Factors that distinguish effective from inefficient warm-ups in high-level surfers

Well-structured warm-ups are associated with improvement in performance across many sports, including surfing. Muscle warmth, amongst many other factors, likely contributes to this improvement. Using a randomized crossover design with seventeen participants (n = 14 males; n = 3 females) we found body temperature increase and changes in stress hormone (i.e., testosterone increase ∼ 6%, p < 0.05) following a specific warm-up was associated with a significant (blindly judged) score improvement in surf performance. However, achieving similar body temperature changes utilizing a different warmup, though similar in duration, did not result in changes in testosterone concentration and resulted in no appreciable performance gain. We conclude that warm-up is holistic in its relationship to performance outcome including contribution from components such hormonal change, body warmth, and possibly even athlete's perception and likes. Failing to account for all of these reduces a warm-up's potential to improve performance; making it less effective.