From volcano-boarding to extreme ironing: 10 kinds of sports for holidays
Olga Lukinskaya
Vacation - time to disconnect from the routine and relaxbut this does not mean that it can not be carried out actively. Instead of going to the boring gym at the hotel, you can try new types of activity - or even choose a vacation to a sports camp for the holidays. It is not necessary to bring new skills to perfection or to worry that it will not be possible to continue at home; for example, many lovers of downhill skiing or snowboarding ride them one or two weeks a year. We have compiled a selection of sports for the holidays - the usual and not so.
Surfing
Sometimes it’s already on the first day of training that you keep on the board for at least a few seconds, and you can improve yourself endlessly. Windy beaches with different wave heights are suitable for surfing. In most schools there is a rental of everything you need - from, in fact, boards to rashgards (fitted T-shirts for protection from the sun). There are surf camps in various countries, and this is not as expensive as it seems: for example, a week of accommodation with breakfasts and lessons in the Portuguese Algarve will cost only 300 euros. If you do not want to mess with a wetsuit and learn to surf in cold water, you should choose a place warmer - for example, Bali or Nicaragua. The most interesting programs include fishing in the ocean, yoga and the most useful lunches, dinners and snacks.
Bicycle
If you have never ridden a bike, then a summer vacation is a great opportunity to try. It is better to do this not in cities with aggressive cycling movements like Amsterdam or New York, but in some nice European village with smooth sidewalks. For those who know how to ride, but rarely does, the bike can diversify the ride. And it's not just about the usual bike rental in the city: there are whole bike tours of different lengths and for people with different levels of training, including for beginners. You can combine business with even more enjoyable and ride a bike through the vineyards and wine production in France or California.
Kayaking
A kayak is a small boat, with the management of which everyone will cope after minimal instructions. At the same time rowing gives a decent load on the muscles of the back, arms and shoulders, and the experience itself is accompanied by a sea of emotions. In Russia, kayaking on rough rivers is popular, but kayaking can be quite calm and contemplative, so it is suitable for those who do not like extreme sports. Relatively close destinations where you can try kayaking among wonderful landscapes are the Danube Delta in Romania, Sardinia and Croatia. Those planning to travel to Australia or Canada should add to the plan and kayaking surrounded by dolphins or whales.
Zipline
Not so much sports as entertainment - but you definitely cannot call such a pastime. Zipline is moving along steel cables using a special block system. Typically, these amusement parks are built in the wild: in the jungle, canyons or near volcanoes. There are more unusual options: in the Italian Naples, you can take a ride through the air in the underground labyrinth, where many old cars and motorcycles are stored. Among themselves, zipline parks compete in the length of the route and its height: the highest (414 meters) is in Dubai, and the longest (2300 meters) - in Puerto Rico.
Horseback riding
You can try to ride a horse in almost any country, if you are ready to leave the big city for at least half a day. Being in Rome, London or Barcelona, it is enough to score on the search engine a combination of the name of the city and the words "horse riding" to get a lot of offers and sign up for tomorrow. There are whole weekly or two-week horseback tours - for example, in Africa or southern Europe. For riding you will need comfortable shoes and long tight pants - shorts and flip-flops will not work. And don't forget the sunscreen!
Longboard
Every year boards for riding on asphalt are gaining popularity every year - and the renewal of city parks contributes to this. Rent a longboard and get a few free lessons you can even go anywhere, and the Internet is full of detailed instructions for beginners. To diversify the journey, you can find a longboard school on the spot and go to a couple of classes - or you can make the board the main means of moving around the city.
Floating yoga or fitness
Such workouts can include yoga, Pilates, and strength exercises - and they are united by the fact that they are held on surfboards right at sea. The peculiarity of these workouts is work on an unstable surface, which means a significant improvement in coordination and balance. The closest school in the desired country or city is easiest to find by the abbreviation SUP - stand up paddle. Options range from individual or group lessons per hour to weekly programs in surf camps, similar to luxury hotels.
Street workout
Although the word "workout" is translated simply as "training," they call the whole trend in sports - classes in street horizontal bars, uneven bars and other yard "lazilki." There is the World Federation of street workout, which holds the world championships - the next one will be held in July this year in Moscow. The level of some workout providers is not much inferior to the performances of gymnasts at the Olympic Games, and even training for beginners requires the ability to properly pull up. On the other hand, outdoor equipment can inspire new achievements and diversify the usual run - it can be used, for example, for push-ups or abdominal exercises.
Volcanoboarding
Volcano-boarding, or ashboarding, is nothing more than skiing from a mountain on a board, just not through snow, but through volcanic ash or sand (then called sandboarding). Volcanic options are practiced in Nicaragua and on the island of Vanuatu, and the opportunity to ride on the sand dunes can be found in Australia, Peru, Namibia, but most often - in California. Skating companies provide safety glasses and special overalls. If you are snowboarding, you can try the advanced option - standing on the board; A sit-down board is more suitable for beginners, with which volcanobording resembles rolling from a hill in childhood.
Extreme ironing
Perhaps this is the most absurd sport that you can imagine - and it means ironing clothes in the most unpredictable places in the world. However, if you take a closer look, it turns out that it’s more about extreme travels with elements of mountaineering, snowboarding, climbing the world's largest statues - only athletes carry or carry an iron. Extremers are ironing clothes in the air, jumping with a parachute, or right during a bicycle race. Lay out the ironing board and stroke the shirt on the conquered peak - this is an opportunity to celebrate your achievement, but not with a flag and a cairn.
Cover: anandkrish16 - stock.adobe.com