title: Increasing surfboard volume reduces energy expenditure during paddling.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate how altering surfboard volume (BV) affects energy expenditure during paddling. Twenty surfers paddled in a swim flume on five surfboards in random order twice. All surfboards varied only in thickness and ranged in BV from 28.4 to 37.4 L. Measurements of heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), pitch angle, roll angle and paddling cadence were measured. VO2and HR significantly decreased on thicker boards [VO2: r = -0.984, p = 0.003; HR: r = -0.972, p = 0.006]. There was also a significant decrease in pitch and roll angles on thicker boards [Pitch: r = -0.995, p < 0.001; Roll: r = -0.911, p = 0.031]. Results from this study suggest that increasing BV reduces the metabolic cost of paddling as a result of lower pitch and roll angles, thus providing mechanical evidence for increased paddling efficiency on surfboards with more volume. Practioner Summary: This study investigated the impact of surfboard volume on energy expenditure during paddling. Results from this study suggest that increasing surfboard volume reduces the metabolic cost of paddling as a result of lower pitch and roll angles, thus providing mechanical evidence for increased paddling efficiency on surfboards with more volume.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology , California State University San Marcos , San Marcos , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Vuk
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ekmecic
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology , California State University San Marcos , San Marcos , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology , California State University San Marcos , San Marcos , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology , California State University San Marcos , San Marcos , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saulino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology , California State University San Marcos , San Marcos , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Jeff A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nessler
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology , California State University San Marcos , San Marcos , CA , USA.
authors.forename: George H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology , California State University San Marcos , San Marcos , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Sean C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Newcomer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000073678:Water Sports / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Surfing; heart rate; oxygen consumption; paddling