The Diverse Water Sports: Which Is Your Ideal Choice?
Water sports are one of the most adventurous, action-packed and fun-filled activities. Also, they are known to boost your health while enhancing your mental functioning. While some people prefer the cool, deep blue waters, others prefer the raging and roiling currents. The diversity of options available in water sports makes it a great sporting medium.
In general, water sports are categorized into three categories. Here is a look at them:
1. Competitive Water Sports
These sports can be team or individual-based. Some of the common competitive water sports include Olympics and World Championships.
Team-Based Water Sports
Here, there will be a group of people, who unite and synchronize their energy, balance, and movements to boost their effort and win the competition. They include the following sports:
• Water Polo
This is an energetic sport that entails a complete body workout. The players are expected to swim and defend the ball while attempting to score against their opponents. It is like handball played in water.
• Rafting
This is another action-packed water sport, where the players between 4 and 12 must maneuver an inflatable raft over vigorous waters. Most people prefer rafting during the rains, which is when the river current is extra vigorous. However, it is a slightly dangerous sports that needs some skills and experience.
• Synchronized Diving
With this water sports, the participants are expected to step off a board and jump into the waters all at once. The participants must also perform some acrobatics while falling into the water.
• Synchronized Swimming
Just like synchronized diving, this sport entails a blend of gymnastics, swimming, and dance. Basically, the participants in one team will perform synchronized moves in the water as music is played in the background. Here, aerobic endurance, perfect timing, good breath control underwater, and strength are the most needed aspects. World Championships and Olympics do not allow male swimmers to participate in the sport.
• Kayaking
In this water sport, a small boat {kayak}, will be used to move across lakes, seas, or whitewater rivers. It can be done for competition, adventure, expedition, as well as touring. The sport can be dangerous; so it needs some experience.
• Canoeing
This is performed in a small pointed boat on both ends {canoe}. It can be done by an individual or a team.
Other team-based water sports include powerboating {where the athletes race in powerboats}, yachting {the participants sail in a yacht to cover the needed distance on water}, rowing, and sailing.
2. Individual Water Sports
Individual water sports include an individual performer that attempts to show their best abilities on or in the waters. You must be physically strong, along with determination, passion for success, positive attitude, as well as perseverance. They include the following;
• Swimming
This is supposedly the most popular water sports, and it is all about showing your water prowess and attempt to reach the finish line before other athletes. It is very much included in World Championships and Olympics.
• Surfing
This sport entails riding a surfboard in front of a wave as it pushes you towards the shore. It needs expertise and experience. Generally, balancing is the most important aspect to apply.
• Windsurfing
Here, you will be sailing on the waters as the wind pushes you to the direction you control your surfboard.
• Jet skiing
With jet skiing, you will be racing over water on a watercraft machine. To earn more points in a competition, jumping and flipping are the stunts you should apply.
Other individual water sports include wakeboarding {surfing while being towed by a high-speed boat}, water skiing, Triathlon {combining swimming, cycling, and running in one competition}, kitesurfing {surfing with a wakeboard or surfboard that’s pulled by a kite}, skim boarding {surfing from the shores towards the deep waters} body boarding {surfing a bodyboard as the waves push you towards the shore}, cliff diving, as well as fishing.
3. Recreational Water Sports
These are typically sports activities that are performed on or in the water solely for recreational purposes. They are fun-filled and most common for tourist attractions. They include the following;
• Snorkeling
This involves swimming on or through the water with a diving mask, fins, as well as a hollow tube {snorkel}. The snorkel is designed to help you breathe easily underwater.
• Water aerobics
Here, the athletes will perform aerobics in shallow waters, and it can also be performed by seniors. It helps to reduce the chances of muscle or joint injury.
• Parasailing
This is a form of water sports that involve a parachute that is designed to be towed behind a boat. While you cruise the boat, you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the waters.
Other recreational water sports include spearfishing, barefoot skiing, freediving {diving in the water without the need of equipment}, underwater photography, and scuba diving {diving with a regulator, mouthpiece, air hose, air tank, back plate, and a harness}.
Athletes should keep in mind that water sports can be dangerous, even if they are relaxing and fun-filled. For that, proper training and experience are paramount.