you paddled out into the waves.

5. Surfing is Healthy

tumblr.com

Not like you needed any other excuses to get in the water, but surfing is downright beneficial to your health because of the sun and salt water. So, you’re doing yourself a favor when you’re in the water.

6. Surfing is Carefree

i791.photobucket.com

It doesn’t matter how physically demanding surfing is, once you’re out on the water, you can forget all of your problems and just let the waves take you where you want to go.

7. Surfing is Manly-And Womanly

wonderpodonline.com

It’s a sport that doesn’t discriminate based on gender. It’s a community. You may not know the person surfing next to you, but you both have a common thread holding you together: the love of surfing.

8. Surfing is Life

gifbin.com

Musician and surfer Jim White said, “You catch a wave at the apex of its life, at the moment it begins to fulfill its final destiny, and the ride ends when that wave has fulfilled that destiny. What's really going on when surfing is actually a kind of shared death dance.”

9. Bonus! Surfing Allows You to Get Pitted