Did you know that watersports are awesome!?

You’d be surprised to learn for some of the Adventure Connections team, it was their first time on top of the water! A mix of apprehensive and excited faces arrived at the lagoon. Our gaze was instantly cast towards the lone, brave wakeboarder skimming across the water and sliding on top of a rather tall ramp. He made it look easy but we weren’t convinced. Either way, we were jumping in head first (not literally, the lagoon is pretty shallow..) and giving it our best shot!

Greeted with a warm and friendly welcome, the team separated and headed to the changing rooms to wetsuit up! Looking fit for purpose (we thought we looked like wallies) we strode back downstairs in to the sunshine to pick up our boards and helmets. The wakeboards were surprisingly heavy and left us questioning how on earth we’d float on the water?

After some tension of deciding who would dare to go first, I decided to take one for the team. The only reassurance I had that I may be alright was that in my younger days I was an avid skater with a good sense of balance. Nervously strapping the board to my feet and slowly lowering myself in to the mildly cold water, I confirmed with the instructor I was definitely going to float. Sure enough, I did. Instructed to lie on my back, knees tucked in and arms out straight holding the line to carry me across the water, I was ready and set. No turning back now! Slowly the instructor accelerated the line. I instantly had a wash of panic come over me – what on earth was I doing!? Then I remembered the one piece of crucial advice the only member of our team to wakeboard before gave me… “Stand up slowly. Even when you think you’re ready to stand up, still take it slowly. Otherwise, you’ll faceplant.” Heeding his advice (and not wanting to faceplant), I took my time rising to my feet as the line carried me forwards. Ten seconds later, I was wakeboarding! Skimming across water like absolute magic. What an exhilarating feeling. I could hear my team and the instructor cheering me behind. Overwhelmed I hadn’t fallen, I completely forgot the cable wasn’t endless. Acceleration slowed and came to a stop and inevitably sank in to the shallow pool… only to rise out a champion seconds later! I have to emphasise this was my first time in sea water for about ten years, and the salty taste I received from forgetting to close my mouth was not something I missed! Quickly prepping my starting position again, it didn’t take long before I shot off back in the other direction.

After a few more lengths it was time for Sam (wakeboarding noobie #2) to head out on the water. Eager and anxious, Sam got off to a flying start too! It was impossible for her not to return to dry land with a contagious smile after such a smooth run. Finally it was the turn of Mr “I’ve had wakeboarding lessons before so I’m virtually a pro”. Sure enough he was a bit of a show off. Josh didn’t even enter the water to start his go. The system 2.0 raced forwards and he jumped straight from the float on to the water without a fault. Just to add to his Watersports ego some more, he tackled one of the ramps on his first ten minute run… and failed not very graciously. Good effort Josh. (He later went on to nail it!)

Over the next hour and a half, we ramped up the speed of the line, learnt how to turn around at the end of the course in a fluid motion, and as I like to call it “ollie” (jump in the air). We all had our fair share of salty seawater intakes and hilarious faceplants, but we loved every moment of our wakeboarding experience. Practise makes perfect!

After a quick tea break we headed back to the action, but this time we were learning how to paddleboard. I for one thought this would be a total doddle and more of a cool down exercise. I couldn’t be more wrong. How hard is it to stand up on a giant board floating on water I hear you ask? Harder than you might think my friends, especially when the wind picks up. The next hour consisted of learning how to steer the paddleboard, having the confidence to paddle around the lagoon standing (and not just awkwardly on your knees), and games that we are convinced are designed purely to make you capsize. Balance games, no contact gladiators (we say no contact but there may have been a little bit in our case…), doubles relay racing and total wipeout!

Exhausted and a little bruised, our watersports afternoon came to an end. Would we go back and do it again? YES. It’s some of the most fun we’ve had as a team and we can whole heatedly say it’s brought us a little closer together.

The watersports centre offers sessions in wakeboarding, paddle boarding, laser dinghy sailing, kayaking, kite surfing and lots more activities. The sessions are ideal for team building afternoons, and hen and stag party activities! If you’re thinking of getting on the water, make sure you read Josh’s Wakeboarding for Dummies blog here!

Have you had a mega awesome watersports experience? We’d love to hear about yours in the comments!

The post We celebrated the start of summer by tackling some watersports! appeared first on Adventure Connections.