Water Sports To Try Out This Summer
While the weather might be a bit erratic at the moment, we’ve already had our fair share of hot sunny days. But, how do we go about beating the heat? Although we could crank our AC at full blast, participating in water sports is a great way to have fun and keep cool. Keep reading this blog to find out what activities are best suited for you!
What Are Water Sports?
Water sports are activities played on or in water. Sports are activities involving physical exertion and skill in such areas as:
- strength
- speed
- stamina
- dexterity
Individuals or teams complete against another for entertainment of the participants or an audience.
The History
From hunting in river and oceans to crossing passages, humans have been interacting with water since the beginning of our existence. Noted in many of the classics as relating to heroism and religion, swimming is first recorded in written document in 1538. While it appeared in the Olympics in 1896, enthusiasts are big fans of non-Olympic events. Such as swimming the English Channel. The first man to fo this was Matthew Webb in 1875. Later, in 1926, Gertrude Ederle would be the first woman.
Other swimming-related activities like snorkelling have also been around for a long time. References to the snorkel were made as early as first century A.D. in Ancient Rome. Alongside inventors like Leonardo da Vinci also being commissioned to create a modern device.
Team sports, like water polo, began popping up in the late 1800s. At the same time, surfing was developing Hawaii.
Activities to Try Out
Check out these water sports you can partake in — divided into individual, team, and recreational categories!
Individual
These sports require great strength, stamina, and determination.
- Swimming. One of the most popular water sports in the world, this activity tests fitness and stamina. It’s a great workout for the whole body.
- Surfing. Catching ocean, river, and even mad-made waves, balance is a very important skill for surfers to master.
- Water Skiing. Essentially skiing on the water, rides are pulled along by high-speed powerboats.
- Wake Boarding. Similar to water skiing and suffering, participants are dragged around a lake while standing on a small board.
- Bodyboarding. Also referred to as boogie boarding, this activity is like surfing except the rider remains lying down.
- Paddle Boarding. Another sport that requires balance, riders kneel, lie down, or stand on a board while pushing a paddle.
- Cliff Diving. An extreme sport, cliff diving relies on courage and the ability to swim in deep waters.
- Jet Skiing. Like a motorbike on the water, the jet ski can reach very high speeds.
- Triathlon. A type of race that involves swimming, cycling and running various distance in immediate succession.
Team
These activities need teamwork, balance, energy, and synchronised movement.
- Synchronised Swimming. A combination of swimming, dance, and gymnastics, performers require advance water skills, aerobic endurance, strength, perfect timing, and exceptional breath control. Especially when they’re upside-down in the water!
- Water Polo. Another full body workout, this water sport is like soccer, basketball, and handball played in a swimming pool.
- Rowing. Propelling a boat forward with oars, rowers must work in unison to be the fastest.
- Rafting. Perfect for extreme sports lovers and thrill seekers. Inflatable rafts are manoeuvred over rough waters.
- Kayaking/Canoeing. While these activities use different boats, they follow the same principle of moving by using a double-bladed paddle.
Recreational
Do these activities for enjoyment, exploration, and pleasure.
- Snorkeling. With a device that allows you to breath normally underwater, snorkelers have the opportunity to view life under the water.
- Water Aerobics. Aerobics are performed in shallow water. Thus, preventing overheating and reducing risk of injury to joints and muscles.
- Scuba Diving. Thus use of an oxygen tank allows divers to get deeper than they would with a snorkel.
- Freediving. Similar to scuba diving except you are relying on your breath alone.
- Fishing. Often a relaxing and lazy activity, fishing reaps the benefits of having a tasty addition to your dinner. v
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