Have Fun With  Adventure Sports

Looking for a little more excitement in your workout? There’s nothing wrong with the sports or exercises you’re doing, but perhaps you’re seeking something that spikes your adrenaline a little more than, say, jogging. There are a ton of adventure sports out there for you to try, and most are more than just a scary good time. The majority of these activities are healthy and good for you in multiple ways -- as long as you don’t push your limits too much, of course. Here are the top 10 adventure sports active guys should look into.

Skiing In Kashmir

Kashmir, the heaven of earth is offer best one of the place for extreme snow sports like Snowboarding, ice-skating and Skiing. Gulmarg in Kashmir,Kufri in Shimla and Auli in Uttarakhand are well known destination in India for adventure skiing and other winter sports. Skiing is the major attractions of Kashmir along with ice-skating in frozen lakes and hiking in deep valleys .

Surfing

Surfing is one of the toughest activities to master, but it’ll offer a workout that will have you feeling good from your toes to your head -- after the initial shock to your muscles, of course. Obviously, it helps if you live by an ocean, but this awesome sport is something you can work away at mastering over a lifetime. In addition to building a rock-hard core, surfing will build your arms, chest and back as you paddle out to the waves.

There are many types of waves and surf breaks. Waves break in different directions with different personalities and for a myriad of different reasons. Wind and swell directions as well as bottom contour all contribute variables to the nuanced formula that equals the complexity that is a surfable wave.

Different parts of a surfing wave 

The peak is the highest point of the wave and where the surfer should try to begin his/her ride.

The face/ wall of the wave is the area where the surfer rides.

The trough is the bottom of the wave.

The lip is the falling edge of the breaking wave.

The tube/ barrel is the open space between the fallen lip and the open wall. Pulling in under the falling lip and getting a long tube is one the most classic and satisfying moves in surfing.

The shoulder is the least steep part of a wave and farthest from the pit.

How Winds Affect Surfing Waves

When wind is blowing from the land towards the ocean, this is termed an “off-shore” wind and is optimal for longboarding and big wave surfing. In medium sized surf, surfers prefer the off-shore wind because it makes for a clean, smooth wall for extended carves and holds up the falling lip to make hollow barrels for tube riding. However, modern surfers have begun to enjoy choppier “onshore” winds as well (wind that is blowing from the ocean to the land) for the abundance of ramps for aerial maneuvers. Chops and bumps and soft whitewater landings are all positives for today’s above the lip antics. “Cross-winds” usually make for mixed up waves that are difficult to predict and thus make for the least preferable winds.

Is it cheesy to say that waves are like snowflakes? Maybe so. I like how Jamail Yogis describes the energy of the wave as inseparable from the ocean itself. And I like to add that waves are visual manifestations of the personality and spirit of the land in which they break…like a laugh or a song can express a human emotion. But who cares? Go surf already!

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is one of the popular adventure sports in Madhya Pradesh along with Rappling Valley Crossing,Jumaring and mountain climbing. The Satpura mountain ranges offers terrain for adventure activities like Rock Climbing and Trekking. Pachmarhi, Orchha Gwalior,Chanderi and Jabalpur are few best place who host good facilities and experiences of rock sports.

Types of Rock Climbing

The rock-climbing world consists of a number of small niches. Consider which aspect of the sport interests you the most.

Indoor Sport Climbing

This can be at a climbing gym, sports club or even a home climbing wall. Some REI stores also offer a climbing wall or freestanding pinnacle where you can learn. Indoor walls have artificial hand and foot holds placed in sequence to create routes of varying difficulty. Route setters can move holds easily, creating an endless number of fresh, new climbs. 

Indoor sport climbing offers many advantages for getting started:

·         A gym is often convenient—there are hundreds of dedicated climbing gyms across the U.S. and many more climbing walls in local athletic clubs.

·         It offers a safe, controlled environment to practice.

·         It's not dependent on the weather.

·         You can climb in areas where no outdoor climbing sites are available.

·         Handholds and footholds are clearly visible.

·         It allows you to try the sport with rented gear before investing in your own.

·         There are routes for all levels of ability.

Outdoor Rock Climbing

Outdoor climbing is not as predictable as indoor climbing, but it comes with a near-guarantee of scenery, exercise and camaraderie. It can be divided into several categories.

Bouldering: This requires the least amount of time and gear. Basically, bouldering is close-to-the-ground climbing without a rope, going only as high as you can jump off without risking serious injury. Beginners can traverse (move along the rock horizontally, parallel to the ground), thus working on strength and movement without going high. Bouldering requires only climbing shoes, a crash pad (to cushion your jump or fall off the rock) and perhaps a chalk bag. You can also bring along friends to "spot" you.

Sport climbing: This "clip-and-go" style of climbing allows the leader to progress upwards without the worry of placing protection. A "bolted" climb requires only a rope, quickdraws (described below), shoes and a chalk bag. It refers to routes that have pre-placed anchors and protection where you can attach your rope (just like you would with indoor climbing). Carabiners and quickdraws clip into the anchors and connect your rope to the rock.

Traditional ("trad") climbing: Trad climbing is true adventure. A trad route is one that has few permanent anchors. The lead climber protects himself from a catastrophic fall by placing protection—nuts or camming devices—into fissures in the rock. The second climber removes the protection, and it's then placed again for further pitches. Carabiners and quickdraws are used to connect the rope into the protection.

Other types of climbing—such as soloing, ice climbing or big-wall climbing—are outside the scope of this article. For a definition of basic climbing terminology

Kayaking

Few activities give the outdoor enthusiast such a varied array of experiences as paddling. Whether you are seeking the heart-stopping exhilaration of a roller coaster or the serenity and peace of getting lost in the moment, you can find your passion in paddling. Paddling can refer to any act by which a person maneuvers a vessel through the water via a paddle. The two most common sub-categories of paddling are known affectionately as canoeing and kayaking.

The Different Types of Paddling

Besides the differences in the types of boats that paddlers use there are also different types of paddling. Whitewater paddling involves navigating swift moving rivers. Sea kayaking takes place in large bodies of water and often for long durations of time. Recreational paddling can include anything from a lazy day on a lake to a means by which one goes fishing or bird watching. The possibilities are truly endless.

Oh What a Feeling!

The people who consider themselves paddlers are as diverse as the boats they paddle and the environments they paddle in. Some are die-hard whitewater kayakers and others thrive on a leisurely paddle on a secluded lake. And still others do it simply for the company the sport affords them to keep. Whatever the circumstances that drives these people to decide to paddle, one thing keeps them coming back. It is the indescribable feeling that one gets by stepping into their boat, pushing away from land, dipping their paddle into the water, and taking that first stroke.  As they leave their cares, problems, and stresses on the banks and shores of their lives, they are floating and they are free.

Scuba Diving

If you love the water but want to move beyond dips in the lake at the cottage, scuba diving could be the answer. Many cities offer training courses at pools, so by the time you go south for a holiday, you’ll be up to speed on what to do below the water. Scuba diving is a quiet, peaceful activity, yet the thought of not knowing what sights -- and creatures -- you’ll discover around the next corner offers sheer adventure.

Great Dives.

• Grand Island, Goa – Situated off shore, this island has several dive sites, usually with crystal clear water and teeming with small fish, tinted corals, beautiful shells and other marine life. You’ll also find shipwrecks from different eras.

• Netrani Island, Goa – Located off the coast of Karnataka, Netrani (also called Pigeon Island) has clear waters with a wealth of marine life, including a wide variety of corals and reef fish. Being further out in the Arabian Sea, there have been sightings of humpback, minke and killer whales and occasional whale sharks that pass by on their migratory routes.

• The Wall, Havelock Island, Andaman – This wall drops from 10 metres/35 feet down deep to the sand channel between Havelock and Peel Island. The tidal currents bring in a large number of Napoleon wrasse, snapper and trevally. Drift by purple soft coral that cling to the wall and look for scorpionfish, stonefish and nudibranchs.

• Dixon's Pinnacle, Andaman – Giant rock pinnacles emerge from the shadowy bottom, covered in colorful coral and large barrel sponges. Barracuda hover in mid-water, sometimes joined by batfish and trevally. Stingrays and Napoleon wrasse cruise along the bottom amidst schools of snapper. The top pinnacles are cleaning stations, buzzing with constant activity. Turtles, moray eels, manta rays and white-tip reef sharks visit the site to avail of the cleaning service.

• Princess Royal, Bangaram, Lakshadweep – This ship sank in a battle between the French and British more than two hundred years ago. Look for broken pottery scattered around the wreck, several large cannons and the ship’s anchor. The hull, protected by copper is relatively intact and home to a variety of marine life.

• Manta Point, Bangaram, Lakshadweep – This colorful reef is often visited by manta rays, especially in September through December. Other pelagics also visit, including an occasional whale shark, along with other rays and turtles. Starting shallow and sloping down to 20 metres/70 feet, this site is beautiful even when no big fish show up.

• Aravind's Wall, Pondicherry – Aravind's Wall is fast becoming a popular drift diving site, covering a large area and where visibility can reach up to 40 meters, with a year round average of about 15 meters. The dive sites popularity is also due to the marine life that can be spotted, especially whale shark and manta ray sightings. Lots of Jack fish schools, sea snakes, spotted rays can also be seen, along with a great range of fan corals and beautiful colors on the reef.

• Cool Shark, Pondicherry – A great site that caters for all levels of certified divers with the maximum depth around 23 meters. The site's namesake is found around the 15 meter mark as well as batfish, dogfish and great macro life. The site is a natural reef comprised of small reef balls, scattered corals rising from the sandy bottom, and can be found just 6 km from shore.

Bungee jumping

Bungee jumping is a recreational activity in which a person jumps from a high surface while attached to an elastic cord. Operated by Jump Masters from New Zealand, Jumpingheights in Rishikesh, India is very popular among youngsters who dare to challenge themselves. Recently the Bungee Jumping Festival was conducted in association with Jean Pascal in Bangalore during the month of January.

Jumping is fun and an exhilarating adventure tourism experience. We have ensured safety by hiring services of technically qualified extreme adventure sports experts with years of experience of operating these sports in New Zealand, the country which has commercialized the BUNGEE. The Jump Platforms have been designed by the team from New Zealand and we have flown in Jump Masters from New Zealand to operate the site. We ensure safety by making sure we have a highly experienced crew, a high level of training, the best equipment and procedures in place. We have in place a number of checks and counter checks and very thorough inspection schedules to ensure a high level of safety standards.

BUNGY STANDARDS 

We have followed the standards, viz the Australian & New Zealand Standards Authority Guidelines for commercial operations in Bungy Jumping and these standards are now being incorporated to form the Indian Standards which did not exist before.

AUDIT 

For the I year, David Allardice of New Zealand will be conducting external audits for safety practices and subsequently we would be asking an external Agency like Bureau Veritas, an internationally recognized auditing company to carry out the audits for equipment maintenance and processes. These audits would be conducted twice a year.

ASSOCIATION WITH RON CRANSTON 

Ron Cranston from New Zealand has been operating the Bungy, Flying Fox & the Swing in New Zealand for 6 yrs. He has spent 3 months in India overseeing the minute details during the construction of the Bungy, The Swing and the Flying Fox. He will be visiting India at periodic intervals to oversee the safety of the operations of all the activities. Owned and operated by Ex Army Officer to ensure discipline in safety practices.

Paragliding

 Paragliding is the simplest form of human flight with an inflatable wing. Templepilots is a Five Star Certified, registered and operating school with APPI International - Association of Professional Pilots & Instructors, Switzerland. Tandem joy rides are also popular in Manali. Recently paragliding demonstrations were held in Pahalgam and Sonmarg in Jammu and Kashmir. The major paragliding sites in India are Billing & Solang (all in Himachal), Kamshet (in Maharashtra) and recently Darjeeling.

Paragliding is a relatively new sport in India. The major paragliding sites in India are Billing, Kullu, Solang, Lahaul & Spiti(all in Himachal), Naukutchiyatal, Dayara Bugyal, Dhanolti Ridge, Bedni Bugyal (all in Uttarakhand), Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner (all in Rajasthan), Matheran, Deolali, Mahabaleshwar (all in Maharashtra). The flying season spans September to December and then March to June.

White Water Rafting

Rafting or whitewater rafting is a challenging recreational activity using a raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this activity as a leisure sport has become popular since the mid 1970s.
White water rafting in India is almost exclusively confined to the northern rivers which flow southwards from the Himalayas, gushing between densely forested mountains and through steep gorges. Rivers such as the Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Indus, Zanskar and Teesta offer `raft-worthy’ rapids, and a trip down a river can be a great way to see the countryside. Whether the expedition’s just a few hours of getting soaked and experiencing the thrills of a high-action Hollywood flick- or it stretches over a few days in which you spend time camping and trekking as well- this is an experience not to be forgotten.

White water rafting or river running, as an alternative way of spending your vacation, is being increasingly offered by a number of tour operators and travel agencies, including government tourist offices. Prices are generally reasonable, and will include food, equipment, lifejackets, helmets, an expert guide, and accommodation. Check on what you’re paying for, and whether any additional charges are likely to be levied. It also makes sense to scout around a bit before taking a decision on which agency you’re going to book with.

WhiteWaterRafting.in is an initiative of Treks ‘n Rapids – one of India’s leading and most respected adventure sports company. The thought behind WhiteWaterRafting.in has been to provide a One Stop Solution to all the White Water Rafting lovers from India and abroad, seeking to explore and experience this Mother of all Adventure Sports, across the country and the Sub-continent. From Single Day White Water Rafting Runs on Ganga, to the majestic Alaknanda Rafting Expedition, to the very famous Rafting & Riverside Camping experiences around Shivpuri and Rishikesh, and from experiencing White Water Rafting on the widest choice of Rivers – rafting on Teesta, rafting on Zanskar, rafting on Indus, rafting on Kali, rafting on Tons, rafting in Kolad area in Maharashtra, rafting at Dandeli, or rafting on the various magical rivers of Nepal and Sri Lanka to directly buying the best quality and widest range of White Water Rafting Gear in India, like White Water Rafts (NRS, Zebec, etc), Rafting Paddles, Life Jackets/PFDs, Rafting Helmets, Raft Inflation Pumps, Rescue Bags, Dry Bags, Expedition Tents and much more.

Hiking

India’s Mountain ranges offer some of the most breathtaking and enthralling trekking routes in the world. The Himalayan foothills are perfectly suited for trekking. The Garhwal and Kumaon regions in Uttarakhand, Chamba and Manali in Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh and Zanskar in Jammu and Kashmir, are regarded as trekker’s paradise. We can also find some unexplored trekking routes in the North-East. The adventure season covers almost the entire year.

The slice of paradise is still untouched and unexplored, northeast India offers rare and wild experience of Trekking and adventure caving. The famous Bomdila Dirang Trek, Twang Mago Trek, Se La Nuranang Trek are the few destinations in the world to offer a wonderful experience of trekking Trekking is the various beautiful valleys of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh with variety of flora and fauna should be a great experience. Its dense forests, rolling hills and lush green beauty also offers hiking,jungle camping and other mountain sports.

If you’re a fan of simple walking or jogging, you’ll enjoy hiking and the challenges it offers. It’s nice to get off the beaten path while at the same time experiencing elevation changes and different sights. The changes in elevation -- short climbs and descents -- will work the muscles in ways that walking cannot, and eventually, you can graduate to steeper climbs and more challenging terrain.

Microlight Flying

Microlight Flying is a lightweight 1 or 2 seat fixed-wing aircraft. The new generation of Indians, well bred on a diet of high adventure is heading to Bangalore and nearby to try their hand at Microlight Aircraft. Founded by Wg Cdr Ashok Mehta, Bangalore Aerosports Private Limited operates from the Jakkur Aerodrome and the Mysore Airport and is India's only Microlight Flight Training Center. We also have CoorgSkyAdventures which provides joy Microlight ride over the lush green plantations of Coorg.

Skydiving

Typical jump altitudes in modern times for experienced skydivers range from 7,500 to 15,000 feet (2,300 to 4,600 metres) above ground level, yielding a freefall time of between 40 and 85 seconds. The length of the freefall (the time between exiting the aircraft and deploying the parachute) is dependent upon such factors as exit altitude, opening altitude, and fall rate. The fall rate is determined by the jumpsuit the skydiver wears and the way in which the suit conforms to the body during the freefall (a looser suit offers more resistance to the air and slows the fall) and by the diver’s body configuration relative to the ground. Freefall speeds for skydivers falling “belly to earth” (the standard arched position) range from 110 to 130 miles per hour (180 to 210 km per hour). Descent speeds in excess of 330 mph have been recoded for those skydivers in speed skydiving competitions (in which the diver falls headfirst with the body in a streamlined position), and those as slow as 40 mph have been noted for skydivers using extended-wing “birdman” suits. The altitude at which a parachutist opens the canopy varies, but 2,500 feet is usual. With most parachutes, the skydiver initiates deployment by throwing a pilot chute into the airstream (other parachutes have pilot chutes that are automatically released by pulling an attached cord). The pilot chute is a small chute opened by air resistance that acts to pull the main parachute out from the bag in which the parachutes are encased. The main parachute increases the skydiver’s air resistance and slows the diver’s fall to the ground to a speed of about 10 mph. Modern ram-air parachutes are made of seven to nine nylon cells that inflate and act as a wing, or glider; these canopies allow the parachutist to steer and sail gently to the ground.

To maximize safety, sport skydivers wear two parachutes, one main and one reserve. This is prescribed by law in the U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations and in the aviation regulations of many other countries as well. Additionally, skydivers use a variety of altitude-sensing devices in order to know when to deploy their parachutes.

Hot Air Ballooning

The ultimate feeling of weightlessness and drifted away in a balloon is thrilling but calm once it is up in the air. Rajasthan is the hot favorite for hot air ballooning. The leading company that provides hot air balloon flights in India is Sky Waltz. Tiger Balloon Safaris' also conduct various hot air balloon rides in India.The Balloon Club of India organizes hot air ballooning in New Delhi as well as the India International Hot Air Balloon Mela in November each year. Recently, the tourism department in Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian Institute of Ski and Mountaineering (IISM) have introduced hot air balloon rides to promote adventure tourism in the valley.