Is UK the windsurfing spot, or what?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     cornwall, scotland, united kingdom, windsurf, Windsurfing

With adventure sports it’s always far-flung shores and tropical reefs, but for us UK-based windsurfing fans, the party’s here.

Yes, we’ve not the warmest of waters, but when the wind and the waves are this good, we keep it local.

Prevailing winds are from the west and southwest, but there are strong Arctic gusts too, giving the British coastline an all-over blast.

This week is national windsurfing week, with people getting in the water from Stithians in Cornwall to Castle Semple Loch in Scotland.

Free taster sessions, reduced-cost beginner lessons and fun races are running all week, and the weather forecast is good for the weekend too.

Wave sailing, speed sailing, racing or freestyle, we think the UK scene can rival any across the globe.

So if you know anywhere else where the wind is cranking, let us know, we can still be tempted…

http://www.nationalwindsurfingweek.org/

Adventure Sports: How do we keep it green?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     adventure sports community, recycle

With so many news stories focused on the environment, how do we, the adventure sports community, do our bit to keep it green?

Unlike other sports, everything we do is nature-specific. Be it on land, at sea, or in the air, we are bound to our environment.

As a community then, we have to consider the impact of what we do. Other than the one in the snow, what footprint do we leave behind? Remember, it’s not just Surfers Against Sewage’s responsibility to keep our beaches litter free.

Well, we’ve compiled a set of basic guides to help. So next time, before you get your rig ready, leave for the slopes or check your ‘D’ ring and ropes, have a quick read. read more

Skiing in Scotland in June?!

Tim B    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     cairngorm, Europe, glencoe, glenshee, scotland, ski, Skiing, united kingdom

Scotland has now firmly established itself on the list of European ski destinations, thanks in part to a fantastic winter season.

With the last of the snow now melting, resorts are reflecting on what was a historic season – firms local to the Cairngorms have reported business up 20 per cent and noted that skier days to-date back in late February topped 79,000, up from an earlier peak of 49,000.

In fact, some resorts had to close this year because they had too much snow! On Cairngorm Mountain snow was so heavy skiers couldn’t even get to the snow routes, and the ski huts were buried under several metres of snow drift. read more