What is a power kite?

A power kite such as the HQ Kites Symphony is a soft canopy kite that provides enough pull and traction to lift you off your feet. Power kites are used in a range of extreme sports for pulling you along. These include:

• Kite Surfing is an extreme sport where you use a power kite to pull you across water whilst standing on a specialist power kiting surf board.
• Kite boarding is where you use a power kite to pull you along whilst you are mountain boarding.
• Snow kiting is an extreme sport where you use a power kite to pull you along on your snowboard.
• Kite buggying is a sport where you sit in a buggy and use a power kite to pull you along a beach.
• Power Kites for Ships – Power kites are so powerful that you can tow ships with a power kite.

Choosing the Best Power Kite for You

There are several key players supplying power kites, with the best brands including Flexifoil, HQ, Ozone and Peter Lynn. The key characteristics of power kites are whether they have two or four line (quad line) control, and how big they are.

Two lines or four lines?

The main two lines on a power kite are used for steering it. If you pull the left line the power kite goes left. If you pull the right line the power kite goes right. On four line power kites, there are two additional lines that are attached to the trailing edge of the kite. These are the brake lines. The brake lines on a power kite are used for reducing the amount of pull the power kite is giving, and also for bringing the power kite down.

How to fly a 4 Line Power Kite

On four line power kites, you control the power kite using two bars, one for the left, one for the right. The top lines are for power, the lower lines are the brake lines. Some power kites also have bungee cords that attach to your wrists to act as a safety device. When you let go of the control bars, the bungees release the power lines and pull on the brake lines which brings the power kite down.

What Size Power Kite Should I Get?

The size of power kite you choose depends on your body weight, fitness and the strength of wind you will be flying your power kite in. Power kites come in a range of sizes. To help you understand what size will suit you, here is a comparison of the different Flexifoil power kite sizes.

Flexifoil Buzz and Big Buzz

The Big Buzz kite is the 2.05m version of the Buzz 1.45m. The only performance difference between the Big Buzz and the Buzz is an increase in power due to the increase in size yet the kite is still a super-easy and safe-to-fly kite.

Flexifoil Sting

Flexifoil’s entry-level 4-line power kite. Designed to provide a precision flying experience, perfect for learning to fly on 4-lines and bridging the gap into the world of traction kiting (skidding, buggying or landboarding). Available with 4-line handles or a 2-line bar.

The Flexifoil Sting power kite comes in several sizes.

• 1.2m The most junior of the Sting power kites, guaranteed to keep you smiling long after you have finished flying for the day.
• 1.7m Gives more power to your moves and introduces the traction element to your flying. Perfect for the younger first-time flyer wanting to get into power kiting.
• 2.4m This is where power kiting can become a reality. With a good wind, the 2.4m Sting power kite is powerful enough to move you on a mountain board or buggy. You will start to get a real sense of power in your kite flying.
• 3.3m Flexifoil’s new 3.3m size bridges the gap between recreational static flying and zooming along in a buggy or mountain board.  This kite is the perfect first time power kite.  If you’re keen on progressing with kite sports then this is the best way to learn.

Flexifoil Rage

A full on 4-line traction kite. The Rage power kite provides fantastic grunt in all sizes and is the ideal first power kite for older teens or adults who want a kite that they can learn with, yet with enough power to use with a buggy or mountain board. The Rage power kite can propel you up to great speeds with a buggy or mountain board. It is the power kite of choice for all kiters wishing to harness the elements.

Available in five sizes sizes from 1.8m to 6m, with either 4-line handles or 4-line bar.

Please seek advice on which size to go for, but for most adults the 2.5m or 3.5m is the right place to start.

Supplied ready to fly with all you need to get power kiting. A legend amongst kite flyers. Pure fun, pure adrenalin, pure power!

Flexifoil Blade IV

The Blade IV is not a power kite for the feint hearted – it is seriously powerful and designed for the most extreme power kiting activities. Flexifoil Blades have an exciting history – sailing the first kitesurfers across the English channel, pulling explorers across the South Pole, and powering our outrageous freestyle buggy team.

The BladeIV is an ideal second kite in your kite bag, best suited for people with some previous flying experience!

It is available in four sizes from 4m to 8.5m. If you already have a Rage then you can buy the BladeIV power kite only and fly it on your Rage lines. Due to the awesome power of the BladeIV, you may need to upgrade your lines in strong winds.

Recommended Best Power Kites

HQ Symphony

The HQ Symphony is an excellent power kite. It comes as a 1.3 metre size and 2.2 metre size power kite.  It allows you to do a lot of stunts and has quite a pull when in full flight. Easy to launch, and because it does not have any solid spars, it survives all crashes.

Children aged 8 and up should be able to fly this power kite with ease and supervision. Also lots of fun for adults who want to practice their stunt flying. Excellent value for money and makes a super gift to get someone outside.

Peter Lynn Hype

The Peter Lynn Hype is incredibly easy to set-up and suitable for all ages and skill levels. Flying the Hype does not require any prior kiting experience, as it’s docile flying behaviour ensures that there are no sudden power surges when flying the kite through the wind-window.

It is a 2-line fixed bridle kite with straps. It has an extremely robust construction, with great control and easy handling. This power kite is easy to launch and relaunch.

Flexifoil Buzz and Flexifoil Big Buzz

The Flexifoil Buzz power kite is suitable for ages 5 to 95. The 2-line Flexifoil Buzz is the perfect first power kite. Simple, robust and set up ready to fly straight out of the bag – all you have to do is unwind the lines.

Great in winds from 10mph up to 30mph, you will be able to practise precision flying with manageable power in all weathers making this the perfect fun family kite that you can fly time and time again.

The Flexifoil Big Buzz is the Buzz’s big brother. With a 2m wingspan, the BIG Buzz creates a strong but manageable pull across the sky. This gives you a more radical experience, with the same user friendliness as the Buzz.

The BIG Buzz is ideal for older kids, teenagers and anyone who wants to have fun with a traction kite that
will pull them in stronger winds. No trip to the beach or park is complete without the Buzz or BIG Buzz.

The Big Buzz comes with 18 metre colour-coded flying lines to ensure easy set-up and pack-down. When packed away, the carry bag is 40x20x10cm so can easily be stored in the boot of the car or suitcase.

You don’t have to buy the best power kite to have fun. Kids stunt kites provide plenty of entertainment for kids of all ages.

For more advanced power kite users, you should get some kitesurfing lessons.

The post The Best Power Kites For Beginners appeared first on Active Outdoors.

But what role models do today’s teenagers have? Pop stars, footballers, and er, well, I can’t think of anyone else? You don’t get to see any of them doing outdoor activities in the wilderness.

So, perhaps you should be getting your inspiration and encouragement from a source a bit closer to home – your dad. Does your dad encourage you to spend time outdoors? Do you enjoy spending time with your dad outdoors? What makes a great outdoor dad?

I have been pondering this question lately as I watch other dads ignoring their children in the park while they lounge around looking fed up at being dragged out with the family, or shouting at them to stop mucking about when they create their own disruptive fun. There does seem to be a big disconnect between dads and their kids. Is this because they spend all of their time at work and not enough time playing with their children? Do they actually know the best way to interact?

I love the great outdoors, and as a dad I try my best to introduce my children to as wide a variety of outdoor experiences as I can . This doesn’t mean taking them on 10 mile hikes over mountains because it will do them good. I encourage them to try new activities and experiences, but it has to be fun. I provide guidance and knowledge from my years of experience as an outdoor adventurer, but also give them the freedom to learn and discover things for themselves.

This led me to thinking, “What makes a great outdoor dad?” With a lot of input from my children, here is my list of 20 things on how to be a great outdoor dad.

1. Fun – Make every outdoor experience fun.
2. Get a dog – The family will love the furry creature to bits, but it is you that has to go out in all weathers to walk the beast. Not forgetting those times when everyone else is tucked up in bed while you are out there in the driving rain and cold waiting for the little darling to do a poo. Or to come back when called, not.
3. Camping genius – Be able to put up the family tent on your own in the pouring rain while everyone else watches from the safety of the car.
4. Be adventurous
5. Be safe – Test out trees and rope swings before they do. You do have to then let them have a go though.
6. Cook an amazing meal over an open fire or on the smallest of gas stoves.
7. Stand on the touch line of the football or netball match and shout encouragement without getting yourself banned.
8. Be able to demonstrate every outdoor sport and activity to your kids and try to be better at it than them. This won’t last as they will soon learn how to be better and faster than you. No fear those kids, especially teenagers or those low to the ground. As a dad you feel the weight of responsibility for making sure you don’t break anything as you have to look after them and get and drive them all home after the holiday.
9. Come up with amazing facts. Did you know that …?
10. Do stuff with them. Don’t send them off on their own while you stay in and watch tv.
11. Be able to run or walk great distances back to the car so that you can go and pick everyone else up on the so called circular route where they are too tired to walk the rest of the way.
12. Bicycle repair man. Have a tool for every occasion and be able to fix everything, usually where over enthusiasm has led to a favourite toy breaking. Fixing bent derailleurs and twisted handlebars from unexpected dismounts. Still, at least it was the toy and not them.
13. Lifeguard on the river rapids. Keeping up with the kids at water parks.
14. Find your way anywhere. Even in the dark. Usually for finding holiday places late in the night whey of arrive down a narrow country lane. Also useful for finding your way to and from the pub when staying in new places.
15. Give their inexperienced friends important advice when descending steep mountain bike trails, such as “keep it slow and use your brakes,” only to be ignored as they know better. Good job young bodies bounce better than older ones.
16. Don’t be afraid of the dark (or anything, especially wild animals).
17. Help to develop self confidence by showing them that they can do things – assault courses and mtb single track
18. Develop independence
19. Guide yet give freedom to learn and discover
20. Enjoy spending time together. You never know how much you will have.

Have I missed anything? What is your dad like? Is your dad great outdoors? Let me know what you think makes a great outdoor dad on the Active Outdoors facebook page.

The post The Joys of Being an Outdoor Dad on Fathers Day appeared first on Active Outdoors.

What is stand up paddle boarding?

Stand up paddle boarding involves standing up on a board that floats on water and using a paddle to move around. The paddle board looks similar to a surf board and is made from glass-reinforced plastic around a polyurethane or expanded polystyrene foam core.

Guy Fisher, Director of SUP Rentals Ltd in the UK explains, “Stand-up paddling has become one of the fastest growing sports all over the world. The water based activity can be enjoyed on any pool of water, be it a river, lake or sea at any time. In addition to the fun that can be had, it is a great sport that provides full body and low impact exercise which improves body balance and overall strength.

How was stand up paddle boarding invented?

Stand up paddle boarding was said to have originated on the African coast where people stood up in their dugout canoes to get a better view of what was around them, especially looking out for danger. This is the reason that lifeguards also use stand up paddle boards to look out for anyone who might need help and to be able to quickly get to them.

Another reason that stand up paddle boarding came into favour as a sport was in Hawaii where it was adopted as a different way to go surfing when there weren’t many big waves. SUP enables you to practice your surfing technique and balance in the sea when there isn’t much swell.

Due to the stability of stand up paddle boards, they have become increasingly popular as a recreational activity, allowing you to get unique views of nature from the water.

What do you wear for stand up paddle boarding?

You can wear whatever you want for stand up paddle boarding, however you might want to think about the temperature and getting wet if you fall in.

In warmer weather, T shirt and shorts will be just fine, but if the water is a bit cold for you, a wetsuit may be required. You can buy wetsuits or rent them from the place you rent your board from.

Where Can I Try Stand up Paddle Boarding in the UK?

Being an island, the UK is a great place to try stand up paddle boarding. There are an enormous range of places where you can go to hire one. But if you fancy trying stand up paddle boarding on a patch of water near you and there isn’t a board hire shop nearby, you can now get a paddle board delivered to your door!

SUP Rentals Ltd in the UK – Stand up Paddle Boards for Hire and Delivered to Your Door

SUP Rentals Ltd is an Oxfordshire based stand up paddle board hire business offering inflatable paddle boards to rent in the UK.

SUP boards are larger boards and the desire to travel with them has led to the development of an inflatable system where the board and pump can be carried in a back pack.

SUP Rentals Ltd offers the rent of stand up paddleboards from one day, up to two weeks with prices starting at £15 per day per paddle board.

Each stand up paddleboard – the Zray Tourer Elite 330 cm / 10’6” – is perfect for adults or families and comes with its own pump, ensuring quick and easy inflation.

The inflatable stand up paddle boards are lightweight and pack down in to a rucksack and the company will deliver to the customer via courier to their doorstep – or customers can collect from their base in Oxfordshire.

The inflatable stand up paddle boards can be rolled up and packed in a lightweight pack for easy transportation. The boards are safe and durable, with a more rigid construction technology than other inflatable boards currently on the market. SUP Rentals have a long history in renting equipment for water based activities and the quality of their equipment and safety of their customers is second to none. It is awesome to be able to rent a stand up paddle board that is delivered right to your door. In addition, when hiring the SUP boards, life jackets and dry bags can be reserved through the online booking process.

If you want to buy your own inflatable stand up paddle board in the UK, it will set you back around £500. You can buy them from stores such as Decathlon, Surf Boutique or Amazon.

The Great Social Stand Up Paddle Boarding Trip

Stand up paddle boarding is pretty straightforward and easy to learn. The boards are very stable and make for a great way to spend your recreational time at the weekends with friends. You can go online and rent a couple of inflatable boards, get them delivered to your door and then have some fun at the weekend.

If you are still wondering if it is easy to learn how to stand up paddle board, this Youtube video explains everything for you.

The post Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards to Get You On the Water More appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Make Them Comfortable

Bundle up the kids and make sure they are kept warm. Gloves, warm socks, coats and winter footwear should be worn to keep you and your kids comfortably warm. It is always good to have another pair of gloves dry and ready on the radiator to swap out with the wet snowy ones.  You can also use pocket hand warmers.  With that done, you are all ready to have some fun in the outdoors!

Outdoor activities for kids and families in winter is not only going to be fun, it is good exercise too. Here are some outdoor activities the kids and the entire family can enjoy and learn from in winter.

Wintery Fun with Sledding

Head to a major retailer and get the kids their sleds. Going down the hill in a sled is so much fun. Climbing to a hill to have a fun ride down can be tiring. It is good exercise though for the kids and yourself.  Find out which are the best sleds this year.

Let’s Play the Game of Tag

Kids always love to play the classic game of tag. This time it is going to be the flashlight tag. Instead of using hands to tag each other, players will use the beams of light. Bring the kids out in the garden at night and have them chase each other while flashing their flashlights. Be sure to be with your kids when they play this game. They might get carried away and wonder out in the streets trying to catch each other.

Or you could get them their own laser tag gear.

Build a Snowman

An old-time favourite! Even your grandparents use to roll snow into balls to build three parts of a snowman. Making a snowman is not only fun, it is a good form of exercise, too. Moving and rolling all that snow takes a lot of work and will flex all of the kids’ muscles and yours too.

Do some Walking and Hiking

Bundle up and dress in layers. Wear gloves, a well-fitting hat and comfortable winter shoes. Pack in some drinks and snacks. Since you will be hiking with kids, you should be travelling through well-marked trails. You also need to be familiar with the trail. You do not want to get lost in the cold and with kids in tow.

Get on a Fat Bike

Fat biking is similar to mountain biking except that they have wider tires for good snow traction. Fine a nice simple trail for the kids to try out. You can move on to some other trails as soon as the kids get the real feel of fat biking. The nice thing about fat biking is it does not hurt a bit when you fall in the snow.

Help Dad and Mom do Some Snow Shovelling

Snow removal is hard work. It is also a great exercise. The kids can each pick up a snow shovel appropriate for their size and have so much fun clearing the pathway of snow. They will also have a sense of fulfillment that they were able to help in an adult chore.

Hunt for Some Treasure

Treasure hunting will keep the kids on their toes. It will make them do a lot of thinking too. Hide in your garden or nearby park some Ziploc plastic bags with clues that will take the kids to next stop. Fill the “treasure box” with goodies such as glow in the dark sticks and stickers and a few candy bars. You may also include a photo of your next winter adventure to get them all excited!

Create Ice Art

Freeze ice in jello containers, ice cube trays and other containers. On a chilly day bring those ice blocks in the porch and have the kids make some ice sculptures. Dribbling water will make the blocks of ice stick together to form fun shapes.

When There’s a Mountain, There’s Skiing and Snowboarding

If there is a mountain nearby, bring the kids out there for some skiing and snowboarding. You can rent out some gear and have the kids try a few skiing and snowboarding lesson. You might need one yourself, too. The kids will surely enjoy this activity and may just be requesting to be back soon.

Play Powder-Puff Football

Invite some of your kids’ friends over and form two teams at least three in each team. Fill spray a bottle with a mixture of water and food coloring to make a large rectangle mark with a centerline on the ground.

The teams start off at the opposite ends of the field. A player kicks off the ball and once a teammate catches it, he will try to bring the ball across to their goal by passing it to his other teammates. The players from the opposite team will try to tag the player with the ball to give them ball possession. The game ends when the players start getting cold.

You could also try bubble football.

Go Ice Skating in a Lake

Ice skating is always fun for little and big kids. Indoor ice skating can be a lot of fun but ice skating in the lake, river, canal or pond can be even more fun! Rent or buy some skates for the kids and yourself. Look for a frozen body of water and glide around in fun.  Or try one of these city ice skating rinks.

Play with Bubbles

Find some of bubble mix in the kids’ playroom. Bring the kids outdoors and have them blow bubbles in the winter air. If it is cold enough they might just be blowing ice crystals. The bubbles will freeze before popping and will form into ice crystal. The kids will surely find these extremely amazing.

Get into a Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt will be a lot of fun for the kids. Hide some objects in the snow. Ask the kids to go out and fins frozen puddles, icicles, animal tracks and the objects you hid in the snow. Prepare some goodies for the lucky scavengers.

Roast those S’mores

Prepare a fire ring if you do not have access to one, check put camp sites or parks near your home. Chocolates, graham crackers, roasted marshmallow and the sound of a roaring fire will get all the kids excited. S’mores are perfect for cold winters days.

Create a Gargoyle

Bring along a small amount of clay in plastic bags as you and the kids head out for the woods or well anything similar to the woods. During the walk have the kids pick up leaves, twigs, cones and other natural features. Let them study the tress searching for natural features that could be part of a gargoyle’ face. With the use of the clay, let them stick on the trunk of the tree the items they collected along the way. They can also use the clay for the other features such as eyebrows, mouth, eyes etc…. Take a photo of the kids with their gargoyle!

There are a lot of things to do in the outdoors in winter. It can be such a waste of fun time to stay indoors.
Which activity on the list did you find to be the most exciting for you, the kids and the entire family? When my kids were little, most of our winter days were full doing most of those activities.

Whichever of the activities listed above you choose to do, it would be nice if you could do it as a family. If you want more ideas for fun outdoor activities for kids and families in winter, look at my winter activities section.  Or you could always try these winter activities for teens.

The post Outdoor Activities for Kids and Families In Winter appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Treasure hunts with a Twist

Treasure hunts are fun for all ages. Run around following clues to race to the end and win a prize. But you always want to do something different. So, you can make your treasure hunts memorable by using glow sticks and Pringles tubes.

How to set up a night time treasure hunt

You are going to need some Pringles tubes and some glow sticks. Bit obvious really. All you do is stick the glow stick inside the empty Pringles tube (yes, you will unfortunately have to eat all of the Pringles first). You then need to mount the tube on its side so that you can only see the glow stick when you are standing facing the open end of the tube.

You can then place the glowing tubes around your treasure trail. You then need to give each treasure hunter directions so that they will stand in a place where they can see only the next glow stick tube in the series. When they get to that tube, they can then get the next clue.

You can use your imagination to adapt the idea to suit the players. You can even cut holes in the side of the tube to make a Halloween lantern.

If you want more Halloween activities ideas, look at my Fright Nights post.

Where to get glow sticks

Amazon is your friend. In the UK, you can buy glow sticks from Amazon.co.uk or if you are in the US, buy glow sticks from Amazon.com

The post How to use Glow Sticks and Pringles Tubes for Fun in the Dark appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Bikes, Cycling and Pedal Power

Bikes are one of the most popular gifts for Christmas. Whether you have got a new bike for Christmas, know someone who has, or fancy some fresh air, cycling is a great way to spend time together.
If you get a new bike, make sure you set it up correctly before stomring downhill somewhere. I bought a bargain mountain bike for my daughter from eBay which was for sale because the owner had tried riding it a couple of times and didn’t get on with it. I wasn’t surprised when I saw the immaculate bike that was still setup straight from the box. The brakes squealed because they were set up wrong. The gear change was very stiff and only went into 2 of the 18 gers because the gear stop screws hadn’t been set. After a couple of minutes tweaking, the bike worked perfectly. I did have to buy a new saddle though as the factory one on the bike wasn’t comfortable enough. Good job you can buy gel saddles.
For beginners, flat ground is great; especially for parents who have to keep up whilst holding their child upright. For kiddies bikes, try tying a broom handle to the seatpost tube so that you don’t have to bend over to hold the bike upright. Saves back ache I can tell you.
For teens, you may have to seek out a BMX park or some mountain bike trails.

Drones and Flying Things

The one thing I love about drones is that they fly. I used to watch people in the past flying their brand new remote control aeroplanes in the park on Christmas Day. Well, by flying I mean they launch it, it flies for a few seconds before crashing into the ground and breaking into lots of pieces. Same thing goes for helicopters. The small indoor ones usually last a few minutes before damaging some piece of the house, Grandad, or the toy itself.
With drones, most of them these days have some form of autopilot feture that means that when you let go of th econtrols, they hover in one place. Unless it is windy. Then you have a few issues. Oh, and watch out for trees, and people, and pets, and buildings, and overhead cables, and the law. To ensure that your drone survives Christmas Day, you will definitely want to know about the 9 things they don’t tell you before you fly your own drone.

Snowsports

If you are on a family ski trip at Christmas, I’m jealous. Christmas and snow seems to make things feel quite magical, so long as you aren’t trying to get anywhere and that you have heating.
If you have snow where you are this Christmas, here are lots of ideas for fun in the snow.

Running, Jogging and Orienteering

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Get on your new runing gear and get some fresh air. Don’t over do it though, because you are most likely full of food and alcohol. If you dont like tarmac, try trail running.

Geocaching

Wherever you are in the world, someone will have hidden a box and marked its location on a geocaching website. You can have the fun of the high tech treasure hunt by trying to find said box using the coordinates. use either a GPS or your mobile phone and an app. Brilliant for keeping the kids entertained (as long as you find it).

Photography and Videos

Cameras are another very popular gift for Christmas. Outdoor photography Keeps those memories fresb forever and be creatively expressive.

Whatever you do, have a wonderful Christmas.

The post Family Things to do Outdoors on Christmas Day appeared first on Active Outdoors.

If you want somewhere to go out and have fun with your friends (or boyfriend or girlfriend), then what you need to do is get yourself to one of the temporary outdoor ice rinks that are becoming ever more popular at this time of year.

You will find them popping up everywhere, from shopping centres such as the Winter Garden Outdoor Ice Rink at Bluewater in Kent, to landmarks such as the ice skating rink in London at the Natural History Museum.

At all of the outdoor ice rinks, they will provide the ice skates. You may need to book tickets for the outdoor ice skating rink in advance, as they are very popular. Plan a trip with your mates and make a day of it at the weekend.

Ice Skating in London

• Natural History Museum
• Tower of London
• Somerset House
• Canada Square, Canary Wharf
• Hampton Court Palace
• Ice skating at Westfield in Stratford
• London Eye

Outdoor Ice skating rinks in the UK

• Winchester Cathedral
• Cardiff
• Windsor
• Alexandra Palace
• Newcastle Life Cantre
• George Square, Glasgow
• Spinningfields, Manchester
• Bristol
• Ice skating at the Pavilion, Brighton
• Eden Project, Cornwall
• Smithfield, Dublin
• East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh
• Warwick Castle
• York
• Nottingham
• Millenium Square, Leeds
• Cambridge

Outdoor Ice Rinks Around the World

• Berlin – Winterwelt am Potsdamer Platz www.winterwelt-berlin.de;
• Budapest – City Park Ice Rink www.mujepalya.hu
• Helsinki – Ice Park, Rautatientori Square next to the Central Railway Station.
• New York – The Rockefeller Center, between 47th & 50th Streets and 5th & 7th Avenues www.therinkatrockcenter.com.
• New York – Wollman rink in Central Park, close to the entrance at 59th Street and 6th Avenue www.wollmanskatingrink.com.
• Oslo – Frogner Stadium, Frogner www.visitoslo.com.
• Paris – Rève de Neige, Stade de France, Saint-Denis www.stadefrance.fr;
• Vienna – Vienna Eistraum (Ice Dream), Rathausplatz, boasts 6,000 square metres of pure ice. Located between Hotel Intercontinental and Konzerthaus [More information on places to ice skate outdoors in Vienna].

If you know of any more outdoor ice rinks, let us know and we can add them to the list.

If you don’t want to get your ice skates on and you prefer to slide downhill this winter in a big inflatable ring, you might like to try snowtubing and doughnutting

The post The Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks This Winter appeared first on Active Outdoors.

What is Snow Tubing or Doughnutting?

Most dry ski slopes and ski resorts now have snow tubing lanes so you can race your friends downhill.  You can also buy snow tubes Amazon to use at home when it snows.

Snow Tubing on snow is a wintertime activity that is similar to sledding. Snow Tubing involves sitting in a large inflated inner tube and launching yourself down a snowy hill. This is almost always performed on a hill or slope, using gravity to get you to the bottom. The low friction between most snow tubes and snow allows you to reach considerable speeds while riding, especially on steep slopes.

When you have snow tubed to the bottom of the hill, you either have to walk back up with the snow tube, or get pulled by a drag lift if you go snow tubing at a ski slope or snow tubing activity centre.

You can buy a snow tube, or use something similar. Tractor or truck inner tubes provide the same thrilling experience, but you may want to cover the hole in the middle with a sheet of polythene to keep yourself dry.

An inflatable dinghy will also give you a great downhill ride. The added bonus is that the bed of the boat will be inflated and cushion you from the bumps.

If you want to have control over where you go, perhaps you want to have a go at airboarding.

Lastly, wherever you go sledging or tubing, check where you will end up, and look out for obstacles. You are going to have some serious fun and go home with a massive grin.

Snow Tubing Parties

If you want to have a go or hold a snow tubing party (especially for stag and hen nights!), have a look at what is on offer at the snow tubing venues below.  The locations at ski resorts have specially carved lanes to keep you going in the right direction while you are snow tubing.

One of the best things about doughnutting is racing your friends. You get to bump them and have a real laugh. Guaranteed to end up at the bottom with a big grin.

You can have a snow tubing parties at ski slopes in the UK and US. Places include:

• London (Hemel Hempstead)
• Aldershot
• Chatham
• Trowse, Norwich
• Craigavon
• Chillfactore at Trafford nr Manchester
• Swadlincote Derbyshire
• Plymouth
• Glasgow
• Colorado

Where to buy your own Doughnutting and Snow Tubes

You can buy a great range of snow tubes from Amazonco.uk or Amazon.com
If you are looking for something faster, you have to get an airboard.

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It’s not all about the nature watching. The experience of paddling across the waves under your own power is quite soothing to the soul. One of the great things about a sea kayak is that they are wider than normal kayaks, and designed to be much more stable in the waves. Within ten minutes, a complete beginner can work out how to move about in a sea kayak, so it is good for newcomers and experts alike.

Sea kayaking for beginners

Sea kayaking is readily accessible for beginners, however depending on your fitness and coordination it will be easier for some. Talking to a sea kayak instructor I was told that more and more people struggle with sea kayaks because adults and children are so unfit these days. Paddling can be a bit tiring on the arms if you are not used to doing any form of physical activity.

What to Expect When Sea Kayaking

I have been longing to go sea kayaking for a while. Walking the cliff top coastal paths around the UK, I often sea small groups of people in sea kayaks exploring the cliffs and caves. Whilst on holiday in North Devon, I took the opportunity to try it out.

We went sea kayaking with H2Outdoors in Ilfracombe, Devon. We met at the harbour, where we were given wetsuits, buoyancy aids, helmets and a paddle. The wetsuits were nice clean and dry, which is a rarity for doing watersports. Most times I have been on water adventures, the instructor has only a limited supply of wetsuits which will have been used for the previous session and so you have to put on a damp smelly one. Not at H2Outdoors. The instructors make a point of having enough wetsuits for everyone that are in good condition and looked after. A good start to the kayaking experience.

Safety is a priority, and you are given top class sit on sea kayaks and safety equipment. All of the Instructors are British Canoe Union qualified and first aid trained. Each instructor is equipped with all the necessary safety gear including tow lines, flares, first aid kits, VHF radio, mobile phones and other such equipment required for the conditions and the group.

We were given a safety brief, and shown how to use a paddle efficiently. Then we carried our kayaks from the boathouse down to the harbour’s edge. Some families had opted for tandem kayaks for younger children. Due to the group mainly being families with younger children, the 2 hour session remained within the protection of the inner and outer harbour at Ilfracombe. For stag and hen party groups, able teenagers and adults, sea kayaking sessions go out exploring the coast around North Devon.

Getting into a Sea Kayak

It was quite easy to get into the sea kayaks, mainly because they were sit on top style. From the shore, you just put the front end of the sea kayak in the water so that the front floats and the back still rests on the shore. You then sit on it, and either shuffle the sea kayak forwards into the water, or get a helpful push.

Fun on the Water in a Sea Kayak

We paddled around the harbour and played a few games such as throwing sponges at each other and British Bulldog/Seadog. This helped us practice our paddling and steering skills and improved confidence. The bit I enjoyed most was kayaking in the channels between the rocks and the cliff. The waves were coming around the rocks which made things a bit more challenging but a lot more fun.

We will certainly go sea kayaking again, but aim to go on a half day trip so that we get to go out along the coast.

Sea Kayaking with H2Outdoors

Regardless of your paddling experience, H2Outdoors offers fun filled tailored sessions. H2Outdoors Sea Kayaking sessions are perfect for small or large groups with varied paddling experience as we use sit-on kayaks which are incredibly stable and easy to paddle and all sessions include an introduction to kayaking before taking to the water for some fun. No experience is necessary and all equipment is provided.

If you have some experience and would like to journey a little further along the coast, they have kayaking options for you to choose from ranging from short journeys using sit-on kayaks to half and full day packages using enclosed cockpit sea kayaks. Multi day sea kayaking in North Devon trips are available on request.

H2Outdoor can arrange one-to-one kayaking sessions for you to have our qualified instructor focus solely on you and provide the opportunity to practice rescues and rolls or develop other skills within the kayaking sport.
They also provide other outdoor adventurous activities such as coasteering, high ropes and mountain biking.

Sea kayaking tips

The book Sea Kayak Handling: A Practical Manual, Essential Knowledge for Beginner and Intermediate Paddlers by Doug Cooper is a great compilation of tips on getting started in sea kayaking.
These are a few things I have learned from experience or observation.

1. It is less tiring if you are more efficient with your paddling. If you can paddle in a straight line, you use up less energy than trying to correct a zigzag course. Aim to put the paddle into the water as close to the side of the sea kayak as possible.
2. If approaching a wave, face your kayak into the wave rather than being side on as it is less likely to tip your sea kayak over.
3. Sea kayaks are not intended for use with surf. If you want to try that sort of thing you need to go wave surfing.
4. Wear a buoyancy aid. If you fall out of your sea kayak, it is one less thing to think about if you don’t have to put in the effort to keep your head above water.
5. Plan ahead and know what the sea and weather conditions are going to be like.
6. Tell someone where you are going
7. Carry a waterproof dry bag with a mobile phone or radio in it so you can call for help if needed.
8. Depending in the weather and time of year, a full body wetsuit will keep you warmer than a short wetsuit.
9. Use a paddle leash so that if you let go of your paddle it doesn’t float away.

Sea kayaking equipment

To go sea kayaking you will need:

• Sea Kayak
• Paddle
• Paddle Leash
• Wetsuit
• Buoyancy aid
• Neoprene Wetsuit boots
• Waterproof dry bag
• Helmet

Places to go Sea Kayaking

The best time to go sea kayaking in Europe is between May and October. In the US, October to May is better for sea kayaking as it is not too hot. August to September is hurricane season and must be avoided.

Sea kayaking in the UK

The UK coastline supports an abundance of wildlife that makes sea kayaking a great experience. The best places to go sea kayaking in the UK are around the Isle of Wight, off the North coast of Cornwall, Devon, and in Scotland.

Alaska sea kayaking

The Kenai Fjords in Alaska offer views of glaciers sliding into the sea. You paddle amongst ice, and can get to see glaciers calving and crashing into the sea. You will definitely need a guide for this trip. The fishing port of Seward is the national park headquarters, and where most sea kayakers go from. You will get to see wildlife such as Sea Eagles, Orca Whales and sea otters. Sunny Cove Sea Kayaking offer trips in Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords.

Greenland sea kayaking

Sea kayaking in the Arctic fjords of Greenland in the summer months gives access to perpetual daylight and passageways through channels in and around the fjords. See glaciers and icebergs in the lands of the Inuit, who invented kayaks. In case you are wondering, kayaks are the watercraft that you usually sit inside and are covered. Canoes are open boats more commonly used in warmer waters.

Sea kayaking in Iceland

Sea kayaking in Iceland is ice free all year round because of the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. You can take this tour as part of a trip to see the volcanoes, geysers and ice of this amazing place.

Sea kayaking in the Ionian Sea, Greece.

The Ionian Sea is the calmest sea around Greece and perfect for sea kayaking. The deep blue Mediterranean waters off the southern tip of Italy and Greece provide wonderful coastlines to explore like those around Crete or Corfu. Whilst exploring the coast and sea caves you might get to see turtles, seals or dolphins.

Sea Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez

Just south of San Diego off the coast of Baja California lies the Sea of Cortez. There are hundreds of unexplored coves, uninhabited islands and estuary mouths to discover. You can see wildlife including sea lions, turtles and plenty of birdlife. One popular route offered by Baja Outdoor Activities is to kayak all the way around the Isla Espiritu Santo near La Paz. You can go on a trip where you and your sea kayak are taken to the island by motorboat. Tours provide camping spots on the island so you can paddle your way around the island camping overnight at stops along the way. After a hard day paddling, turning up to a delicious cooked meal that awaits you is wonderful. Sea kayaking all the way around Isla Espiritu Santo takes between five and seven days.

Sea Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

If you are lucky enough to travel to Thailand, make an effort to try sea kayaking in Phang Nga Bay. Explore hidden sea caves that only a sea kayak can get into. The bay has been used for films such as The Beach, and James Bond movies. Using inflatable sea kayaks, you get to paddle through caves and narrow passageways into the hidden interior of the islands. The water inside the middle is called a hong (room). You are surrounded on all sides by lush forest vegetation hanging from the limestone cliffs. Access to the caves is tidal, so you should use an experienced guide who knows the area.

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Skills – Strength: 4, Balance: 7, Flexibility: 1, Agility: 5, Coordination: 6
Time needed: travelling time + 1 hour, Cost to try: £30 for two flights

Ever wanted to go skydiving but didn’t like the idea of jumping out of a plane. Indoor skydiving may be the answer. You don’t need a parachute in this ultimate freefall experience. You can go indoor skydiving and feel the exhilaration of unlimited freefall without even boarding a plane or leaving the building.

Indoor skydiving from Red Letter Days

The Indoor Skydiving Experience

Indoor Skydiving involves being in a vertical windtunnel, and floating on a powerful updraft of air. The walls of the indoor skydiving chamber are transparent, so that others can watch you while you have a most uplifting experience!

All flyers visiting iFly receive induction training in a pre-flight room from highly qualified instructors. Flyers are taken on a step by step programme, explaining how the wind tunnel works and how to get the most out of their flight. All flyers are provided with the latest equipment including flying suits, goggles and helmets.

After your initial instruction, you then get to watch the previous group in the wind tunnel. You will get an idea of what is involved. Then it’s your turn. You go into a side chamber that is next to the wind tunnel. The instructor then goes into the indoor skydiving wind tunnel and invites you in. You step into the tunnel and feel the blast of air from the fan beneath you under a rigid mesh floor. The instructor helps you into the flying position and you float on a cushion of high velocity air. You can try moving forward and backward, up and down. The instructor is right by your side the whole time. Once you have flown for a bit, at the end of your session the instructor will take you on an amazing flight right up to the top of the tunnel and back down again. What a rush!

iFly Indoor Skydiving

The iFly wind tunnel is at the Xscape Leisure and Entertainment Centre in Milton Keynes. The vertical wind tunnel enables people of all ages to feel the adrenalin of freefall in a controlled, safe environment. In the purpose built tunnel you’ll be able to perform a series of freefall manoeuvres in an airstream of up to 150mph.

The Tunnel

The impressive structure has been designed and built specifically for indoor skydiving and bodyflying. The tunnel employs state of the art technology which accurately controls the environment inside the tunnel. The four high performance 250HP fans generate controlled airflow and a windspeed of up to 150mph, replicating the conditions that skydivers thrive on. The indoor flight chamber has a diameter of 12 feet and is 35 feet high providing enough room for up to four experienced people to fly together.

The Indoor Skydiving Flyers

Not just for adrenalin junkies, the major appeal of iFly is that anyone can have a go. From first time thrill seekers to more experienced skydivers wanting to perfect their technique or those wanting to try something different, the iFly wind tunnel is for everyone. In fact children from the age of 5 enjoy and excel in the wind tunnel.

The advantage of the wind tunnel is that it combines the heart pumping elements of an extreme sport but in a controlled and safe environment. Unlike other extreme sports iFly doesn’t require any previous experience or sporting ability and people can be flying within minutes of arriving.

To prove to friends that you have actually flown, the iFly tunnel has cameras enabling DVD recordings and pictures to be taken while in-flight.

The Expertise

The finest instructors in the country make up the ‘Aircrew’. Prior to coaching in the tunnel, all instructors receive rigorous training lasting four weeks and are qualified by experts at the International Bodyflight Association in USA. The training is carried out at SkyVenture, the manufacturers of the iFly facility and operators of SkyVenture in Orlando, Florida. The Aircrew maximise the enjoyment of flights, give flyers confidence and help them to develop new skills whilst in the flight chamber.

Prices

The iFly experience starts at just £34.99 for the Kix-start package (off-peak) which lasts an hour and includes two flights. (The equivalent of three skydives all at once!). You can Book indoor skydiving with Red Letter Days

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