Abstract
BACKGROUND: Surf skateboards have grown in popularity among young people in recent years. However, no research studies have analyzed the effect of surf skateboarding on physical fitness. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 8-week surf skateboard training on physical fitness in young adults. METHODS: Twenty-two young people, ages 18-24 years were randomly assigned into two groups: a control (CON; n = 11) and surf skateboarding (SSK; n = 11) group. The surf skateboard training group received an eight-week intervention consisting of three 60-minute (min) sessions per week, while the control group continued with their normal daily lives. Physical fitness was assessed before and after the intervention through a battery of tests that included body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and balance. RESULTS: The results showed that the SSK group demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) improvements in maximum voluntary ventilation, back and leg strength, lower body muscular endurance by the sit-to-stand tests, and balance in all direction compared with the pre-test and the CON group. In addition, the SSK group showed significantly (p < 0.05) decreased body weight, body mass index, percent body fat, and resting heart rate, while increased maximum oxygen consumption, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, upper body muscular endurance by the sit-up test and flexibility compared with the pre-test. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that surf skateboard training have an effective physical activity intervention to improve body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and balance in young people.