If you’re always pumped to try out something that offers more than just an adrenaline rush, then you might as well get started with extreme watersports.
Being at the mercy of a large body of water should be enough to excite you. But once you take control over it, the excitement turns into this feeling of being able to master the waves.
Extreme watersports has to be our way of saying “We can do anything — even on water!” We get a sense of accomplishment from it the same way mountaineers relish in reaching the world’s most exciting peaks.
But before you get started in extreme watersports, there’s a few things you should keep in mind first.
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Quick Jump
Be fit
Just like in any extreme sport, your body will be pushed to its limits as you do stunts over water. Whether it’s wakeboarding or water skiing, any type of watersport is bound to cause a great deal of harm to your body if you’re not careful. Safety should be your topmost concern, but it isn’t enough to buy the required gear for avoiding fractures or any other type of injury.
Without a doubt, watersports provide a wide range of health benefits. They can help decrease depression and improve your physical resilience. Then again, you won’t be able to get much out of these benefits if you’re not in the right physical condition.
To be sure, it’s best to seek advice from your physician and see if there are any medical conditions that might be preventing you from taking part in watersports.
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Overcome the fear of water
Watersports can help people lead healthy and fearless lives, but not everybody can take advantage of the benefits. People with hydrophobia — a fear of large bodies of water — can be excluded from taking part in the sport.
But phobias are often irrational. That said, being afraid of water isn’t a permanent condition. It’s something you can overcome. You just have to face your fears head on through a process known as exposure therapy. This involves being exposed to the subject of your fear. You start small with a glass of water and work your way until you get to the middle of a large pond.
Sure enough, this is an effective way to gradually overcome your fear of water without much complication. It takes time and a little bit of support, but you’ll get there eventually.
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Choose the right sport
Once you have decided to try out watersports, you might want to consider choosing which activity to take part in.
Extreme watersports is an immense category by itself and includes over 20 different activities which either happen on the surface or underwater.
Above surface sports include wakeboarding, flyboarding, and kayaking. These often involve doing tricks in mid-air or simply getting a much-needed adrenaline rush.
If you want to go deeper (literally!), then you might as well try underwater hockey. The sport has gained popularity in recent years. If you’re looking to make good use of your time, then you might want to take up snorkeling, which is a required skill for this sport.
At any rate, choosing the right watersport is totally up to you. You only need to invest time and money to turn this into a long-term commitment.
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Gather the right equipment
It’s important that you come equipped with snorkel masks, wetsuits, kiteboarding gear, and other gear. Watersports, for sure, involve the use of special equipment you may or may not find at your local sports store.
When choosing the right equipment, it’s vital that you pick brands that are known for their quality and experience in the sport itself.
If you’re lucky enough, you might find a shop that sells quality watersports equipment and accessories. Aerial Wakeboarding, for one, specializes in providing safe and high-caliber wakeboard towers for motorboats.
For underwater sports, you might want to look for familiar names in snorkeling such as Kraken and Phantom Aquatics. You can also look for brands that specialize in bodyboard equipment for all ages.
But apart from the attire and accessories, you may also need to get the right safety equipment. Life jackets, of course, are a standard for when you try out sports such as kayaking and paddle racing.
For parasailing and wakeboarding, you might opt for durable cables and harnesses that won’t break no matter how fast you’re going.
As with any other sport, safety should be a top priority and it’s important that you vouch for the quality of the equipment you’re getting.
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Ensure safety
Although it does limit certain risks, the quality of gear you have is not enough to keep you safe. Extreme watersports can lead to serious disasters, much of which is caused by a lack of preparation.
As a newcomer, you should be extra cautious and see to it that you are well-equipped to respond to any emergency.
If you’re going to use a boat, checking for any performance issues is vital to assess any and all possible hazards. Make sure to talk with the owner if the boat is safe to use. Extra caution should be observed for inflatable boats or kayaks.
Other than that, make sure that the boat has a fire extinguisher on board in case the engine overheats. A first aid kit may also come in handy in case of cuts and bruises.
Communication devices are also important for when you need the help of emergency services in the event that the boat capsizes.
To be sure, it’s best to have someone around (especially a lifeguard) to monitor your activities. This ensures immediate response when things start to go south.
Lastly, check the latest weather update so you will know if it’s safe to be in the water. You wouldn’t want to be in the middle of a thunderstorm.
By keeping these tips in mind, you will find that taking up watersports has to be the best decision you have ever made.
So, go out there and conquer the water!
