Walking on water. No one has quite figured this one out yet. But we’ve come a long way in finding solutions that get you just about there in the form of wildly addictive surface water sports.
With a little bit of equipment and practice, you can also ride the wave of these popular water sports this summer. You don’t need to know how to pull jaw-dropping feats to have fun. All you need to do is get started, so here’s a lineup of some action-packed options.
1. Harnessing the Forces of Nature
Windsurfing brings together the best of surfing and sailing. The sail attached to the board gives you the ability to harness the power of wind and move forward, making the sport a lot easier for first timers to pick up and attain a decent level of maneuvering. Flat water windsurfing is also easy to enjoy as long as there’s a bit of wind.
Because windsurfing is considered relatively less demanding when it comes to physical strength, it can be a comfortable first choice for those new to water sports.
If you’re looking to get a toehold in the sport in South Korea, the Han River, running through the capital Seoul, is a promising place to start. The riverside park is easily accessible from all areas of the city, and you can also sign up for classes in advance.
2. Centuries-old but Just as Popular
Surfing is known for having its origins in ancient Polynesian culture and has a cult-like following with an entire lifestyle built around it. Your first attempts to stand up on the board – even for a few seconds – may initially end in frustration, but the sport is an excellent avenue to building up core and upper body strength.
The most obvious place to go catch a wave is the beach. But waiting for that perfect wave can get pretty old, so it’s no surprise artificial waves have started to gain traction. Some have even pondered whether machine-generated waves will become the future of surfing.
If you want to try it out yourself, Caribbean Bay is an attractive destination to check out this summer. The sprawling water park offers one-day classes with professional surfers, so if you’re a beginner, now is the time to dive right in. Classes run from August 16 to 27.
3. The All-in-one Solution
If you’re the kind of person who loves trying out all kinds of thrill-packed activities but has trouble choosing just one, wakeboarding is your solution. The sport combines elements of snowboarding, waterskiing, and surfing all into one.
Wakeboards are smaller, mostly rectangular, thin boards with bindings and fins attached. If you have access to a boat on a river or lake, that’s a great way to get acquainted with the dynamic sport, but there are also cable parks with overhead tows, which can pull multiple riders simultaneously.
4. Mid-air Acrobatics
If the spins and flips from wakeboarding aren’t enough, you might want to strap on a Flyboard, which thrusts riders up in the air using water jet boots. Flyboarders can reach heights of up to 15 meters and spin, dip, and perform multiple acrobatic feats mid-air.
Flyboarding is one of the newest extreme sports, meaning finding good rentals could be a challenge. If that’s the case, another great option is to get close to professional performances that pack a punch. You can explore the wonders of hydroboarding at special shows put on by world champions through August 15, also at Caribbean Bay. If you’re there after sunset, you’ll even get to witness a spectacular LED Flyboard performance brought to life with stunning streaks of lights. The show starts at 7:50 p.m. (KST) sharp.
