I don't know what it is, cold water or that I"am out of shape but lately I've been cramping my hamstrings and calfs after about 2 hours in the water. It happened to me this past Friday paddling for into a wave.... it wasen't nice I ate it!!!!!!! Any suggestion to help ease the cramping. I already streach and do some yoga. Could it be those tight a$$ bootys and fins? Any suggestions would help. Thanks
Hey You might need to get bigger fins to compensate for your booties. I'm wearing XXL fins over 7mm booties. It sucks, I still get foot and leg cramps. It also could be that we're just not meant to be playing in frigid water. Try eating some bananas or drinking Gatorade before heading out. Potassium will help with your cramping. What thickness suit do you have? Are you getting cold? If you're cold, you're muscles are going to contract and shiver to keep you warm. You might have to move up in thickness, or get a polyofelin liner. I hate the winter. I kind of just grit my teeth and deal with it because I hate to miss good surf. I can't wait for Spring.
I am a 10 and a half shoe size and I was using the xcel 7mm bootys with large tech 2 fins . I picked up the 5mm h2o bootys and they are softer and comfortable in the fins but definetly not as warm..also the excel has these rubber soles that make them a bit bulky..I guess I'll have to spring for the bigger fins anyways!!! For my wetsuit I have a 5/4/3 infiniti excel with the hoodie. It's a very warm suit a bit restictive but very comfy my core stays plenty warm!!!! gloves are excel 5 mm not too warm finger tips get numb!! As for streching....I'am good for about 45 min the night before 30 min right before I go in and another 30 min afterwards I'll eat a bannana with a cup of tea on the drive I avoid a heavy meal before a surf but I usually go big the night before!!! In the summer I never cramp and I try to get at least 2 days a week in the water...In the winter season I go in maybe once a week if the conditions are worth it but I'll swim at the local pool if I go more than 2 weeks without getting wet !! Thanks for the reply!!!!
Potassium and water. Drink lots of water. Cramping is most often caused by lack of hydration. We tend to drink less water in the winter because we don't think we need it, but we do! And you can't just guzzle 64 ounces and then go surf. That won't do you any good. Hydration needs to be maintained over time. Attempt to drink between 64 and 128 ounces of water per day.
Good looking out on the advice, Carson was right a gallon of water a day and about three bannanas did the trick. No more cramps!!!
Stretching, bananas, and Gatorade, and I garrantee you won't cramp. Tight fins do not lead to leg cramps, all they do is minimize circulation in your feet, which will make your feet COLD because there is less blood flow, not cramping. At a minimum, stretch, and keep hydrated before you go out with Gatorade. I also eat a banana for breakfast.
If you don't sit around on your board a lot you will not get them, i had this same problem it usually happens on weak swells. Just move your legs around every so often to keep the blood flowing and also those other suggestions work
