Extreme Sports News

Category: Extreme Sports

by Joseph Benson

The 4 Most Exhilarating Water Sports to Try

While it may be a while before any of us can go on holiday, it’s always better to be prepared with planned activities before you head away to your beach resort. With this in mind, what better activities are there for family fun than water-sports? There so many to choose from, with some being exciting, such as kite-boarding, due to their speed while others are exciting due to what fish you can see, as is the case with scuba diving. While there almost endless options, here are our top four water sports to get you started.

KiteBoarding

Kiteboarding, or kite surfing as it’s called in some places, is becoming much more popular around the globe. This is because waves aren’t needed for it to be possible as is the case with something like surfing, so you can basically do it anywhere.

So what actually is kiteboarding? Well, it essentially involves standing on a board while attached to a large kite that pulls you along the water. It works by catching the wind, so as long as there is even a little bit of wind it can work. However, obviously, if it’s really windy it can be even more exhilarating as you will go really fast and even get quite a lot of air time which allows you to do tricks and the like. Chances are you’ve seen somebody do this sport before, perhaps even at your local beach. Consequently, there’s no excuse for not trying it out on your next holiday!

Scuba Diving

Another great one to try is scuba diving, especially if you are somebody who enjoys exploring or is fond of exotic creatures. Scuba diving is particularly good because it reminds us to enjoy the world. As we become adults, we tend to become less enthusiastic about our fellow wildlife compared to when we were young. However, scuba diving can awaken this childhood curiosity that has been lost for so many of us.

That being said, scuba diving can be quite daunting for a lot of people, especially if you have a fear of sharks or a fear of drowning. However, the organizations that run scuba diving events will never carry out trips in shark-infested waters. There are also sites such as divingpicks that give guides on how to scuba dive (as well as information about places near you where you can dive).

Kayak fishing

While fishing isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when are trying to think of something exciting, I promise you’ll be surprised when it comes to kayak fishing. This is because kayaks are lighter and therefore more agile than canoes, and as a result, it is easier to get to the spots where the fishes are. In addition to this, fishing kayaks have compartments for things like bait and rod holders, so you don’t have to mess around trying to find things when you could be fishing. As for the excitement, there aren’t many feelings that match that one you get when you catch a good fish. Plus, even if you don’t catch anything it’s a pretty good workout for your arms!

Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding is another one that you might be surprised to see on this list but trust us, it can get pretty mad. It is true that it can be pretty slow when starting off but once you get good enough you can start doing races, and if you’ve ever seen paddleboard races you know it gets pretty hectic. However, it is a good one to start off with especially if the others are a bit too much.

by Jimmy

Bushcraft 101: Learn wilderness survival skills

To be able to survive in nature is a fantastic skill. Whether you are a regular camper looking to hone your nature talents, a scout keen to explore or maybe a hard-core survivalist looking to brush up on the basics. Whatever the case, Bushcraft is a tough, yet rewarding skill to have. Particularly if you live in a more rural or country area, these skills will help you become more aware of your surroundings, adaptable and improve your quality of life. So below we are going to dive into some of the basic skills of Wilderness Survival.

Preparation

The most important skill of them all. Prep. Chance are you won’t have wandered into the wilderness by accident. More often than not you will be going on a planned expedition or camping trip. And to that end, planning is everything. And this goes beyond simply knowing when to arrive and when to leave. You need to know everything about your trip, your surroundings and most importantly your needs.

Firstly you need to decide how you will be sleeping. Tent or under the stars. Then you will need to invest in comfortable, yet sturdy, clothes. Special socks and shoes are a must as you will be traversing rough and possibly wet terrain. Investing in some special axes made for bushcraft will go a long way to improving your experience as well. You’ll be able to gather firewood, cut down thickets blocking your path and hack loose fruits and other food you forage for. Finally, you will want to pack a small first aid kit for emergencies. Which leads into the next point…

First Aid

While exploring nature is fun and freeing, it can be dangerous. Safety is always paramount. This ties into prep in a major way. Firstly you need to make sure you are bringing along a fully stocked first aid kit. This means everything from bandages and plasters to pain medication and ointments. There are all sorts of harsh foliage out there that can cause painful irritations and rashes. This is why it is vital to find out what dangerous fauna is present in the area you will be exploring and pack ointments that will be useful. But the first aid kit is not the only thing you need. You need to have a working understanding of the equipment and basic knowledge of first aid. What do you do if someone hits their head? How do you perform CPR? How do you deal with bleeding? These are the sorts of things you have to look into before you even leave your home.

Cooking

Everyone needs to eat. And there is nothing better than eating under the stars with a freshly caught meal. Whether you were fishing or hunting or even just foraging for wild fruits and veg, knowing how to prepare dinner, and also what you can prepare, is a useful skill to have. You’ll want to make sure you pack a few cooking essentials as well, cutlery, plates, frying pans and a steel grid to hold the pan over the fire. If you want to you could go as far to bring some condiments or if you prefer to forage for spices or nuts to add some zest to your meal.
Food poisoning is a serious threat when cooking wild food. So you need to make sure you know how to prepare the food you are making and when it is properly cooked and ready to eat. If in doubt, do not eat it. Make sure you bring some emergency food supplies along with you just in case.

Warmth

Staying warm is important. At night the temp can drop drastically, and hypothermia is a serious concern. Lighting a fire is useful but it won’t last all night, especially since you have to sleep sometime. To that end make sure you are packing the right clothes. Thermal leggings and shirts are extremely useful for the night. Also, it is worth investing in a heavy-duty sleeping bag. They may cost more, but they will be worth it. You’ll have a much more comfortable night’s sleep and wake up warm and ready to tackle the day.

Return to top of page