PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine how temporospatial stroke parameters influence sprint-paddle performance within an elite Australian female surfing cohort. This study was part of a larger strategic project aimed at preparing female surfers for the Paris 2024 Olympics in Teahupo’o, Tahiti where they will be required to paddle into waves of significant consequence. 

 

METHODS: Four elite female surfers (21±5 yr, 60.5±3.6 kg, 165.2±4.1 cm) who are currently competing within the World Surf League Challenger Series or Championship Tour participated in the current study. The testing protocol included a pool-based testing session comprising three, 15-m sprint-paddle trials with 4 min of rest between each. A horizontal position transducer (I-Rex, Southport, Australia) was mounted on pool deck atop a standardised frame. Instantaneous velocity alongside 5-, 10-, and 15-m split times were recorded via RX Capture software. For kinematic review and analysis, an above water top view, and an underwater side view camera (GoPro Hero 10, GoPro Inc., US) recorded the surfer during each trial. AMR RX Motion Player Software (Swordfish v22.6.050, Southport, Australia) was used to assess the distances covered within each stroke phase (glide, pull, push, recovery). Stroke count, stroke rate, and propulsive to non-propulsive phase ratios were also analysed. All analysis was performed on the surfer’s best trial as determined by their fastest 15-m split time. Statistical analysis was performed within R studio (v R-4.2.1, Posit, Massachusetts) to determine which temporospatial parameters were significantly correlated with each split time.

 

RESULTS: Stroke count (5-m: P=0.012, 10-m: P<0.001, 15-m: P<0.001), defined as the number of strokes taken across the 15-m, and a propulsive to non-propulsive phase ratio on the right arm (R) (5-m: P=0.027, 10-m: P=0.009, 15-m: P=0.009) were significantly correlated to all split times. Stroke distance (R) was significantly correlated only to 5-m split time (P=0.038) and distance covered during push phase on the left arm (L) was significantly correlated to 10-m (P=0.040) and 15-m (P=0.043) split times. 

 

CONCLUSION: Collectively, the results suggest that a further distance travelled across each stroke, particularly within propulsive phases (pull, push), leads to enhanced sprint-paddle performance through decreased split times. Future research should investigate how training interventions may improve stroke technique to elicit this. 

 

Disclosure[s]: The authors have nothing to disclose.