Just saw this. Why do more women not look like this these days? On my recent trip snowboarding it was all baggy trousers here, big sunglasses there. No class. At all.
Changed name and URL
For certain reasons (well more exposure on Google) we have changed the URL of this blog from AdventureSportsBlog.com to AdventureActivities.com. So now the name will be Adventure Activities Blog. But don’t worry it will still be the same lazy writing and content.
Top 10 unusual winter sports
Quite interesting article from the BBC listing the top 10 unusual winter sports. I’ve listed the top 10 here but to see the description of each click on this link.
1. Polar bear swimming in Korea
2. Ski biking in Colorado
3. Ice karting in Finland
4. Dog sledding in Alaska
5. Skijoring in Minnesota
6. Snow tubing in Canada
7. Ice climbing in Chile
8. Ice sailing in Poland
9. Snowkiting in Utah
10. Shark ice fishing in Greenland
Snowboarding: a beginner’s story
After letting my teenage years and most of my 20′s go without getting near any ski slopes, I finally managed to go snowboarding at the beautiful Mammoth Lakes, California. I am a snowboarding beginner. This is my story:
I made my way up the chair lift breathing in the fresh air and taking note of the huge surrounding mountains. I am ok when it comes to sport, so it was something I was excited about doing. I didn’t need no teachin’. I reckoned that I would be weaving down the steep hill by the end of my first hour, and performing 360 flips by the end of the day, possibly even thinking about the next Winter Olympics if all went well…
…well it didn’t go that well.
DAY 1: By the end of the first hour I was weeping like a small poodle, pinning to go home as my best move was to fall instantly onto my behind whenever I tried to move. Every time I went sprawling, crashing or flipping over some little midget 8 year old kid would zoom past flicking snow-dust into my face, flipping the bird (I think).
By the end of hour 2 I was positively creeping down the hill at about 3 miles per hour, body dead straight to the mountain with my arms out. The girls weren’t checking me out.
By hour 3 I was able to sort of slide left, straighten up, slide left again, straighten up, about to hit the fence so slide goofy style, straighten up, goofy again, straighten up etc. Probably took me the rest of the day to get down the hill. By the end of 3 hours I was done. Wet, cold and hurtin’. Off home for après snowboarding beers.
DAY 2: Wow. What an improvement. First run; I take to the slopes well. Can only turn one way still (heel side) but positively zooming down at probably almost 9 miles per hour. Second run, same again. Jeez i’m good at this. So my friend takes me to the top of the mountain where good snowboarders go. I stress out as I don’t think I can make the steep slope and slide down most of the way on my backside. Confidence gone, I do a couple of easy runs badly and head home feeling moody.
DAY 3: Plan: stick to the easier slopes. Practice my toe-side turning. I found the toe-side turn more challenging psychologically (I’m a wussy) and less natural. Result: fall over a lot. Hurt a lot. A little progress made. Ended day three early feeling inadequate and not 100% sure whether I really want to do more.
DAY 4: Maybe I was fresher or had a positive frame of mind but gee how things can change. This was my last day snowboarding and if I had gone home after day 3 my whole outlook would have been completely different. Somehow things just seemed to click and every run I did felt like progress and I was able to weave left and right down the slopes, feeling like a proper snowboarder. Guess it shows that perseverance pays off. I am now looking forward to getting on the slopes again, especially to see some other newbee’s fall over every few metres like I was a few days ago.
Adventure Travel Live starting in London this weekend
Adventure Travel Live starts today in London and is a must-go for anyone involved in the travel or tourism industry.
This year, as always, they have an abundance of inspirational talks by leading travel experts, travel photography seminars, expedition planning and navigation…the wording i’m using now is actually taken from their website so why not head over to it.
It’s at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Victoria, London from today until 30th January.
Top 5 Adventure Sports in the world
Here at the Adventure Sports Blog, we have compiled our top 5 adventure sports around the world:
Coming in at 5: Sky diving
One of the biggest buzzes you can find in life. As blind adventure sportsman Dean Dunbar says in an interview with Kumutu Adventure, it was skydiving that started his passion for adventure sports; ’by the time my feet touched the ground, the adrenaline hit and I was so buzzed up I instantly went looking for the next fix!’
4. Surfing
More than anything it is the freedom surfing brings. All you need is a wetsuit, a board and some waves. With no other cost and few limitations (other than ability) you are also likely to punch above you weight when trying to pick up the local hotties.
3. Rock/free climbing
There is something about rock climbing which is just very cool. I don’t mean your indoor rock climbing centre in Sheffield with helmets, knee-pads and Old Ron going through the health and safety regulations before you start. We’re talking about your Alain “Spiderman” Roberts-type free climbers. Now this guy might be French but he has unparalleled bravery
2. Kayaking
Kayaking was chosen as high as two, for the simple reason that, more than any other sport it can be the best way to explore scenery you would otherwise struggle to see, and with complete independence. There are also people like Shaun Baker who can turn it from a gentile form of transport to an extreme sport.
1. Scuba Diving
There is a reason why it is probably the most popular adventure sport out there. Being able to transport yourself to a totally new world is something that never gets boring. Simply magical.
Adventure sports in unusual or un-heard of locations
Adventure sports are everywhere. Pretty obvious, doesn’t need saying, but here are some operators out in places you might not have heard of:
Scuba diving in Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It’s not easy to get to but for those who want to go where not many people have gone before check out Micronesia Eco Divers – Pacific Treelodge Resort for some great scuba diving. We say great, but we’ve not actually been or know anyone who has.
4 x 4 Jeep Safari in Aruba
Aruba is located above Venezuela in the Caribbean. While you might guess there is scuba diving in the area, – and there is – you can also get on board a 4 x 4 and cruise the island with ABC Tours and Adventures. ’You can expect one of the wildest and most fun-filled excursions for people who know how to enjoy life to its fullest.’ That’s what the guys at ABC Tours and Adventures say anyway.
Hiking, trekking and climbing in Kyrgyzstan
Adventure sports in Kyrgyzstan. Sandwiched between Kazakhstan, China and a few other countries, Kyrgyzstan is not a place that comes up first when thinking of new places to surf or dive (it doesn’t have a sea). I doubt I know many people who can spell the country. This is where our ignorance shows! Go and try out Adventure Travel Kyrgyzstan for some hiking, trekking or climbihg (sic). The website looks pretty dodgy and we don’t know anything about the operator but it will be an adventure we guarantee* and who else do you know who can match this? They also have the best flag in the world (see image).
* we don’t guarantee
The Big Snow Festival
Wowsers, get in there early for the festival season and combine your love of skiing or snowboarding with a bit of partying by heading to Andorra for ‘The Big Snow Festival‘ in the spring.
From the 13th to 20th March, the Arinsal resort will offer a week of off-piste action and the cutting-of-rug to live music and DJs.
I guess it’s a matter of opinion but the thought of Fearne Cotton, Scott Mills and Westwood does not fill me with much (or any) excitement but Judge Jules and Example should get people going. Other acts are to be announced soon.
Tickets with various flight, accommodation and wristband options can be purchased. Big Snow Packages are also available, which include return flights from Manchester and London Gatwick, transfers, seven nights accommodation and access to all the events from £399 with a deposit offer available for £50.
All details are on the website thebigsnowfestival.com.
Might be terrific.
The Outdoors Show and The London Bike Show
A few great shows to remember in January – both at London Excel from 13th – 16th January.
What more could an outdoors-type person want? Workshops, competitions, rock and ice climbing walls, a wilderness camp, loads of adventure stores and all sorts of talks including the Heroes Theatre with the one and only (and my true hero) Ray Mears as well as Riaan Manser, Ranulph Fiennes, Simon King, Robin Knox-Johnson and the less impressive Ben Fogle. I’m there!
At the same time and venue (and free entry with the Outdoors Show) we have the London Bike Show. Yep loads of bike stuff. Special guests aren’t announced yet but there seems to be enough going on to keep bike people happy. I’ll have a look round
Danny MegaSkill
A lot of people have seen this, but it’s that good it’s worth showing to those who haven’t. It’s the great named bicycle man Danny MacAskill (or Danny MegaSkill as some genius called him) showing off his biking skills as part of a Red Bull promotion. It’s great. It’s well shot, makes Scotland look a particularly attractive destination and I still marvel at his tricks. Here it is…