Most people, when interested in sports, turn to things like rugby, cricket, or football. Only people who live near large bodies of water tend to turn to water sports. However, you don’t need to live near a body of water in order to take up water sports. Various studies show that water sports are extremely good for physical fitness.
If you’re interested in taking up a sport that’ll keep you fit, healthy, and happy, then consider choosing a water sport. There are lots of different ones for you to consider. This post will tell you about some of them (and why they’re so great):
Paddleboarding
Paddleboarding is one of the world’s most popular water sports, and for good reason. All boarding water sports are affordable and easy to get started, with the exception of surfboarding, because surfboarding is quite complicated. You won’t need to spend a fortune getting paddleboarding equipment. All you’ll really need is a board and a paddle, which you can pick up for next to nothing online. The only complicated aspect of paddleboarding is mastering standing up on a board (however you can do sit-down paddleboarding, too). Paddleboarding will help you to build muscle, confidence, and stamina.
Kayaking
Kayaking is another water sport that’s immensely popular. The thing that makes kayaking so popular is the fact that it is a very cheap sport to get started with. All you need to buy is your kayak and paddles. If you are on a budget, then opt for an inflatable kayak. Inflatable kayaks are a lot cheaper, not to mention convenient. It’s much easier carrying an inflatable kayak around with you than it is a fixed one, since they are smaller, more compact, and can be deflated.
Surfboarding
Surfboarding is one of the most technical and hard-to-learn sports featured on this list. With that said, it’s also one of the most fun. Surfboarding is exhilarating. It can be very difficult learning to stand up and keep one’s balance on a surfboard, but once learned, it’s a sport you’re guaranteed to enjoy for the rest of your life. If you are interested in taking up surfboarding, then it’s probably a good idea to find a club or group in your area, so you can take classes and learn from pros.
Windsurfing
Windsurfing is a variant of surfboarding, though it’s usually performed on lakes, rather than the open ocean. The reason windsurfing is performed on lakes is that it does not rely on waves, it relies on the wind. Lakes can get very windy, especially large ones. Like surfboarding though, in order to learn how to go windsurfing, you will probably want to take classes. It’s very unlikely that, without any experience, you’ll be able to pick up a bunch of windsurfing equipment and go out alone. Windsurfing is a lot of fun so give it some consideration, especially if there are windsurfing venues in your area.
Canoeing
Canoeing is a relaxing sport. It’s not something people tend to do for exercise. It’s usually done to relax or to fish. Fishing is a sport that will be mentioned in more detail later on. If you do plan on going canoeing, then it’s a good idea to invest in your own hardwood canoe. The better quality your canoe is, the longer it’ll last. You should only really take up canoeing if you have a lake or river near you since canoes can be very heavy and hard to transport. If you have a lake or river near you, you can chain it to a tree or store it in a cabin.
Rowing
Rowing is a sport that’s a lot like canoeing, except it’s done primarily for exercise. The thing with rowing is that it takes a lot of upper body strength in order to do it effectively. If you are planning on going rowing, then it’s essential that you know how to swim. It’s extremely common for rowing boats to capsize. If you do not know how to swim and your boat capsizes, then you could end up drowning. You can practice rowing on a public lake.
Swimming
Swimming is an essential sport to learn if you want to take up any water sport. As mentioned in the previous section, if you end up in deep water and cannot swim you could drown. While it’s unlikely you will if you are on a public lake, surrounded by lots of people, if you are somewhere more secluded, there will be nobody around who will be able to help you. You can take adult swimming classes in most public swimming pools. An adult class will also give you an opportunity to make friends. Most adult classes are very affordable.
Diving
Diving is an exercise that’s only possible when you know how to swim. You can do it more or less anywhere, as long as the water’s deep enough and you have a high enough point to jump from. If you are just learning to dive, then it’s a good idea to start off practising diving in public swimming pools. In public swimming pools, you’ll have access to diving boards and won’t have to worry about there being any rocks or anything underneath the surface of the water that you could hurt yourself on. You do not usually need to pay extra to use public diving boards.
Fishing
Fishing is not considered a water sport by many people. However, it is a sport, there’s no denying that, and it’s something that you need open water for. Therefore, it is a water sport. Fishing is a very relaxing sport. It’s not something you need to be in good shape for. You don’t need to be able to swim either, although it helps. If you’re going fishing, then you will need to invest in high-quality equipment. Some fishing equipment can be very expensive, so try to buy as much of it as you can on sale or second-hand.
Water sports can be good ways to get in shape, make friends, and have fun. The water sports listed here on this page are the world’s most popular. There are many more beyond those listed here, so consider conducting some extra research if this post’s suggestions don’t stand out to you.