Many people don't even know where to start when looking for a good wet suit. Whether it be for surfing or diving, we all want the same thing. UV protection, comfort, durability and long lasting quality. Sadly, most brands of wet suits come in a very uncomfortable fit and are made of so much rubber that moving becomes almost robotic.
So what do you look for when purchasing a wet suit? In my personal opinion brand is very important. You will find that some brands have flaws whereas others have standard good features throughout. Take the Triple-X brand for example, their wet suits for diving generally have low buoyancy, lightweight and flexible material, extra warmth, very close fitting, water proof zippers and comfort. They are made of less rubber than average wet suits which makes movement way easier.
The surfing wet suit range have a zero chill wind factor, are super lightweight, have extra warmth, are fast drying, are super stretchy, are made of 4 way multi directional neoprene, have added durability, absorb very little water and come in a unisex fit - and this to name but only a few of the advantages of purchasing one of these wet suits.
Make sure that when purchasing a wet suit or ordering a wet suit whether it be for sea surfing or for diving, that you enquire if the brand you are purchasing has any of the above listed qualities. With this high quality type of wet suit, you cannot go wrong.
Welcome to South Africa.
The Eastern Cape South Africa. Where else can you surf the worlds biggest waves, ski down the only snow slopes in Africa, go on a `big seven safari, visit the birthplace of Nelson Mandela and bungee the highest bridge in the southern hemisphere? The Eastern Cape, of course!
The second largest of South Africa's nine provinces, the diverse Eastern Cape landscape ranges from the dry desolate Great Karoo to the steamy forests of the Wild Coast and the Keiskamma Valley. The area also embraces the fertile Langkloof, renowned for its rich apple harvests, and is cradled by the mountainous southern Drakensberg.
Here, widespread hills are juxtaposed with sandy beaches; here small-town South Africa comes to greet you - gently offering hospitality and friendship and asking for nothing in return. This is where the `big seven' roam, and where the tropical forests share their space with abundant birdlife and nature at its most generous.
The shoreline of this province extends from the Umtamvuna River in KwaZulu-Natal, to the Storms River mouth on the scenic Garden Route, in the west, and stretching inland, to the north, bordering on Lesotho. Today, the Eastern Cape incorporates the previously independent `homelands' of the Ciskei and Transkei. Despite its colonial past, the Eastern Cape remains the home of the Xhosa-speaking people of South Africa. With its almost seven million people, the Eastern Cape has the third-largest provincial population, living on about 169 600 km2 of land.
The Eastern Cape climate varies considerably but has, a year-round holiday climate. The Eastern coastal regions enjoy hot summers and moderate winters and Port Elizabeth experiences a daily average of 7 hours sunshine. Northern regions are much cooler. Certain areas receive rain throughout the year albeit erratic.
Major attractions in the area:
Nelson Mandela Museum
The museum was officially opened on the 11 February 2000, at a function to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the release from prison of Nelson Mandela in 1990. The birthplace/museum is situated at Qunu, along the N2 highway, south of Umtata.
Addo Elephant Park
Situated 73km from Port Elizabeth, in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the park is a true conservation success story.
Valley of Desolation
The product of volcanic and erosive forces of nature over 100 million years, the Valley of Desolation is one of the most spectacular sights in the country. A steep and narrow road leads into the mountains that surround the valley - a journey not to be dared by the faint-hearted.
Grahamstown National Arts Festival
Africa's largest and most colorful cultural event takes place, annually, in this University town, offering a choice of the very best of both indigenous and imported talents.
Hole in the wall
Just south of Coffee Bay, on the eastern seaboard, is a prominent rock formation with a big hole in the centre. This distinctive site has become a symbol for the Xhosa in remembrance of a great historical tragedy - the "Great Cattle Killing". The unique structure with a huge detached cliff that has a giant opening carved through its centre by the waves. The local Xhosa call this place "izi Khaleni", which means "place of thunder".
Gerald Crawford: born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa and the United Kingdom. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: gerald@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za
If you are a surfer or someone that wants to learn how to surf you need to know about all the great surf vacations that you can take to different parts of the world. This can be one of the best trips you have ever taken as you catch some of the best waves in the world. Even if you are a beginner many of these vacations have beginning surf classes that can help make you a better surfer while you are on vacation.
Some of these vacations are specifically guided and for advanced surfers that can handle the largest waves that can be found. This can be very dangerous, but can also be a lot of fun. This is not they type of trip for a regular surfer, but more for one that is considered to be a top surfer or very advanced. This could be the most incredible surfing experience of your life.
Another one of the types of surf vacations is those that are for teaching. Usually you will have one or two instructors that can work with your entire group regardless of their skill level. They can help beginners learn how to be better surfers and even the more advanced surfers can learn something from these trips. Plus you will see things you may have only dreamed about seeing.
If you are a surfer, then taking one of the many surf vacations that exist is a great way to enjoy your hobby and get away from your regular life. This is the best thing you can do in order to make sure you are able to have fun on your vacation and relax as well. Surfing is a lot of fun and even if you are a beginner you can have a great vacation with surfing.
Luckily for surfers, God had created this earth with 2/3rds of water, hence, the opportunity to do surf trips to Bali, Fiji, and Tahiti to name a few. There are numerous places to surf on this planet and surf trips to Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Panama, Indonesia, Mexico, or Central America might also be as exciting as the former. Most likely surfing communities have made surfing waves for beginners easy by offering surf lessons and surf schools taught by experienced surfers, and expert watermen(women). You can retreat to these surf destinations to enjoy the loveliness of the location, get tanned, or just spend the day catching the best waves. If you are a beginner on a budget or are having trouble saving money there are inexpensive surf trips, lessons, and surf camps available.
Another way to take a surf trip without having to leave your living room couch is by watching surf videos. There are tons of videos out there documenting the different waves across the world, from North America, to Hawaii, to Japan and so on. Watching videos is also a good way to prepare to surf . I have found that this is a really good way to get in the right frame of mind for catching waves. I noticed that if I surfed after watching a surf video I performed better by trying to replicate what I saw on the videos. Still the best way to progress as a surfer is to go out and surf.
As I mentioned in a previous article, 'The how to of surfing waves for beginners: surf lessons and surf schools' beginners have many options as far as learning to surf around the world. Most schools and lessons are very flexible; they offer 2-3 lessons a day and also offer 1-5 day surf lesson packages or more. These surf classes cater to beginning, intermediate, or advanced surfers.
Fiji is a good example of a great surf destination, where many people go to vacation and surf. One of the main surf spots is called 'Tavarua' and is located close to the main islands in Fiji. It is a beautiful place with sweet waves, island resorts and accommodations, and island tours. This is a great place to go for a surf trip. Lastly, a surf trip to Tahiti may be the crowning experience for surfer enthusiasts; especially for surfing pros who seek to ride Teahupo'o. This wave is a heavy but beautiful wave that reminds everyone of the power of ocean. Teahupo'o is more for seasoned surfers and pros, and beginners can find other waves located around the island that are gentle and perfect for the aspiring surfer.
Surfing waves can be enjoyed by beginners and advanced surfers alike. These waves can be found around the world and even in your back yard. You can plan a surf trip to Bali, Fiji, and Tahiti and see the beauty of these places with an ocean view.
The how to of surfing waves for beginners is a blog for beginners looking for a new passion. The purpose of the blog is to ensure that beginning surfers don't get turned off from surfing due to bad experiences.
When searching for debt reduction is important for you to know what are the best tools for you to eliminate your debt consolidation now are. It seems that it is much easier to get into debt than get out of debt and credit card offers that arrive more in our mailboxes every day we are faced with a crisis.
Using credit cards each month are fine until you can pay off each month, but if not possible then it will cost you a lot of money, because you have to pay high interest rates. If you happen to miss a payment that is not hard to do when you can not always count on the mail service, then the credit card company to increase your rate of typically up to 30% and get out of debt.
E 'understandable that when you want to buy things you want, then it is much easier to charge them to save until you have enough money to buy them. This may be a strategy to get yourself in debt and this makes it more difficult for you to have a stress free, debt free life.
If you are in a situation where you have credit cards and many have missed payments then you need a solution. Getting a debt free consolidation loan can help manage and eliminate your debt. You will be able to take all the debts of credit card and roll into a loan and this will make it easier to manage each month. The other advantage you get is that you will be able to get the loan at an interest rate lower, which will help you get out of debt now.
Switch to bustling land of Cocoa beach and have amazing surfing experience along with other fun-filled activities. It has flock of surfers and the folks who like to root for them. Deluge of visitors are expected to hit the beach for the 46th annual Easter Surf Festival. It takes place simultaneously at Shepard Park, which is at state roads 520 and A1A, and the Cocoa Beach Pier.
At Orlando the pier makes it as an excellent ride for a short board. But, on the other hand, Shepard Park has very good waves for long boards. You could surf either one either way," Hundreds of amateur and pro surfers will compete. A fundraiser is planned for Saturday night at the Cocoa Beach Surf Museum, 4275 N. Atlantic Ave. Cost for that is $25. The party's from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Surfing Competitions will include events for Men, Women, Boys and Girls, from ages six to sixty. Surfing divisions have changed to reflect more of a focus on Youth and education, this year all events will be Pro/Am We will award Scholarships plus a Distinguished Easter Surfing Championship Trophy in all Divisions.
Easter surf festival generally have bands, finger foods and drinks," Admission to the surf festival is free. Food and drinks will be available all weekend at both spots. Entertainment includes kite-surfing demos, a laser light show, dancers, torch tosses, a movie at the pier, music and a bikini contest. The Ron Jon Surf School will host surf clinics, and Easter sunrise services will be at both locations. Many kids activities are on the agenda, including an Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m. Saturday at the pier. For the competition schedule, visit eastersurffest.com.
Easter surf festival is open for all the ages. Surfing divisions have been changed to reflect more of a focus on youth and education. Scholarships and a trophy will be awarded. Spectators will have opportunities to learn how to surf and skim board via clinics. There is no fee to watch. Evening entertainment includes bands, movies and parties and visitors will be able to attend an Easter Sunrise Service at either of the two event sites. After a day of unabated entertainment you need some cozy place for staying. Come to Orlando vacation home. It is only few minute drive from Orlando vacation rental home. Cocoa beach is best near Central Florida & to grab best fun from Easter surfing festival come join Orlando vacation rental home for best Disney family vacation.
Author info:
Annant Jose is an eminent analyst and writer in vacation rental related topics specializing in Orlando Vacation Rental in Florida, USA. For more information about this Author Orlando Vacation Rental Toll Free: 1-866-938-9724 | Phone: 321-594-0509
Canary Island Tenerife's new water park, Siam Park, has been open for six months and the response so far has been nothing short of ecstatic. Not only is it the largest water park in Europe, but it is also a testament to creativity, family fun and thrilling experiences.
Designer Christoph Keissling went so far as to obtain permission from Thailand's royal family to use the name. The Thai theme is evident in every one of the 25 buildings, as well as the statues, landscaping and food served at the restaurants in the park. Developers spent 52 million euros to construct an environment that suits both the theme and visitors' expectations.
Water parks are hugely popular with residents and tourists alike wherever they are located. Siam Park competes with Aqualand Costa Adele, also located on Tenerife. Almost every country in Europe has one or more water parks. Germany, Italy, Great Britain: Name a country and you will find a water park. In the United States even some of the coldest states have one or more water parks. Noah's Ark in Wisconsin, where the winter temperatures can dip well below freezing if not zero, is the largest water park in the United States. Water parks in southern California and Florida, like Disney's Blizzard Park and Typhoon Lagoon, get more visitors even though they don't offer as much as Noah's Ark. In both Europe and the United States, parks located in harsher climate areas can do very well despite having to close several months of the year, because the parks are such a huge draw when they are open.
Newer parks, like Siam Park, continue to be bigger and better than their predecessors. They take advantage of desirable technological developments. It is another testament to Siam Park's developers' foresight that the entire park is environmentally friendly. The water is heated to 25 degree Celsius, and Keissling proudly points out that it is the only air conditioned water park in the world. A desalination plant built in the park processes 700 cubic meters of salt water every day. The processed water is used in the rides and then recycled to water the park's plants. Developers also built the first natural gas plant in the Canary Islands in the park.
One of the first things that visitors notice is a wave pool that produces waves up to 3 meters in height. Surfers used to the tamer and smaller waves produced by most wave pools have nothing but good things to say about Siam Park. Park management plans to hold surfing competitions in the future. In the meantime, professional surfers are thrilled to have a new practice venue that allows them to hone their skills in man-made waves that rival ocean conditions.
Restaurants throughout the park offer Thai food in keeping with the theme. There is even a Thai floating market that visitors can wander through with a choice of exotic offerings. But those with more diverse tastes will not be disappointed. The park caters to everyone on their family holidays
Though the buildings and environment are enchanting and visually appealing, the real draw for park visitors are the water rides. Originally the park was intended to include a state of the art roller coaster thrill ride, but the developers made the decision to hold off on all of the non-water attractions in order to open in September 2008. Once the park is fully developed with additional non-water rides, visitors may decide that the park was not complete without them. For the time being, however, no one is complaining. The water rides may be thrilling, relaxing or interesting, but they are definitely not boring.
Among the most popular attractions are:
* The Dragon, which propels up to four riders down an enclosed tube, ending with a heart-stopping drop at the bottom that sends the raft up the side of a huge cone-shaped ending.
* The Giant, where riders can go solo or in pairs through one of two tubes leading to a huge bowl-shaped structure and into yet another tube.
* The Jungle Snake, where the rider must choose between one of four tubes, each of which offers a strikingly different experience.
* The Naga Racer, which, as its name implies, offers riders an opportunity to race against each other through a six lane tube.
* The Tower of Power, which is perhaps the most thrilling of all the rides. Riders experience a fast and furious downhill plunge, reaching speeds of up to 40 kmph before they hurtle from the open chute and into a clear enclosed tube surrounded by water.
While tourism in general is problematic for many typical tourist spots because of the worldwide economic downturn, Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands, has been taking steps to lessen the impact on their tourist-driven economy. In addition to Siam Park, clearly the most talked about attraction, other improvements include the recently opened Marina de San Miguel. It features a new world class golf course, hotel, restaurant and an English-speaking radio station.
Another complex, the Royal Marina Golf Resort, is not quite on line yet, but it promises to offer a level of luxury difficult to compete with. Spacious accommodations feature fully equipped kitchens, marble floors, air conditioning, terraced gardens and spectacular views of the golf course and the ocean. The level of excitement generated by all these developments ensures that Tenerife will remain a desirable holiday destination for 2009.
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More Tenerife holidays information can be found at yourtenerife.net
Thomas Cook holidays include Tenerife in their holidays brochures, as do Thompsons holidays
Alternative sports includes skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, motocross, etc., continue to grow in popularity as they receive more widespread TV coverage. There is a solid foundation for fashion influenced by these sports so it is not faddish. There are many people out there who have no exposure to surfing in particular, and they may rarely go to the beach, if ever, but they feel connected to it because it's on TV and it's on the Internet. The surfer and the skateboarder have become the salvation of two Southern California companies whose target customers are teenagers and young adults.
Surf style caters to the narrow and ever- changing tastes of the 12-to-24 age group while larger, more traditional companies such as once-hot American Eagle Outfitters Inc. and Abercrombie & Fitch are struggling. The surf and skateboarding culture has exploded in recent years thanks to television shows such as MTV's "Surf Girls" and "Boarding House: North Shore" on the WB network, and movies such as 2002's "Blue Crush." Boardsports have also been a staple for years on ESPN's popular "X-Games" competitions.
The clothes feature bright, colorful displays, often highlighted by surfboards or skateboards autographed by stars of each sport. Their Web sites feature articles and photos of competitions and lifestyle articles along with online stores. The market for a company that can keep pace with teens' trendy tastes is enormous. It's like buying an identity, but it is fun and healthy, unlike some other identities you can buy. The clothes are comfortable and it promotes fun.
About 70 percent to 75 percent of teens have a steady source of income that is for them, like an allowance or part-time job. Their main objective is to make sure they look good. The last time surf was this hot was in the late 1980s, when anyone who could get a bolt of neon and make clothing called themselves a surf company. When the neon craze died, the industry got chopped at the knees because they we had was a one-trick pony. All they had was men's and neon. Now, however, surf companies have the legs right now to continue to grow exponentially.
The summer surf flick "Blue Crush," helped drive the surfing U.S. sales. Some companies have launched an entertainment unit that's created an action sports television show and a new book series about girl surfers, among other moves. The image that Orange County's surf crowd perpetuates will help fuel their demand.
You may have been skiing for a few years now but still aren't completely confident on steeper and more intense runs. It is more than likely that you're looking for just the right blend of challenge and ease. You want to push your abilities a bit farther with each run without going overboard. Breckenridge is an ideal place for intermediate skiers to find the perfect combination of challenge and comfort. As an intermediate skier, you may want to familiarize yourself with the peaks for a great day of skiing in Breckenridge.
Peaks 7 and 8 offer thrilling areas for intermediate skiing. Northstar and Claimjumper are two runs that are marvelously moderate while offering more privacy than some of the other runs on Peak 8. Right next door at Peak 7, several intermediate trails provide the finest cruising zones. The bottom of Peak 7 also features the Independence Super Chair that serves as the heart of the peak.
Peak 9 is the ultimate area in Breckenridge for intermediate skiers. Ballroom skiing is ideal on smooth trails here, especially on runs such as Columbia and Sundown. In addition, the Peak 9 Restaurant makes for a wonderful place to have a break and catch your breath. You will want to avoid the nearby Bonanza run as it's usually crowded with beginner skiers who are not only practicing but spend unnecessarily longer time scooting their way down the trail. For a bit more challenge, check out the more bumpy yet mild terrain on Peerless and Volunteer at Peak 9.
Peak 10 offers three blue runs and a much more technical terrain. Crystal, Centennial, and Doublejack are excellent choices if you’re looking for a bit more challenge. Those who are ready to take it up a notch will find Peak 10's Falcon Super Chair and expert terrain absolutely magnificent as you'll be rewarded with lesser crowd and shorter waiting time than usual.
Intermediate skiers are usually those who are relatively new to the sport or have taken several years off. They are mostly comfortable on the mountain but can be a bit rusty at times. It's always advisable for intermediate skiers to keep a few factors in mind before hitting the slopes hard on their very first day. Be sure to spend some time training for the sport before ski season opens. You will want to prepare yourself with cardio and aerobic exercises as well as strength training, stretching and flexibility exercises.
While you're on the slopes, monitor your activity level by taking breaks regularly and increasing your difficulty level gradually. You might be feeling that you are ready to move into the more advanced bracket but a long and tiring day of skiing can be hard on your body. Don’t push it too hard and always listen to what your body is telling you. At the end of the day, the last place you want to wind up is on a run that's too difficult when you're losing steam. Save the harder runs for a new day.
Beginners find Breckenridge a wonderful and unintimidating mountain town to practice while experts absolutely love the challenge and variety. On the other hand, intermediate skiers find themselves mastering areas and moving ahead to endless new terrains that lie before them in Breckenridge. The Ten Mile Range offers marvelous intermediate skiing areas in a stunning backdrop. It is no wonder why Breckenridge is the favorite place of skiers of all difficulty levels to enhance their skills.
Beginning Surfing? Ways to help
Surfing is a fun and popular sport around the world. Unfortunately a lot of folks are too intimidated to even search out a school or instructor to even start this fantastic sport. Here's some tips that will help you get over that and get out there on the waves!
Choose a spot appropriate to your skill level. The place where you start surfing will influence your experience and learning curve. When you are first learning to surf, your main goal is to catch a wave and stand up on the board. You don't need a perfect wave to do that. In fact, a beach where the waves just close out (break all at once), when the waves are small, offers a great opportunity to practice catching and standing up. Since the waves are closing out, there won't be any other people surfing (unless there is another beginner, so keep your distance). After catching the wave, ride on your belly until it breaks, then, while you are riding the white water toward the beach, just stand up and try to balance. Once you've got the hang of that, you are reading to ride a wave that has a peeling break. The greater speed associated with a peeling wave will then allow you to learn to turn the board.
1. Avoid crowds. You need some experience before you can successfully catch waves without getting in the way of others.
2. Avoid rocky spots. When you're learning you might not have sufficient control to navigate around them, and getting smashed up against a rock is bad for you and your board.
3. Avoid big waves. Knee- to waist-high surf is right for beginners.
4. Slow, mushy surf at point breaks with sandy bottoms and small crowds are the best places to learn.
Once you get a feel for the basics of catching and riding waves, continue your learning at a "beach break" - a long straight beach with lots of different wave peaks, a sandy bottom and plenty of room.
Ask friends who surf to steer you to the best places in your area to learn.
Understand the surfing right-of-way before you get in the water. Beginners that get in the way of experienced surfers ruin the fun for both.
Surfing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death.
We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.