Third day in row of more then perfect winds/chop combination and sadly I had to finish early today.
After just two hours I had terrible cramps to my calves when water starting.
Usually appear when in the water and try to lift the leg on the board.
Any tips how to deal with or prevent will be appreciated.

Pick a drink with Quinine in it - read label or stick with main brand.
Best is Bitter Lemon (Schweppes) - (Lemon juice acts as a blood thinner so boosts benefits).
Tonic water (Schweppes again) is up there too (minus the best additive before going out!!).

So slug a bottle (300 mls) before or if you have been caught out and tender then after relieves too & stops re-occurence.

In the longer term I think Magnesium suppliments are recommended but someone should be able to fill-in a bit more.

Cheers

AP (own up who Pee'd off one of the rain gods - ahhh enough rain).

Magnesium suppliments like aqua said..

for more insite read this site

www.mg12.info/articles/cramps.html

I find eating a big packet of salty chips before I head out does the job.

doggie said...

grumplestiltskin said...

kyteryder said...

This seems like a windsurfing style cramp. Kiters only seem to get cramps in our hands, gripping the bar to hard.

KR

Gripping something to tightly, dont think its the bar tho!

Oh looks like a fight brewing!!

No need to fight, where do you think the salty taste comes from???

Everyones advise is ok.
Cramps are caused by/ are misfiring muscles. Misfiring muscles are caused by inbalance in any of the substances required in muscle firing (synapse). So lack of any of the minerals (magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium etc i think) is often suggested as a cause but can just as easily be caused by too much of one of the substances (inbalance). Statistically the majority of cramps are not from not enough intake or too much intake of minerals but simply of not enough hydration to move the minerals freely.

So best to make sure you are well hydrated and then look at diet (or supplements) if that doesn't help.

Had the same problem. I neck a litre of water on the way to the beach and now rarely get the cramps. I also get horrific migranes resulting in temporary partial loss of vision as a direct result of intense physicall exertion of shoulders and neck. The litre of water also seems to stop these.