5 fun ways to hit the water

Here’s 5 ways to hit the water this summer. As there is something incredibly liberating about watersports.

The feeling of being disconnected from technology, out in the ocean, out of your comfort zone and surrounded by others who share the same love for the water is something that still amazes me. I find it’s the easiest way to make way to make new friends and completely submerge yourself in nature.

If you have never tried a watersport before or are not very confident in the water but would like to break some personal boundaries, there are many options to get your sea legs fired up…
SUP yoga

Compared to most watersports, SUP (Stand Up Paddle Boarding) is fairly new to the family and there is now an added element of yoga. As the platform is unstable, you have to really engage your core for better balance. Good news for those yoga addicts! It will refine your technique because if you have more weight on one side, your board will let you know. It’s really fun as well as empowering. Standing up on a paddle board gives you a unique perspective of both the water and the horizon. It’s as close as you can get to walking on water, and the possibility of falling helps practitioners really focus on themselves and their poses.

Kite surfing

Kite surfing is not only an extreme sport but also a phenomenal exercise for your body and your mind. It looks more complicated than it is (apparently) and also has some amazing benefits, such as increasing coordination and concentration, improving your balance, boosting endorphins and reducing your stress levels.

When you practice kite surfing you become part of a community and meet other people who enjoy the same activities, which helps you to interact with people with common interests and tastes, and improves your relationships and your ability to communicate.
Windsurfing

Windsurfing is a popular watersport that is done by amateurs and professionals alike. To do it, you sail a surfboard over the water by using your bodyweight to push or pull a sail, and setting your course to catch both waves and wind. Again, there are a range of benefits you can enjoy, including: mental benefits, core strengthening and cardiovascular, but best of all, it doesn’t even feel like exercise. Travelling up to 20 miles per hour is so exhilarating you hardly know you’re exercising. This means you’re likely to stick at it for longer and burn up more calories than in the gym.
Wakeboarding

If you like waterskiing, surfing or snowboarding, wakeboarding is a great summer sport that offers many different health and fitness benefits, and it strengthens your arm and leg muscles, too. When you wakeboard you have to flex, resist and hold positions for periods at a time. Often you also have to build on these held positions and then explode or move from these static flexed positions to execute tricks and techniques.

It improves mental concentration and refreshes the mind: The adrenaline alone is enough to distract a wakeboarder from daily stresses. Add the feel-good endorphins from the physical activity while on the water, and it leads to a happy person!

It’s also a great way to be more social. You can wakeboard together with family and friends and have a good time. Wakeboarding offers a healthy opportunity for a family to strengthen its bond. It’s also a great way to make friends and meet new people.

Surfing

My first great love – and a sport that will change your life forever. Surfing has the ability to completely transform you into a child again. Don’t be put off by some of the Hollywood surf movies out there. Surfing is for everyone. regardless of your age, body type, hair or skin colour. The aim of surfing is to stand up and ride the wave (in my opinion) whichever way you like. Some people love just cruising on a long board, while others enjoy packing as many turns into a wave as possible. In my experience, others just love catching waves and attempting to stand up. There is a saying: ‘the best surfer out there is the one having the most fun’ and that is exactly what it’s all about. I urge you: if you have ever wanted to catch the incredible surf bug, get in contact with an accredited surf school and be prepared to be amazed.