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August 2009
Hot Trends in Sports
Summertime – holiday time – sports time! There is no better time to get your body fit and try out something new. For guys who are into adventure, paragliding and kite surfing might be just the thing to try on holiday. Here are a few tips:
Paragliding
What can be better than flying? In paragliding, you are your own pilot. The harness is also your seat, which a spring hook connects securely to the carrying belts of the paraglider. Now you can glide noiselessly through the summer air. Close to nature, with the wind on your face, without an enclosure made of metal or glass – paragliding is truly the closest thing to flying like a bird.
It’s recommended that you wear clothing made of warm, wind-repellent fabric, firm shoes to protect your ankles, gloves and, of course, a helmet. Start on the side of a mountain or on a high dune or steep cliffs. To fly as a pilot, most countries in Europe and North and South America require training at an aviation school with a test at the end. Flying schools often offer tandem flights to get your feet off the ground in this recreational sport.
Kite surfing / Kite boarding
Kite surfing – also called kite boarding – might intrigue water sports aficionados. In this extreme sport, you stand on a board that gets pulled over the water at high speeds by a kite. A kite surfboard is similar to a wakeboard or snowboard, but unlike a surfboard, it has very little lift and can be steered in both directions.
Boards and kites are available in different models, depending on skill level and preferences. In kite boarding it is important to assess correctly weather and wind conditions as well as the local environment (riffs, sandbanks, currents): Because of offshore wind, kite boarding is not permitted at the ocean due to the danger of being carried off. And it’s important to maintain sufficient distance to other water sports players. The typical protective gear consists of a helmet, an impact vest and a wetsuit. The best and most enjoyable way to learn this thrilling sport is through a kite surfing school.
