Wetsuits For Beginners
First let me explain what exactly a wetsuit is. A wetsuit is a rubbery piece of clothing used for protection against cold in different water sports. If you swim, surf, kitesurf, scuba dive, windsurf etc in cold weather and cold water then you need a wetsuit to keep you warm. A wetsuit does that by catching a thin layer of water between your body and the suit. This water is then warmed by your body heat and you feel warm.
An explanation on how wetsuit works
When a stratum of water is forced to remain trapped by the skin and the wetsuit, this water gets warmed by the users body temperature. The water acts as an insulating later that offers a considerable degree of protection from hypothermia.
Wetsuits are less effective in deep water; this is one of the reasons that dives use thicker wetsuits.
What materials are used in wetsuits?
Wetsuits are made out of neoprene. Neoprene is a rubbery material that contains lots of air bubbles and has great insulating capabilities. Neoprene comes in large neoprene sheets which are then cut into smaller panels and sewn together to form a wetsuit.
Wetsuits come in different thicknesses. The degree of warmth offered by a particular wetsuit depends on the thickness of the neoprene used in its construction. Neoprene thickness varies between 2 mm and 6 mm. Wetsuits can be made of other materials, too, and additional fabrics such as wool and titanium are added for even greater warmth and body heat retention.
Wetsuits are sewn together or sealed in several ways ” the garment could be held together by blind stitching, taping, gluing, flatlocking or heat sealing processes, to name just a few methods.
As far as the structure of a wetsuit goes, wetsuits usually come with zippers. These are often located at the back of the suit, and sometimes on the chest or shoulders of the garment. There are some wetsuits that have come into the market recently ” these are so stretchable that the user can put it on using only the neck opening.
In some wetsuits, the sleeves and leg portions can be removed from the main body, so the user can customize the suit to his or her requirements. Wetsuits also usually have a nylon lining, or a backing made of stretchable materials such as spandex and lycra, which simplifies putting on and removing the suit.
Wetsuit Types
There is a wide range of wetsuits available ” shorty, spring suit, full wetsuit, steamer, winter wetsuit etc… The most important thing to bear in mind is that the better a wetsuit fits, the more effective it will be in protecting the wearer from heat loss in situations where the body is constantly losing heat to the water or cold air surrounding it.
Neck, wrists and ankles should also be tight so water can not come in. Just make sure that the wetsuit doesnt obstruct your breathing and that you can move comfortably. If you get the right wetsuit you will be amazed in how low temperatures you can enjoy your water sport.
California Hiking – you will want to go every weekend!
Hiking in California during certain times of the year is so fabulous that you will want to go all the time. You may want to take a weekend or maybe a whole week to see the different places to go. There is hiking available around rivers, glaciers, deserts, the coastline and in the grasslands. Take your pick.
Mount Tallac offers you a 9.4 mile round trip hike at an elevation reaching 9.735 ft. The gain on this hike is 3.255 ft so make sure you have lots of water, good shoes and are in good condition for this hike. As probably on of the best trails in the Lake Tahoe region you will enjoy the stunning views from the summit. Even with the best camera you probably won’t be able to capture the beauty that your eyes will see and memories will retain. With both wooded areas and mountainous areas the hike gives you the diversity you are probably looking for. You will pass two lakes on this hike. The switchbacks are a steep climb taking you up to the summit which will be very hot, so be ready.
The hike to Upper Yosemite Falls is 7.2 miles round trip. The elevation at the summit is 6,526 ft and an elevation gain of 2,700 ft. You will want to do this hike from May to jUly when the waterfall is at its full force and most beautiful. You will hike through switchbacks in the forested area before coming to the flat area with your first view of the falls. Enjoy the mist from the falls as you get closer to it. You will face another set of switchbacks before reaching the summit. These are the most difficult and very steep so if you aren’t in good physical condition you will want to pass on this part.
Let’s switch areas and go to Mosaic Canyon and look at the hike that is available there. The trail is just 2.5 miles round trip. It is best to take this one from December to March to avoid the extreme heat of the desert. Be sure to bring plenty of water, you’ll need it. While hiking on the mountains is fabulous so is canyon hiking. The canyon formations are beautiful. You may even see some desert life on your hike. This is the hottest place in the US so be sure to pack in lots of water..regardless of the time of year.
Mt. Shasta is the most challenging hike in the whole state of California. The trial is 12 miles round trip of body assaulting climbs. The elevation at the summit is 14,179 ft with a gain of 7,259 during your climb. You will need to plan this hike from between May to mid July due to the weather in the spring that can come viciously crashing in on you without much warning and in the summer the lava rocks and rolling boulders offer a hazard since they can come crashing down the mountain at any time being washed loose by the melting snow. Due to the chance of altitude sickness do not do this hike alone, take a partner for safety and practical reasons. If you aren’t in superior shape, pass on this trail. Read all you can about it before beginning so you are prepared for the challenges you will face.
For the hike at Mt. Shasta you will want to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and ice axe, shelter (remember, you are going way up and the weather may change in a minute where you need protection.) Bring your crampons, helmet, summit pass, winter boots, and extra layers of clothing and plenty of water. Don’t plan on “ice melt” for water; bring it with you since most of the snow around Helen’s Lake is contaminated by urine…yes, human and animal. Sweet.
The 16 mile round trip hike of Half Dome has an elevation gain of 4,800 ft. It reaches the summit of 8,842 ft. This hike is best between late May and early October. It is a difficult hike which brings people from all around the world to Yosemite National Park. If you aren’t in excellent physical shape with lots of hiking and climbing experience behind you don’t attempt this climb. The switchbacks are rocky and many ankles are injured here so be super careful. When you reach Nevada Falls you are at the halfway point of the climb. Here you should take the time to assess your strengths and skills to see if you are prepared to continue on. The climb gets tougher so be ready. Not only is the climb tough but the altitude change will require some adjustment of your body so give it a little while. Rest, and then go on. The continuation is very steep, excruciatingly long to reach the back of Half Dome rock. Your body is continually assaulted on the switchbacks during this phase. The Half Dome cables will fill you with shock and fear, they should! Now, assess your ability to continue on and if you are sure you are willing, the success of the climb will give you stunning views of Yosemite Valley below. This hike is only for those that are in good, if not superior, physical condition. If you aren’t then don’t do this one. There are many other trails that will better fit your ability.
Dive Spots in Hurghada
The Red Sea at Hurghada, Egypt plays host to some of the worlds best scuba diving spots. From what used to be a fishing village, this coastal town is now an international resort and tourist destination. Renowned for its beautiful and flamboyant underwater gardens and coral reefs, Hurghada possesses some of the worlds greatest dive spots.
Rare and exotic marine life along with coral thrives in the warm and crystal clear Red Sea. The red, orange, yellow and even pink corals come alive making it one of the most beautiful and serene places that’s perfect for scuba diving.
Hurghada
Hurghada has become the gateway to the Red Sea and is the central resort town on the beaches surrounding it. Along with growing resort areas to the north and south, Hurghada has turned out to be the centre of development of this thriving tourist destination. A suitable time to visit this place is during June to September for the best diving.
Summer all year round plus to sandy beaches to back it up, there is no better place to go. Hurghada is also a great spot for all types of water sports. It has over 100 resorts located right on the Red Sea. Other water sports include windsurfing, snorkeling, and water skiing. You can also take a catamaran out for the day.
Great Diving Spots in Hurghada
The Hilton Hurghada Long Beach Resort which is right on the Red Sea offers scuba diving expeditions. There are also great dive spots right off the beach at the Hilton Long Beach Resort.
Around the Giftun Islands by boat is another option that offers diving spots close to Hurghada. Day and Night diving is offered in some places here.
Shaab Abu Nuhas Reef has shallow, warm and clear water and makes it easy to see the wrecks, such as the Thistlegorm, underwater.
Scuba expeditions to some great spots are offered at the Marriot Long Beach, Sofitel and Oberoi.
Coral reefs can be found along the entire shoreline to the North and South of Hurghada.
Thistlegorm Wreck Diving, Hurghada, Egypt
Jacques Cousteau discovered this wreck in the early 1950s with the aid of local fishermen. The SS Thistlegorm sailed and sank in 1941, when the Suez Canal was closed because of another ship collision. While waiting for two weeks to go through the Canal, it became a target for Germans on the way back to Crete and sank immediately.
It was rediscovered in the 1990s and is now a well known dive spot near Hurghada. The massive explosion blew away the middle portion of the ship which has made it open and accessible for scuba divers. It is considered as one of the best diving spots in the world.
Hurghada, Egypt, on the Red Sea offers some of the greatest scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities in the world.
California Surfing
I guarantee that for many of us the Beach Boys music will make us feel the warm glow of the California sunshine and hear the sound of the waves. The excitement of joy of those songs launched the phenomena of surfing to the world and growing up in places like San Francisco it was probably always part of your life as it was mine. The consistent glorious Californian weather, the ideal beaches and the surfer’s favorite Pacific waves mean that for many California surfing became their whole life.
If you are California coast born and bred it is your birthright to cut classes and head for the surf with some food some water and your old board. And if the conditions are really bad you’ve still got the drama of the ocean and the beaches that is a world away from the all those states surrounded by other states, untouched by the sea breezes.
Some people believe that it is easy to just locate a beach on the coast, throw on your suit and start paddling. Only very ignorant people attempt such a thing. The best waves are known to be off the coast of Santa Cruz and parts of Southern California, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a secluded beach that only you have thought of for surfing. Normally if no one is in the vicinity, the waves are either bad or you have to contend with sharks. Though there will be no signs, it is a safe bet to look elsewhere along the coast if you have never gone California surfing.
But then you have to contend with the human variety of shark. There is a territorial behavior pattern to be observed if you want to catch a wave or two rather than a cold or a bloody nose. The genus California surfer dude is an amphibious predator at the top of the local food chain. They have been known to attack pack outsiders without provocation. Give them plenty of space and never try to steal a march on their wave because they will ride over your head and leave you to their professional colleagues, the sharks.
For many devotees California surfing is their life, their love, their religion. They give up what we might call a ‘normal’ way of life to pursue their nirvana. You only have to go to a California surfing competition to see the enormous skill level and commitment that many of these surfers exhibit to understand that you are looking at some of the best surfers on the globe. California surfing is unique and if you’ve heard a California surfer talking his sport you will be in no doubt that for many it takes them to places that most of us can only dream of.
Discover The Basics To Surfing, Class 1 – The Right Surfboard
You must cover the basics when starting out, the first few steps you will need to cover are…
1: Start with the right surfboard
2: 2nd learn to paddle
3: 3rd learn how to duck dive or roll
4: Next learning how to catch a wave
5: And finally how to pop up, or stand up
I would like to cover these steps in a few different articles, so in this article I will start at the beginning, how to choose the perfect surfboard for a beginner. Now unless you got money and time to burn, don’t go out and buy the best looking board in the shop, start out with a low quality board you can ding up.
Once you have mastered the basics, then you can invest in a brand new board. But first you’re going to need something big… the bigger it is, the better it will float, and the easier it will be to paddle. Also the larger you are the more flotation you will need.
I suggest starting out on a big board first, you will be able to get your balance faster, and then move to a smaller board sooner. Look for something above 6ft 8inches long, 7ft to 8ft is a good starting size. If you intend to ride long boards then you can go much longer look for a Malibu up to around 12 ft.
So you got your eyes on a big old board around 7 to 8ft, what’s it look like… who cares? If it can hold you up that’s all that matters, dings will not affect you because you wont be doing anything to tricky or tackling large waves. However while the board can look crappy, you don’t want the fiberglass peeling away from the foam, if water can reach the foam, it will soak into it and weigh you down. Then you will never get the speed to catch a wave.
The biggest factor in choosing the right board is size, shape and number of fins do not matter at all. These things affect people who will be turning the board more, and you just want to stand up and get your balance, so take no notice of them. Just make sure your surfboard is at least 2 to 3 inches in thickness, and anywhere from 20 inches in width.
Next make sure you get a good leg rope. You have to have a leg rope, it will save your life. Stay away from big surf until you get used to your board, and have some experience. The leg rope can fling the board back at you in big swells, but you really should not be out there when starting out anyway.
Don’t even try risking it with no leg rope, or an old one that could snap. You might try to grab your board whenever you fall off, but it will get away from you. Then you have to try and swim in with the waves crashing on you, it takes a lot more energy swimming in the ocean then in a pool.
The many elements of the ocean could have you swimming as hard as you can, while you feel like your going nowhere. You might even be able to see your board drifting towards you, but just before you can reach it a wave will pick it up and carry it away, yet you will have to much drag for the wave to pick you up. Even if you are a strong enough swimmer, it will take a lot of time and energy just to get your board every time.
When choosing a leg rope, get something reliable and strong. Unlike your first board you want quality, this is your life saver. You can keep this, and transfer it to your new board once you get it, so don’t worry about it being wasted on an old board. Also don’t get something to long, the longer the rope the more tension it can build up to spring the board back at you with force. Stay under 8ft.
Now you should have a surfboard picked out, big, old, and cheap. So it’s time to practice, read the next few articles in the series, then head out with your mates.