Surfing the waves has been a way of life for thousands of years. It was in the early 1900s that surfing became an accepted sport by the international sporting agencies. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that surfing started becoming very popular.
Surfing is now more popular then ever. Especially as many beaches are easy to get to. And more and more surfers are pushing the limits by surfing massive waves.
Surfboards for Beginners have become relative cheaper to buy. For the surfing beginner there are many different boards they can try, but many people starting out use a soft-board also known as ‘softies’. These types of boards are bigger then other surfboards they are extremely buoyant and are very stable in the water. This makes them easier to stand up on for the novice surfer.
There are other surfboards you can buy really depending on the skills you have as a surfer. There are mid-length boards, longboards and shortboards. Really good surfers tend to surf on smaller and lighter boards.
Why Surf?
People surf for different reasons. Many people surf because there is no other sport like it. For some people it’s a way of life and to others they enjoy surfing on holiday or the weekend. A big bonus with surfing is that there are no monthly or yearly membership fees to pay.
Start Surfing
One of the best ways to start surfing is to have a surf lesson when you are next at the beach. Rather then buying all the gear, the surf school will give you all the surf gear to get you into the water. The surf instructor will then take you into the water and teach you how to surf. More then likely you’ll be getting a few ‘wipe-outs’ before you catch the wave. This is a great way to get the surf bug – once hooked you’ll want to go in again and again.
Surfboards for Beginners
Shortboard is the first type of board it is also known as a Thruster. This board performs quick manoeuvres and is very popular. The size of the board is from 5’8” to 6’10”.
Longboard or Malibu are the next types of boards you can ride. The main difference in this type of board is that the nose is much more rounded then the shortboard. Shortboards tend to have three fins and longboards tend to have a single fin. Mini-mals’ sizes range from 7’2” to 9’0” and Malibus are 9’0” and more.
The fish board is very similar to a shortboard but is smaller. It has more width to the board then lengths making it more rounder. The size of the fish board is between 4’8” and 6’0”. The fish board is definitely not a good board for a beginner.
The gun is also a type of shortboard as well. The size of the gun board ranges from 7’2” in length to over 12′ to surf big waves.
So the best Surfboard for Beginner is the Malibu as it is bigger and thicker making it easier to catch waves.
Filed under Surfboards for Beginners by on Jan 27th, 2011. Comment. 
What Canoes and Kayaks?
Canoes and Kayaks are an outdoor activity. Canoes and Kayaks are a sport that propels the canoe through the water. The name ‘canoeing’ or ‘paddle sports’ is a generic name for both a canoe and a kayak.
Canoes and Kayaks can be done for fun or as a sport. Often people think that a canoe and a kayak are the same. But they are different in shape and size. A canoe can be open-decked or closed-decked.
Canoes and Kayaks can be paddled by one or more people, who either kneel or sit using a single bladed paddle.
Background of Canoes and Kayaks
The history of the word canoe came from the word ‘Keenu’ which means, ‘dugout’ and they were shaped out of big tree trunks. Canoes and Kayaks were often used for main transport over long distances, and they would go to various areas, like North American and the Amazon Basin.
Canoeing started around 1865 by John MacGregor who is also the founding member of the Royal Canoe Club.
How to
use yor Canoes and Kayaks
There are many strokes you will learn in canoes and kayaks over time, but the main ones are:
J-Stroke: Which is a stroke you do in the shape of the letter J, you use it to alter the way the canoe is going.
Sweep Stroke: To turn the canoe.
Stern Rudder: To turn the canoe sideways.
Why Canoe and Kayak?
Canoeing is a great way to explore areas, which you may not see otherwise, if you’re not in a boat. You get to see beautiful wildlife, amazing scenery, and the peacefulness of the countryside. It’s also great if you feel like an adventure and you can bring your camping equipment and sleep out in the outdoors!
Canoes and Kayaks are a great way to spend a family day out, and there are many rivers and lakes which let you hire a canoe for the day.
If you fancy doing a river trip you should try doing the river wye, in Wales. As you can rent a canoe and do one of their amazing journeys, either from 1 day or up to 4 days, that’s totally up to you.
Start doing Canoeing and Kayaking
The best way to get into canoes and kayaks is to look on the BCU website and find your local canoe club. http://www.bcu.org.uk/
Filed under Canoes and Kayaks by on Jan 28th, 2011. Comment.
What is Bungee Jumping?
Bungee Jumping or Bungy Jumping is an activity that lets you jump from a tall platform structure. You are attached to a body harness which is attached to bungee cords. The platform structure that you jump from is typically a fixed object, like a bridge, a building, or a crane. For the even more daredevils out there, you can also do a bungee jump from a movable object such as a helicopter or a hot air balloon.
When you are ready you jump of the platform and propel yourself down to earth. Once the cord has reached its maximum flexibility, the jumper will fly back upwards and then bounce up and down a few more times. The majority of people get the thrill from the free-falling as well as from the rebounding. The rebounding gives the person a feeling of weightlessness and is extremely exhilarating.
You will continue to move back and forth until all the power is dissipated.
Check out below if you want to find out some Bungee Jumping UK locations.
Background to Bungee Jumping
It was in the 1950s that a film crew and David Attenborough brought back a recording of “land divers” of the Pentecost Island. The recording showed young men jumping from high wooden platforms; they had vines tied to their ankles.
New Zealand stated commercial bungee jumping in 1986. Since then several million people have successful done bungee jumps.
Even though bungee jumps are dangerous injuries are rare, but they do occur such as whiplash or eyesight damage. Fatalities have also happened but are uncommon.
The bungee jump operators have to conform to the strictest of standards and guidelines, such as double checking fittings before every jump.
Bungee Jumping UK
There are many different Bungee Jumping UK locations ranging from doing a 160ft Bungee Jump at Windsor / Bray. Or doing a 160ft jump at the London 02 Arena or even doing a 300ft jump in Manchester. There are many different Bungee Jumping UK locations so your best bet is to do a search locally to your area and type in ‘Bungee Jumping UK’ and by clicking on the first few websites you will find some Bungee Jumping UK locations. Have fun!
Filed under Bungee Jumping UK by on Jan 28th, 2011. Comment.
Canoes and Kayaks
Canoes and Kayaks are a paddle sport where you can either sit inside the boat or as a sit-on-top.
In part 1, sport and health are mainly writing about kayaks, check out part 2 for canoes.
Many people use a sit-in kayak that has a spray deck, which encloses you in the boat. If you want a sit-in kayak it’s best to learn to roll. So that if you did capsize you can roll back up and out of trouble. The roll is a flick of the hip and a sweep from the paddle to get you back up.
Alternatively you can pull the strap of your spray deck which allows you to push yourself out of the kayak.
History of the Canoes and Kayaks
The first kayaks were made by the Inuit, they used a wooden frame and then they covered it in sealskin. And so when they were ready to go on their journeys they would stitch themselves in the boat, so they wouldn’t get cold. But if they didn’t know how to roll and this would sometimes lead into trouble.
Types of canoes and kayaks
There are many different types of kayaking you can do such as:
- Canoe Polo
- Kayak
- Canoeing
- Quadrathlon
- Whitewater Kayaking
- Surf Kayaking
- Kayak Slalom
- Sea Kayaking
- Sit on Top Kayaking
- Slalom
- Marathon Racing
The basics of learning to Kayak are:
Forward Paddling: To be really good in kayaking you need to have an efficient forward paddling stroke. The best way to improve is to first see how straight you can go. Then you have to make sure you have good connectivity with the boat, you need to make sure your foot fits right on the foot paddles, your knees are in the thigh braces, your back it nice and straight.
Then imagine your nose/bow of the kayak in half and make sure your opposite paddle doesn’t cross the line. For example if I reach to put the right-side of my paddle in – I don’t go to the left side of the boat.
Now you just need to make sure you rotate you shoulders and reach as far forward whilst submerging the whole blade in the water.
Backward Paddling: You just do the opposite of forward paddling but make sure you look behind your shoulder so you don’t hit anything.
Stopping: This is very important if there are loads of boats in the water. All you need to do is whilst you moving forward time it, and just do 4 big backwards strokes and this will stop you. It is just very important to TIME it.
Moving Sideways: There are many strokes to turn sideways such as the Draw Stroke and the Sculling Stroke.
Turning: You can do a bow or stern sweep, which you just either put the blade at the front or back of the boat and do a 180º turn.
Stern Rudder: This helps keep the boat straight.
Support Strokes: Sometimes when you are kayaking you might happen to capsize, but there are ways you can stop yourself by either doing the high recovery stoke or low recovery stroke. Doing these strokes can sometimes stop you from capsizing.
Qualifications for Canoes and Kayaks
In kayaking and canoeing there are many tests/awards you can do. Starting from the children they can do the ‘Paddle Power’ awards.
Paddle Power: This scheme has 5 different awards which you can get. They are nearly the same of the 1 star, 2 star awards for older people. It is a great way to start getting children into kayaking as most love certificates. Paddle Power is more suited for children under 14 and the Star Awards for most paddlers aged over 16.
Star Awards: The star awards are for BCU 1 and 2 star awards are generic. So you use a kayak and canoe first and then for the 3 star award you can choose a more specific paddle sport discipline. So you can do a 3 star surf kayak or 3 star open canoe.
And then if you want you can start getting into coaching and do the BCU Level 1 Coach course.
Where to go?
If you really get into canoes and kayaks you should try and practice rescues, as you’re guaranteed for someone to capsize. The best way for you to do this is go and join your local BCU club. To find out where your BCU club is go to: http://www.bcu.org.uk
Filed under Canoes and Kayaks by on Jan 28th, 2011. Comment.
What is Rock Climbing Training?
Rock climbing is a very physical and mental sport. At times it tests the person mind, strength and endurance, whilst making sure you are save with every manoeuvre you do. There are different types of climbing, which are: lead climbing, secondary climbing, top roping or bouldering.
Lead Climbing: This is the person who will climb from the ground up with rope directly attached to their harness, which can be very dangerous sometimes.
Secondary Climbing: The second person is the one which follows the lead climber. Being the second is generally less dangerous as you have a rope above you.
Top Roping: A fixed anchor point above the climb. Top-roping is brilliant for beginners to learn from.
Bouldering: This is an excellent way to improve climbing technique. Bouldering is a style of climbing that focuses on either a series of moves or a single move. You often traverse along the way.
History of Rock Climbing Training:
Rock Climbing started over 200 years ago when shepherds and miners climbed cliffs to find plants and minerals. Rock Climbing started out as an necessity and now it’s become a popular outdoor activity.
In 1858 Sir Leslie Stephen became the earliest recorded sea cliff climb, in Cornwall.
Where can I learn Rock Climbing Training?
Coasts: There are different types of cliff to climb from; granite, basalt, limestone, sandstone, slate and many more. You can access some climbing routes by walking to them but some you may have to abseil or sea-traverse to.
Mountains: There are a great number of climbs you can do in the mountains, many are located at the Lake District, Snowdonia, Ireland and Scotland. You never know if there is loose rock or the weather conditions which can appeal to some climbers.
Moorlands: You should check out the moorlands such as Dartmoor, as there are many different climbs you can do.
National Parks: There are many national parks in the United Kingdom and it is worth to check out which parks offer climbs for you.
Climbing Grades
Many countries have created their own grades of climbing so that people know how difficult the climb they are attempting to do.
Where can I climb?
You can go climbing anywhere, but to start of I would recommend a lesson in climbing so that you learn all the basics. There are many adventure centres that offer this, or you could find your local climbing centre to practice on a indoor wall.
Climbing is a brilliant sport if you want to physically and mentally push yourself to the limits.
Filed under Rock Climbing Training by on Jan 28th, 2011. Comment.
What is Skydiving?
Skydiving is when you put a parachute on and jump from an aeroplane or jump off a tall mountain or cliff edge. You free fall for a 
bit and then you open your parachute. A typical altitude jump could be around 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), which gives the jumper about 60 seconds of free fall. Sometimes you can go as high as 16,000 feet (4,900 meters) without needing to supplement oxygen levels.
Tandem Skydive:
If it is your first jump you should always do a tandem jump. You do this with a trained instructor this is known as ‘tandem skydive’. During the tandem skydive the instructor is responsible for the jump. And in the unlikely event of an emergency the instructor will know the exact emergency procedure. By starting first with a tandem skydive you get to concentrate on learning how to skydive without the worry of what you have to do.
Practicing Skydiving
You can master the art of skydiving without actually jumping. To practice for a free fall you can go to vertical wind tunnel. A vertical wind tunnel moves the air up in a vertical column; this allows people to practice skydiving without having to jump from a plane. The wind in the vertical tunnel can move up to 120mph. This is a great way to practice your skydiving before you go out for your first jump.
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Coasteering is a great exhilarating physical activity, it involves swimming, climbing/scrambling and jumping. Whilst swimming out, you may endure swimming in rough or calm water conditions so it is very important you are a strong and confident swimmer. Whilst scrambling onto the rocks you may come across loose rocks so it is very important to climb over deep water and make sure people spot you. The jumping is probably the greatest thing as it is such an exhilarating sport to do.
It’s also a great way to explore the coastline as you can go from one beach to another.
The word Coasteering started in 1971 and it is proving to be very popular.
What you need to wear for coasteering is a wetsuit, trainers with good grip, helmet and buoyancy aid.
Coasteering is not recommended if you go by yourself. You won’t know how deep the water is that you are going to jump into.
The best way to do coasteering is go with an adventure centre as they will have a safe area to do it. Sometimes coasteering can be dangerous, but the most you will get if you go with an experienced and qualified instructor is bruises and or a few grazes.
Coasteering Cornwall
There are many different locations in Cornwall to go Coasteering. The main place to go Coasteering Cornwall is in Newquay as there are many different adventure centres there which offer this activity. Have fun Coasteering Cornwall.
Coasteering Wales
There are many different locations in Wales to go Coasteering. Here are a few places which I recommend for Coasteering: Cardiff, Swansea and near Pembrokeshire. Have fun Coasteering Wales!
Filed under Coasteering by on Jan 31st, 2011. Comment.
