Some things never lose their appeal and their sense of fun. Getting wet is one of them. There’s nothing quite like getting into or on the water for bringing out the small boy who just likes to play. Give a guy an excuse to get wet and he’ll keep himself entertained for hours! Having said that we get caught up in our day to day lives and don’t make time to splash around nearly as much as we could.
Chances are there is an ocean, lake or river near you. And with today’s hi-tech wetsuits you have no excuse to throw a couple of towels in the car and rediscover some aqua fun this weekend. And if it is possible to surf in Iceland, you can’t complain about the cold! Here are few reminders how easy it is to get out on the water.
Surfing
Okay, you might have to be near the ocean to indulge yourself with a surfboard. Alternatively, you might just plan your next break to a resort with some serious breakers. Great surfing spots are legendary worldwide. Newquay in Cornwall in the UK and San Sebastian in Spain are two of Europe’s hotspots. From Hawaii to California and from Australia to New Zealand there are world beating surf beaches. Anywhere there is some serious wave action; you’ll be able to get into the surf. Most if not all surfing beaches will have centres to give you advice on lessons and hiring boards.
It doesn’t take long to get your confidence up, and soon you’ll be standing and riding the waves like a seasoned pro. There’s no age limit, and you can splash and paddle around at any level. Surfing is an exhilarating and seriously refreshing way to get wet. You’ll need either a three-quarter or full-length wetsuit depending on where you are and what time of year it is.
Waterskiing and Wakeboarding
If you have access to a speedboat and little basic equipment, then you could give either water skiing or wakeboarding a go. A big plus here is that you don’t need the ocean to indulge. In fact, both of these can be enjoyed better on the calmer surface of a lake. Water skiing is the more basic version, but wakeboarding mixes in surfing and snowboarding skills. It has come up with some pretty exhilarating ways of getting wet and thrown around. Boards are short and wide and can be fitted with fins. Make sure you get a wakeboard life vest for the safety and support you’ll need.
Stand up Paddle-boarding.
If you are looking for a slightly calmer way to enjoy the water and even stay dry while you are doing it, then paddle-boarding could be for you. Simplicity is the key, and you’ll need nothing more than a board and paddle and perhaps a life vest. It’s easy to get the hang of balance, and as soon as you are standing, you’ll be able to negotiate the paddle to get a feel for directing yourself around. As you are standing on the board and need to keep your balance, most of the work comes from your core and arms so you’ll get a great workout at the same time.
You can enjoy this sport pretty much anywhere there is water. However getting out onto the calm ocean, early morning or later in the evening is unbeatable.