Stay Loose and Stay Paddling: The Tools of Recovery for the Ageing Surf Warrior

Remember when you could surf a three-hour session on a scrambled-egg-and-half-a-pint breakfast, and still have enough to walk up the hill to your car? Yeah, me neither. What’s certain is that as the candles on your cake multiply, your body files formal complaints—your shoulders feel like they’ve been paddling for the 18th mile, your back groans like a pub door at closing time, and your hips threaten to retire altogether.

So here’s your battle plan: recovery tools that let you surf again without needing a jet ski to paddle you out.

1. Foam Roller  – The Cheap, Effective Feel-Good Stick

Why you’ll love it:
– Squeeze your lat muscles like a needy hand-holding session.
– Roll out hamstrings and glutes like you’re flattening out a wonky bed.
– Cheap enough that even your board collection won’t feel jealous.

GET YOUR OWN > Amazon Associate plug alert: [Amazon Link]

2. Massage Gun  – Your Personal Masseur (Without the Small Talk)

We like the Theragun, it’s shape allows you to get at all angles (oo-er)

Why it’s a godsend:
– Delivers deep percussion to blast out the knots—shoulders, low back, inner rage after watching the queue at your local café.
– Makes you feel like a youthful grunt at 55, not a caveman.

GET YOUR OWN > Amazon Associate plug alert: [Amazon Link ]

3. Resistance Bands Set – Paddling Strength Without the Gym

Why it’s clutch:
– Gives your shoulders and rotators the gentle roasting they deserve.
– Compact enough to stow in a glove compartment if you’re that bougie.

GET YOUR OWN > Amazon Associate plug alert: [Amazon Link]

4. Neck Stretching (AIS – Active Isolated Stretch) – Treat Your Neck Like it Didn’t Paddle the Last 20 Years

This guy has got it down – watch the YouTube video here or we put the vid on the page if it’s easier? (but there are other videos for it on YouTube, absolutely worth checking out and bringing into the routine)

Why it works:
– Gentle 2-second stretch cycles ideal for stiff, creaky necks.
– Helps you scan the lineup like a pro instead of bobbing mid-roll like a toddler.

5. Combining It All – The Post-Surf Flow

A simple routine that doesn’t require yoga pants (but you may still wear them, we don’t kink-shame):
1. Rehydrate (coconut water or electrolyte drink).
2. Foam roll your back and legs.
3. Hit the shoulders and lower back with the massage gun.
4. Use resistance bands for a quick 3-minute paddle simulation.
5. Finish with neck AIS stretches to look sage instead of creaky.

Final Stoke 

Surfing over 30 means you don’t just paddle for glory—you paddle for longevity. These tools aren’t indulgences—they’re enablers: keeping you paddling, laughing, and turning making those groms watching on well jealous.

Fancy keeping the stoke alive? Grab that foam roller, massage gun, and resistance bands with our Amazon Associate links. Surf smart, recover smarter, and keep catching.

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