Hawaii to Lake Constance: Here you go to the water

class=”sc-29f61514-0 fQbOYE”>

Surfing is not water sports, surfing is a lifestyle: sun, freedom, mermaids in bikinis, cool guys. Also evergreen flowers of the cult group Beach Boys. “Surfin’ USA” is the anthem of the days when the surf cult began in California in the 1960s. But surfing is not a US invention. More than 1,000 years ago, the sport came to Hawaii from the South Seas, where competitions were held on religious holidays.

Hawaii is still a place of pilgrimage for the surfing community today. Here, huge waves roll towards the beach, creating great surfing conditions. The Banzai Pipeline off the island of Oahu is Mount Everest among water rollers, a wave for top professionals. Beginners can admire the daredevil surfers in the Death Wave, while professional training can be found at Turtle Bay, a beginner-friendly surf spot nearby. Hans Hedemann Surf School offers courses for beginners here.

Stand-up Paddle is the trend sport in world waters. It’s that easy: you stand on a surfboard and run across the terrain armed with a paddle. In a course you can learn the most important basic techniques in a short time. Of course, the sport has its pitfalls, too. As soon as the lake starts to ripple, your sense of balance is disrupted – a few falls into the water are part of it. But before long it feels like walking on water.

If you don’t want to stand at the board just to chat, you can go on a day trip or train for the SUP World Cup. Yes, there is that too, then standing rowing is a competitive sport. You can try stand-up paddling at almost any of the major local lakes. A good place for beginners is Lake Constance, where many schools offer courses. The Bodensee canoe school in Arbon is recommended.

The water is bubbling, the sailboat is sailing through the waves, the wind is howling: sailing is a pure nature experience and a wonderful reminder of the great nautical times. Despite GPS and high-tech clothing, the basic techniques of sailing have not changed for centuries.

If you want to learn this noble sport, you need to study a lot: navigation, sailing technique, practice lessons, sailing commands. But there is another way. For the first feeling of sailing, flocking and the like, there are one-week tasting courses that focus on practical experience rather than theory. An ideal place for beginners is the German Baltic Sea.

Admittedly, the Baltic Sea does not sound like the South Seas, the longed-for waters of heavenly conditions. But the Baltic Sea easily makes up for the lack of tropical climate conditions with its diverse nature experiences and cultures. The German Hanseatic cities, the resort island of Rügen, the island worlds of Denmark and Sweden, the long coast of Poland and the Baltic States can be found in a very small area.

The Baltic Sea is a relatively easy sailing area where beginners can get their first experience and experienced sailors can expand their knowledge. Numerous sailing schools on the Baltic Sea coast offer courses. If you’re looking for an authentic sailing experience, you can also join a spin as a newcomer. Routes from Germany to the Danish islands are very popular.

Anyone can do this: sit in a boat and start rowing. TRUE! However, chatting with the wrong technique soon turns into muscle pain. If you want to go on longer ski tours, you should take a course to learn the most important paddling techniques and safety maneuvers. Especially in the sea, you need to have a good command of the technique. Canoe tours that last several days are popular, and paddling here still has its original taste of freedom and adventure.

One of the most beautiful paddling areas in the Mediterranean is the Croatian coast, with its numerous islands, soft sandy coves and lovely port towns. From short day trips to a trip to the island under the warm Mediterranean sun, everything is possible here. The German company Outdoordirect offers a six-day beginner’s course on the Croatian island of Rab. Anyone wishing to gain beginner’s experience in Switzerland can take beginner’s courses at Globalpaddler or seejak.ch.

Source : Blick