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Water Sports
There are 328,000,000 cubic miles of seawater on earth; making up 71% of the world’s surface. Here are a few ideas on how to have fun in this huge playground…
Body Boarding
This is a form of wave riding and is the earliest known form of surfing. The board used is usually small and rectangular although the size depends on the body boarder. It’s a popular sport in Ireland with locations speckled around the coastline that are perfect to indulge in this past time. Beginners will learn techniques such as duckdiving and how to spin off the lip, and other strangely named skills that sound like 1950’s dance moves.Canoeing & Kayaking
A canoe is a small narrow boat, usually human powered; that is propelled by the use of paddles. The greatest distinction between it and rowing is that in canoeing the paddlers face in the direction of travel rather than the opposite way. Canoeists have single or double bladed paddles and they kneel or sit with knees bent and legs more or less behind them. It has an impressive following in Ireland with a huge array of evening and weekend courses on offer.
Kayaking consists of a paddle with two blades where the paddler sits with legs extended in front of him. If you’re the daring kind you can always go on to master white-water kayaking; although maybe not on the first day…
Fishing
It the thought of hurtling yourself down a narrow river terrifies you to the bone then maybe consider taking up a hobby on the water that requires less strain on your heart could be the way to go. Like fishing - it’s a recreational and professional sport and as anyone who dabbles in it will tell you; an extremely enjoyable and relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Be warned however as it can have its dangers; remember fisherman Quint in Jaws?
Kite-surfing
This is a sport that is enjoying great growth in Ireland at the moment with the numbers of colourful kites scattered in seas increasing by the day. It involves using a power kite to pull the person through water on a small surfboard. One of the greatest attractions of kite-surfing is that controlled flying is possible. This happens when the momentum of the surfer pulls the kite; before jumping he builds tension by accelerating and strongly edging the board. In controlled straight flight the kite is flown quickly to an overhead position. It must then be turned to glide in the direction of motion and off you go.
Beginner kite-surfers are advised to seek instruction; firstly because it can be dangerous and secondly the equipment is pricey so it’s worth seeing if you actually like it before handing over your credit card and finding yourself laden with boxes filled with weird looking gear…
Para-sailing
This is where a person is towed behind a boat while attached to a special parachute; the boat drives off, carrying the parasailer into the air. If the boat is powerful enough two or three people can do it at once; if nothing more it'd be an original first date!
Water-skiing
Like para-sailing you are pulled behind a boat but with water-skiing you are wearing skis (hence the name!). The surface area of the skis keeps you skimming on the surface of the water allowing the skier to stand upright while holding on to the tow rope. Lessons are available across Ireland in the many adventure centres on the coastline.
Windsurfing
This is a sport that has something for every taste as it contains aspects of skateboarding, snowboarding and waterskiing. Another benefit is that the most basic skills can be learnt in a few hours.
Wakeboarding
If you’re the kind of person that likes to keep ahead of the pack then this could be a good option for you. This is a surface water sport which involves riding the wakeboard behind a boat. The emphasis here is different to many water sports in that speed is not the aim; the focus lies more on performing tricks and stunts to have your peers quaking in their wetsuits.
So don’t let the chilly Irish waters put you off there’s plenty of room for a hot water bottle in your wetsuit!
