Training to be an International Mountain Leader

Sophie Nicholson    ash, trekkingholidays     Adventure Sports, IML, International Mountain Leader, Mountain, scotland, trekking

Well it’s been a wee whiley since my last post but an absence of information certainly is not an indication of a lack of activity! Since I last blogged, I’ve started something that is shaping up to absorb my life for the next couple of years. What I’m talking about is working towards my International Mountain Leader qualification.

I started the process 2 weeks ago at Glenmore Lodge in Scotland. I completed the first of many stages that will be required to gaining the qualification that I hope will enable me to share my love of the mountains with other wannabe mountain goats.  It was an amazing and intense week of learning but perhaps the biggest revelation of all was the realization of exactly just how much commitment this is all going to require.

Groupwork is everything

The journey to becoming an IML requires that first you get your Mountain Leader qualification. This involves the week of training that I’ve just finished, then a year of consolidation of the necessary skills and experience, and after that a week long assessment. Should you be successful you are then eligible to join the IML scheme which is structured in the same way – a week of training, a year of consolidation and only then can you put yourself forward for the assessment week which takes place here in the Alps.

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Kitesurfing’s best kept secrets

Paul McWilliams    kiteboardingholidays     Egypt, kite, kite boarding, kitesurf, kitesurfing, kitesurfing destinations, Sharm El Sheik, Tarifa, watersports

Kitesurfing is one of the world’s fastest growing sports. If you’re what sales-speak might refer to as an ‘early adopter’ this could be a double edged sword. It’s satisfying in a ‘told-you-so’ kind of way but frustrating as you can barely open your front door without bumping into the newest kitesurf zealot, which leaves you even less room at the beach.

Rest assured there are still kitesurfing destinations where you won’t crash into your Gran. Here’s a quick guide to the best-kept kitesurfing destinations. But get there quick because people gossip, no matter how many times you tell them not to.

Getting too busy?

Exhuma, Bahamas

Ok, the Bahamas is hardly a secret destination and it’s certainly no stranger to tourists but not many of them kitesurf. It’s more of a ‘cocktails by the beach’ kind of place, which means you won’t have to share the crystal blue water and perfect conditions with many others. And it’s not the worst place to relax after a day in the water either.

Isla Sal, Cape Verde

This is the perfect place for the more advanced rider. Cape Verde is exposed to Atlantic winds which means things can get pretty spectacular. Great if you’re up for the challenge but just as good if you want to watch the experts show you how it’s done.

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Skydiving, parachuting, freefall: what’s the difference?

Mark Pawlak    skydiveworldwide     freefall, parachuting, skydiving

Yep, there’s a little confusion here, so let’s set about clearing it up.

Pilots practice with a 'chute'

Skydiving is parachuting. There you go! Freefall is a type of parachuting (you are in free fall after you jump and before you open your parachute) , as is ‘static line’. Another way to think about it is: skydiving is the sport, freefall is the fall!

A brief look at the history of parachuting also helps sort things out.

Leonard da Vinci sketched the first chute, although parachutes were seen in China way back in the 12th century – mainly as gimmicks to help with stunts and entertainment.

It’s the French who can accurately claim to have pioneered the first parachute. Jean Pierre Blanchard trialled it on his dog before giving it a go himself!

Pilots in the First World War soon found the parachute had a life-saving function, as they bailed out of their stricken craft.

The first ever freefall jump was by an American, Leslie Irvin, in 1919. From here, in the civilian world at least, there are now two clear roles for the parachute: safety and sport.

Static line parachuting

This is where you jump from a plane and the chute is pulled automatically as you exit. The pilot chute is joined to the inside of the plane, and is pulled when you exit the aircraft.

Your first jump is likely to be on a static line – if you’ve seen images of paratroopers leaving an aircraft en masse, they are jumping using a static line.

Freefall

Gets its name as you fall ‘free’ before you deploy your chute (you are also free from the aircraft as there is no static line). You pull your own chute, and after professional training and practice, can freefall for 20, 30, 40 seconds, often even longer.

And the longest freefall jump ever? That has to go to Joseph Kittinger who jumped from the edge of space!

Scuba diving or skydiving: can you take the pressure?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     diving, freefall, mountain climbing, mountaineering, parachuting, Scuba, Scuba Diving, trekking

Other than both featuring the word diving, these two sports seem largely unrelated. After all, throwing yourself out of an aircraft and swimming underwater couldn’t be more different.  However, scuba diving and skydiving share one significant challenge: pressure.

Yes, height above or below sea level affects the body – something any mountaineer or climber will tell you. When climbing to elevation the air thins, making it harder to breathe.

Trekking in Nepal, or sat in a plane climbing into the clouds, you may begin to notice altitude sickness when you pass 8,000 ft – as your elevation increases, the air pressure decreases, reducing the amount of available oxygen. Deep sea diving or scuba diving also stresses the human body: the deeper you go, the greater the pressure on your lungs.

Oxygen breathed from a scuba tank is at a higher pressure, and when you return from a very deep dive you need to spend a little time at set depths adjusting to the changes. That’s why returning from the deep, divers need to ‘decompress’ as their bodies move up into the ‘lighter’ water above them.

Briefly, the human body can be pushed to extremes, but when it comes to elevation above ground and depth below sea level, it really has its limits.

If you know about how the human body reacts to these challenges, drop us a comment – we’re always keen to hear from experts who can add their knowledge.

We’ve also got a new skydiving blog starting: 1,000… 2,000…3,000 Check Canopy!

Take in top-class onshore attractions while on a yacht charter in the BVI

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     boat charter, hire a yacht, Sailing, sailing in the British Virgin Islands, yacht, yacht charter, yacht charter Caribbean

For a chic holiday at sea, there is nothing quite like sailing a yacht charter through the British Virgin Islands, or BVI as they are often referred to. While you’ll be able to navigate the seas in total luxury, make sure you spend part of your holiday onshore so you can enjoy many of the territory’s top-class attractions and amenities.

And you will certainly find there is a wealth of things to catch your interest while in Tortola – the BVI’s largest and most populated island.

Stop by the BVI Folk Museum as here you’ll be able to learn more about the area’s history and see exhibits – including items dating back to the slavery era – that document its past.

For an even closer insight into local culture during your yacht charter BVI break, go on a tour of some of Tortola’s ruins. These include buildings such as Fort Burt and the Mount Healthy Windmill, structures that are hundreds of years old.

Should you be in the mood for a little shopping then Road Town – the BVI’s capital – is likely to be the place for you. The city’s Main Street contains a range of retail outlets, with handmade jewellery, textiles and jams among the many items that are sold.

But if you want to do nothing but relax and soak up the island’s laidback atmosphere then head to the coast. You’ll find there are lots of beautiful beaches for you to visit, including Apple Bay and Smuggler’s Cove.

However, Tortola is by no means the only part of the BVI where you’ll find fantastic onshore attractions and you should certainly think about spending some time at Peter Island.

One of the region’s largest isles, there are a wealth of things to see and do at the resort here.

Moko jumbie dancers and steel bands give regular performances – offering you an insight into Caribbean culture – while there are a range of high-end restaurants for you to dine at.

You’ll also be able to relax on pristine white sand beaches before going snorkelling and exploring the world underneath the waves.

While sailing on a yacht charter Caribbean you might want to consider mooring your vessel up at Marina Cay.

Although the island measures just eight acres, there will still be plenty of things to catch your interest. Indeed, dining at the Pusser’s restaurant gives you the chance to sample award-winning cuisine – both freshly-caught seafood and traditional Caribbean fare will be on the menu – before washing it down with a rum cocktail.

Marina Cay is also a great place to go for a walk and by trekking up to Sunset Bar – the island’s highest point – you’ll be afforded fantastic views of the land below.

Likewise, Virgin Gorda will offer you the opportunity to take in breathtaking natural scenery should you decide to step onshore.

This island contains an array of beautiful national parks, home to a range of exotic wildlife and indigenous plants, while the presence of several ruins provide you a glimpse into its Spanish roots.

One Virgin Gorda attraction that certainly draws many people is the Baths. These immense boulders scattered across the island’s beaches have created a number of saltwater pools and grottoes that are just perfect to explore for an afternoon.

You may also want to make a special effort to spend a little time on the island of Anegada. This is the most northerly isle in the BVI and upon setting foot on dry land make sure you keep your eyes peeled for some of the exotic wildlife to be found here.

Rock iguanas, ospreys and blue herons are just a selection of the creatures you’ll be able to spot on the island, while you can learn more about the region’s past by visiting the Anegada Museum.

Here, you’ll be able to look at items recovered from nearby shipwrecks and hear tales about sunken treasures.

Of course, if you just want to do spend some time sunbathing then you will have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the favourable weather and beautiful scenery. Nestle up under a palm tree at one of Anegada’s many beaches – which include Bones Bight and Flash of Beauty – and you’ll be able to take in stunning views of the calm sea as you relax.

By going on a bareboat charter BVI holiday, you can take in an array of attractions on land while also enjoying the amenities of your luxurious boat as you sail.

Corporate Sailing Days in the Solent

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     corporate sailing days, Sailing, sailing break, sailing event, sailing for businesses, sailing in the Solent

If you want to thank a client by doing something a little bit different, why not consider embarking on the packed itinerary associated with corporate sailing days in the Solent?

Clients are usually wined and dined in restaurants or taken out for drinks, and while this will no doubt be appreciated, a business that suggests doing something that little bit different could find it has the competitive edge over its rivals.

Treating long-serving clients – or even getting to know new ones – via sailing events can boost communication between parties as nobody has time to stay shy or on the sidelines when a yacht needs to be sailed!

This is why gathering employees onboard a yacht can prove to be a fun and engaging teambuilding day. There are a plethora of skills that bosses want their staff members to have, such as crisis management, effective communication, problem solving and encouraging teamwork.

All these abilities are looked upon favourably in the workplace and are also required when sailing a yacht. Just some of the many tasks that need to be carried out when in the middle of the ocean include watching out for the boom – which is prone to swinging across the deck and needs to be closely monitored – as well as hoisting the sail up or down and running to the correct side of the vessel when it starts to tip in the wind.

Standing to one side and letting others do the work is not an option, which is why corporate sailing can prove to be the ideal activity to bring individuals together who may usually not get the chance to speak to one another.

Indeed, some may even only ever need to communicate via the telephone or email and putting a face to a name can improve relations when back in the office and make individuals feel more engaged.

The itinerary for corporate sailing days, is a busy but enjoyable one, with the day likely to start with everyone being introduced to the yacht’s skippers. After a safety talk and an explanation of the day ahead, employees can then step onboard and get to grips with the basic skills of sailing.

After some time spent on the waves of the sea, you are then likely to want to take a rest and enjoy some lunch and lots of water. It is important to stay hydrated when open to the elements, but you may find that people are enjoying the day so much they want to get back to the task at hand as soon as possible!

Corporate sailing days – whether for entertaining staff members or clients – can be tailored to the specific needs of a company. So if you want to challenge your workers and instil some healthy competition in them, a yacht race could be just the ticket to rounding off their time onboard.

Alternatively, you may want individuals to enjoy a more relaxing cruise – but there will still be plenty of things that need to be done to ensure the vessel arrives safely back to the harbour.

Once everyone has their feet back on dry land, this could give you the opportunity to discuss with colleagues how they felt the day went and if they learnt anything that could be translated to their everyday working lives.

In fact, they may have had so much fun that they talk about it in the office for weeks to come! This could also prove great for communication and engagement and hopefully reflect in their work for the future.

Some people may even be inspired to learn to sail. Colleagues can join forces and attend classes at a sailing school together. Developing a new skill with others can be more fun than attending lessons alone.

If enough workers show an interest in developing their sailing abilities, bosses may decide to organise sailing lessons. And of course, sailing events need not be simply saved for teambuilding days.

Companies will find that rewarding the hard work of their staff with a day away from the office will be appreciated and employees are likely to look forward to this more than the usual free round in the pub on a Friday night.

Waterproof camcorders: tough enough or digital bluff?

Natalie Ashett    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     camcorder, cameras, climbing, Scuba Diving, white water rafting, whitewater rafting

Guest blogger Natalie jumped at the chance to test the latest generation of waterproof camcorders designed to take the rough and tumble of adventure sports…

Adventure sports and technology don’t always go hand in hand. Being able to climb to 3000 ft is no mean feat, but it’s not always the best environment to start fumbling around with gizmos and gadgets. Being able to record stunning vids of the Great Barrier Reef while snorkelling, or pictures of your friends’ faces while you’re white-water rafting is usually a good enough reason to get clicking – but what do the clips look like? And how do these ‘ruggedized’ movie makers perform under pressure?

The problem with mixing expensive equipment with adventure sports is that there’s always a chance that your precious piece of kit could end up in gadget heaven. Drum roll the clever people at Panasonic who’s latest range of hard-wearing, waterproof, touch screen cameras and upright HD camcorders are designed to be used ‘in-action’.

As a technophobe with a slightly pathological fear of heights, I was delighted to be invited along to Go-Ape Adventure Park to try out their new range of cameras 15 metres (45 ft) in the air. Throw in the fact that we were blessed with typical British summer weather – monsoon storms and a little bit of thunder – and it was my idea of a perfect day.

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