Dr. Josh Secomb is a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Queensland Academy of Sport. Previously he was the Lead Physical Preparation Coach at Surfing Australia. In addition, Josh has worked in the AFL (Brisbane Lions) and with athletes in the NRL and the Hockeyroos. His formal qualifications include a PhD in Sport Science (Strength and Conditioning) at Edith Cowan University in collaboration with Surfing Australia and a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (Honours) from the University of Newcastle.

Quotes

“The guys were doing 40-80 waves per session in a two hour block”

“The thicker the muscle in the Vastus Lateralis, the increase in force producing capabilities”

“You can always pick a surfer by seeing them run”

“Anecdotal data can be more useful at times because you can act on it quicker”

“If I have a message to deliver, its my responsibility if it is understood or not”

“Whatever happens next, make sure you make yourself irreplaceable”

Shownotes

1) The sort of fatigue, waves surfed and distance covered in a 2 hour surf session 8:47

2) How greater leg strength helps with turns but maybe not with airs in surfing 13:54

3) To decrease injury risk in landings look for a 350% BW peak force minimum threshold on the Isometric Mid Thigh Pull 16:47

4) Differences in lower body muscle architecture in surfing athletes 22:53

5) Start with hypertrophy for producing more force in athletes 27:17

6) Why playing other sports was good for junior surfers physical development 33:29

7) Eccentric-concentric force plate variables Josh is interested in 40:59

8) Why some athletes would want more hypertrophy training to be heavier before big wave stops on the world tour 47:48

9) Why block periodization might not work with sports that need to peak every 2-6 weeks like surfing 56:55

10) The breakdown of how Surfing Australia would train pro surfers including movement prep and gymnastics training 58:30

11) Why doing more paddle training might not be the best answer for conditioning surfers and how to use eccentric accentuated training including jumping exercises 1:03:26

12) How to train the adductors and why it helps injury prevention for the knee 1:07:50

13) The importance of mobility for surfing 1:17:52

14) How Josh used video to bridge communication gaps and improve his coaching 1:22:48

15) Stu Kennedy’s underdog wild card run at Snapper Pro 2015 and Bede’s comeback from injury 1:39:46

People mentioned (tag surfing Australia HPC)

1) Ben Dascombe

2) Rob Lockie @drboblockie

3) Jeremy Sheppard @sheppardcoach

4) Dan Baker @danbakerstrength_

5) Lina Lundgren @locasbotas

6) Bryan Mann @jbryanmann

7) Kieran Young @kieran_p_young

8) Sophia Nimphius @docsoph

9) Sally Fitzgibbon @sally_fitz

10) Phil Wagner @drphilwagner

11) Daniel Cohen @danielcohen1971

12) Mark Andrews

13) Angus Ross @angusrossNZ

14) Tim Browne @curralley

15) David Boyle @davidwayneboyle13

16) Stu Kennedy @stueykennedy

17) Chippa Wilson @chippawilson

18) Bede Durbridge @bededurbo