February 23, 2012

You are here: Home / Water sports

Know The Difference Between Wakeboarding vs. Water Skiing

January 28, 2011 By admin

Both of these water sports are a sought after among enthusiasts. However, when asked about the similarities and differences between the two, it becomes very difficult to tell.

Firstly, before going further to the comparison of wakeboarding and water skiing, let’s first define each of these water sports:

Wakeboarding

This water sport is a combination of the principles of snow boarding, surfing and water skiing. It involves getting on board a wakeboard on the water’s surface. Wakeboards are just similar to surfing boards. The rider here is dragged by a motorboat, or a jet ski which normally runs at around 20-25 miles within an hour. Aside from water crafts, riders could also be dragged using winches or closed-course cables (for man-made wakeboarding havens).

Water Skiing

The rider here is dragged using a boat (for beaches and other natural waters) or a cable ski installation (for man-made water skiing havens). Riders will then glide on the surface of the water. It has three basic types: slalom skiing, show skiing and ski jump.

Similarities Of Wakeboarding And Water Skiing

Both of these water sports require a motor-driven watercraft such as speedboat or jet ski. If the sport is held on a man made environment, then both of these sports would require cables to drag the rider.

In terms of equipment, the ski and board are both made of carbon fibre. Sometimes, people even think that a ski is just a wakeboard split to two.

Wakeboarding vs. Water Skiing In Terms Of Ease

Many people say that water skiing is easier to learn compared to wakeboarding, as beginners could maintain balance in the water by keeping their arms straight and knees slightly bent. Wakeboarding is a bit difficult to balance than water skiing. However, many say that it is more interesting as it is more technical in nature.

Wakeboarding has a variety of tricks compared to water skiing, as it involves 360s and other tricks rather than mere gliding on the water. As mentioned earlier, it is a mixture of snowboarding, water skiing and surfing because of using a motorboat to drag the rider, also with the materials similar to that of a surfer and a snowboarder. Thus, if you are looking for more challenging tricks, then wakeboarding might be a good sport.

Until now, the distinction between the two is being debated. However, it cannot be denied that both of these sports provide fun and challenge for the water sport enthusiasts.

Filed Under: Wake boarding, Water Skiing, Water Skiing General, Water Skiing Q&A, Water sports Tagged With: , , ,

Water Sport Competition For UK Olympics 2012

January 19, 2011 By admin

The year 2012 is fast approaching, and in that year lies many significant events, particularly the Olympics which will be held in the UK.

The Olympics 2012 in UK will surely be a blast with a lot of sports ranging from archery, athletics and many others including UK water sports.

Water sport is one of the sought after in the UK, that’s why many people are very excited to be a witness in the said event which will be held in the country 2 years from now. It will be held specifically in the Aquatics Centre, which is the Olympic Park’s gateway.

The water sports to be expected on the said event will be the water polo, swimming, diving, and synchronised swimming. Here is a short description about each water sport:

Water Polo - This sport is similar to handball, only played in the water. In this game, players use a ball that weigh between 400 and 450 grams. The net is situated on top of the water at 90 cm high and 3 m wide.

Diving – The players will execute dives in series via a fixed platform or a springboard with height ranging from 3 to 10 metres. They will then be judged and rated up to 10 points depending on the execution and its difficulty.

Swimming – This traditional sport could be played at distances that range between 50 metres to 1,500 metres. Players would execute 2 particular swimming strokes namely: Breaststroke, Backstroke or Butterfly. Sometimes, players are allowed to do any strokes (for freestyle).  Swimming would take place in a 10 lane pool of 50 metres long. However, only the middle 8 lanes would be used for the entire game. The winner will be determined through the first player to touch the pool wall at the end of the lane.

Synchronised Swimming – This is an event exclusive for women, synchronised swimming involves performing artistic moves in the pool similar to ballet. This sport demands endurance, advanced skills in water, grace, flexibility, art, strength and timing. At times when moves require players to be upside down under the water, breath control is also needed.

Modern pentathlon also includes swimming, but athletes will also compete in other games such as fencing, and horse riding. All water sports, including one of the events in the modern pentathlon, will be held in the Aquatics Centre. The venue will be left with 2,500 seats after the event, as temporary seating will be detached. The facility will be used for the community, schools and clubs that will need a large venue for any swimming events.

Filed Under: Water Sport Competitions, Water sports Tagged With:

Learn More About Sailboats

January 13, 2011 By admin

Sail boat is the term generally used for several small and medium sized water vessels. Until this very time, this term is still widely used. Normally, sailing boats are water vessels which are driven by the wind. But in this modern time, there are already machine-powered sail boats.

Nowadays, there are many types of sail boats- be it machine-powered or the conventional type. Learn about its different types namely:

The Sloop

This is the most common and simplest form of a sail boat. A sloop has two sails- a foresail and a mainsail and a single mast as well. Its features make it very easy to be driven by the wind.

It also has a boom, which is a metal pole that leads the wind’s direction. This is attached together with the mast and the boom.

Cutters

This type of a sail boat resembles to a sloop because of features- a mainsail and a single mast. However, this type allows the usage of two head sails. These head sails are attached to 2 fore stays namely: inner stay and head stay. These 2 fore stays carry the stay sail and the jib. Cutters are very excellent in times of high wind and is also good for boat racing.

Fractional Sloop

In this type, the fore stay connects to the top of the mast instead on running on top of it. Thus, there is increase in the back stay’s tension. This feature of the fractional sloop also allows the middle of the mast to be arched forward.

Ketch

This type of sail boat is also similar to a sloop. However, its distinct feature is having another mast (called the mizzen mast)- shorter to that of the mainmast. It is located in front of the rudder post. A ketch has two head sails.

Yawl

This resembles a ketch, however, its mizzen mast is shorter compared to the main mast and it is supported by the rudder post’s stem.

Catboat

This kind of sail boat does not have a jib, or a head sail. Most recent catboat designs do not have other sails except the mainsail.

Schooner

This could have multiple masts, but the second mast is taller than the first. Schooners nowadays are rigged with gaff or marconi.

Keel

To make this sail boat at its best in motion, there should be a good combination of length, weight and depth. Most sail boats used in sport have deep and heavy fin keels.

Centre Board

This is the lighter version of a keel and is not mounted permanently. A centre board could cater shallow waters.

Hulls

There are sail boats with mono hulls, and those with multiple hulls. It depends on the structure of the sailing boat- sometimes, multiple hulls are for those which do not have centreboard or keels

 So now you know about different kinds of sail boats. So the next time you are planning of yachting or sailing, you already know which type of sail boat to rent for that escapade.

Filed Under: Sailing, Sailing Boats, Water sports Tagged With: , ,

Types Of Motorised Watersports

January 10, 2011 By admin

There are many ways to enjoy the water. Beach bums have a variety of activities to do- take a stroll, dive, do beach volleyball and many others. One of these is to do water sports. These kinds of sports are gaining popularity nowadays- particularly during the season when it is very excellent to go and dip in the beach.

Water sports include water skiing, wake boarding, wake skating and many others. These sports need motorised equipments namely: jet ski, speedboats and the like. Know more about each of these water sports.

Wake Boarding

This is the combination of surfing, snowboarding and water skiing. Wake boarding needs a boat and a tow rope. However, instead of using skis, there are small round discs that will tow the rider in the water. Its speed could range from 15 to 25 miles in an hour. Using a cutting technique, riders can take control of the board. Wake boarding is played for over 20 years and counting all over the world. This sport is seen as a progression of another water sport which is the water skiing.

Water Skiing

Water ski is perhaps the oldest of all the water sports – 90 years and still continuing to gain popularity all over the world. Water skiing has a very simple concept: wearing skis, the rider will allow himself to be towed by the boat and glide in the water smoothly. This could be a very difficult water sport, but with practise and familiarisation of water skiing tips, it could be perfected.

Wake Skating

This sport is close to wake boarding, however, the rider does not use round discs to be towed along the water. In this case, the rider wears shoes that grips to the board’s surface. The board has grip tape, or is covered with a material having high traction.

Wake skating requires a lot of training and practise to get its trick perfectly. Since the shoes are not that bound to the board, the rider has to learn balancing and the skills to keep being on the grip.

 Of course, these sports would not be possible without boats. Normally, to tow the riders, jet ski or speedboats are used.

 Now that you know the commonly played motorised water sports, then you may want to try one of these during the summer. These activities are very fun- however, just bear in mind to be equipped with safety equipments such as head gears, life jackets, goggles and the like, so that falling off in the water would not be a worry.

Filed Under: Types Of Motorised Watersports, Water sports Tagged With: , , , ,