I don't know about the rest of you blokes (middle age and up), but whenever I go kitesurfing, that night I can't fall asleep for ages. In such case even if I eventually fall asleep I have very very poor quality sleep that night.
Essentially a great kiting session causes body to release epinephrine hormone and your body becomes hyper active, and it seams takes a long time for the effect to wear off, which seems to stimulate the brain, so your brain keeps going and can't slow down and drift off into sleep mode...
Anyone discovered a solution for this? Preferrably some natural solution that doesn't harm the body... (booze and sex didn't really work either)
p.s. laurie, can we increase the maxLength of the "subject" field , I had to sacrifice punctuation...
I hate to say it
you need to kite hardcore and pull moves that beat you up if you fail...
just ask anyone how well they sleep after being beaten for 3 - 5 hours or so
the body knows when you havent gone hard enough - it leaves you hyperactive
and you need to Man Up .... and drink more beer... the perfect ending to conciousness
nah, the problem is the harder and better session I have, the more excited I feel afterwards and harder to fall asleep. The body is dead and exhausted but the brain is too worked up... When I have an average easy session, it's almost like i didn't kite, and can sleep without issues...
Beer is no solution... i'm gittin old and have to get up an piss five times per night if drinking...
I don't know about 5 hours though... people go on about kiting for 5 hours etc, but i think it's a bit of a crock... unless you are full time sports person, and train for several hours every day with super fitness and stamina, i can't see how you can kite hard for 5 hours... For an average person with 8 hr job and family, even if you are reasonably fit, i'd have to disagree that 5 hours straight up kiting is doable!!!
Kited in exmouth 6 days straight, 4 hour sessions...but I'm 38 with family, kids etc and although I just lasted keeping up with the 28 yr old with no ties, recovery the next day was sobering to say the least - and they hit the piss after, me, straight to bed.
I wear a camel hydration backpack, so always keep hydrated. This helps me sleepas well, I agree the adrenaline is running but your body would be dehydrated. Maybe this might help.
Also a long slow stretch afterward, slowbreathing, can slow your body and mind down.
In the old days what kept me up was thinking about the next level or next move I was going to try. Old man eppo doesn't think about these things anymore, so this might also be what is going on.
No TV after, stretch, stay hydrated and a big meal followed by sex with someone or yourself (what's the difference), can help.
so i was right, all i'm hearing is 4 hour sessions... not 5...
some good advice there though... already do most of it, but haven't paid much attention to hydration levels though.. so will definitelly work on that...
hey eppo what do you put in hydro pack just water . I with you superlizard i genaraly just go to bed later then normal .The brain says your tired so goto bed earler cause you know you will be stuffed in the morning if you dont but you end up not sleeping well so go to bed later and usally passout quicker . Yep agree with 5 hrs but i have done it and the end result is you get so stuffed and start to stuff up like stomping just the littlist boost ends in a crash (what the f**k) so you try again (what the F**k) again and more ocean is drunk untill you realise that iam stuffed and have to stop for a while . So a good ses is about 3hrs max then a good 1/2 hour rest Then hit it again . Is hard to do when the wind is blowing good and freinds are still out there , but worth doing .
My problem is not with sleep after a 4 to 5 hour sess, it's waking up the next morning with a freekin rock hard boner
Very true lizard, feeling the same. 42 yo...
But than, I'm snowboarder and can do 8-9hrs easily per day, each day for 7-10 days...And sleeping well.
Not so well after 2-3hrs kitesurfing...Maybe the key is 1hr session, 15min rest? Like going up the mountain on a chair and having a rest.
Hm, might try that.
Have a slow release protein shake and take ZMA (zinc magnesium tablets) . Good for recovery and you will get a great nights sleep for sure
Problem is you're getting too good. I remember the early days, when a two hour session (involving consuming about 6L of seawater, and being stung by jellies) would be followed by a couple of beers sorting out the inevitable tangles. After that, it was like I'd been shot with a tranq dart - once fell asleep in the middle of a conversation before dinner!
Adrenalin keeps you awake, endrophins put you relaxed and / or sleep. The difference is the way you kite. Either fight, conquer, risk and fear (adrenalin) which likely keep you excited and awake with occasional nighmares (super crash) or make love with the waves, with the ocean and almost explode in joy with a sense of constant orgasm (endorphins) and you more likely fall asleep with sweet dreams and most likely wake up with that so familiar tension around the groin (testosterone).
As for the hours. At 57 I am too old to get tired and too forgetful to remember when to stop. So for that 6-7 days stretch in Exmouth the sess often went over 3 hours especially when the swells were up. But sometimes 1.5-2 hours are just fine.
Yeh just water, you young guns could put gatorage in there or something electrolyte - I had to do this when up in karratha as it was really hot on top of the water - scorching, and the water was like swimming in sweat, so needed to stay hydrated, kept it up since - not in winter though.
I reckon 3 hours is my max, then I start making silly errors. Less if you are going hard core.
Anymore and I reckon the toll on your body could lead to some long term injuries...I used to maybe do 4 hour sessions 10 years ago and I'm oaying for it in my ankles and knees now!
Anyone discovered a solution for this? Preferrably some natural solution that doesn't harm the body...
Hey Lizard,
I know what you mean about the brain not shutting down, not so much after a good session but if I'm getting some new gear or going for a big session somewhere the next day I can get over enthusiastic and stay awake half the night
If your'e after some hippy stuff that works try valerian capsules, you can get them in most supermarkets. They seem to work by helping you relax - not sure how but they work but they do
Nothing wrong with waking up a bit stiff in the morning.
Sleep is over-rated. Get amongst some polyphasic sleep and become the uberman!
www.polyphasiclife.com/index.html
No TV after, stretch, stay hydrated and a big meal followed by sex with someone or yourself (what's the difference), can help.
Your a long way from being an old man Eppo. Toughen up!