031 - April Denny Researcher With Australian Olympic Surf Team

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.

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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