In this conversation, April Denny shares her journey from growing up in Marin County, California, to becoming a PhD candidate focused on human movement and performance in surfing. She discusses her experiences as a lifeguard, her transition to studying kinesiology, and her research on elite female athletes as part of the Paddle to Podium project.
April emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to training and the need for injury prevention in surfing. She also reflects on her time in Australia, working closely with athletes and coaches, and her aspirations for the future.
Chapters
00:00 Growing Up by the Ocean
03:05 Transitioning to College Life
06:01 Exploring Kinesiology and Lifeguarding
08:55 Researching Big Wave Surfers
11:07 Journey to Graduate Studies
13:56 Lifeguarding at Ocean Beach
16:49 Training and Team Dynamics
19:50 Experiences at Kelly Slater’s Wave Park
22:20 The Unique Environment of Wave Parks
27:10 The Dynamics of Surfing and Performance Improvement
32:26 Research and Education in Surfing
36:34 Navigating the PhD Journey
43:05 Cultural Insights: Surfing in Australia
48:11 Transitioning to a New Environment
51:22 Embedded Research and Athlete Support
55:19 Injury Prevention and Strength Training for Athletes
57:32 Research Focus: Preparing Female Athletes for the Olympics
01:01:23 Developing Effective Interventions for Skill Improvement
01:05:00 Challenges in Training Surfers vs. Swimmers
01:07:23 Key Findings on Stroke Dynamics and Injury Prevention
01:13:53 Community and Future Directions in Research
01:22:07 Podcast Outro.mp4
