The start of a New Year is a great time to set resolutions about improving your levels of health and fitness, but while gym memberships peak in the first few weeks of January, attendance tends to slide afterwards as people struggle to find the time and the inclination to work out as much as they should.
One way to make it easier to reach your goals is to take up a new sport as this is often more motivating and challenging than simply going to the gym. Check out these three new activities that not only make fitness fun but also provide an opportunity to express your personal sense of style.
Kitesurfing
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you’ll be drawn to kitesurfing, also known as kiteboarding, as it’s one of the most exhilarating water sports around. Combining the best of kite flying, surfing, wakeboarding and even elements of parachute jumping, it will quickly become your new favourite passion if you enjoy the open waters. There are hundreds of places around the world where you can try it, you can even go Kitesurfing in Lisbon, for example. It’s a great activity to enjoy both on holiday and while at home.
While the best waves for surfing may be on the other side of the world, the specific conditions that make for great kitesurfing locations mean you can enjoy this sport much closer to home, meaning you spend more time on the water and less time travelling.
Stunt scootering
Scootering is a great way to boost your overall health and fitness, however, you can also take the sport further by learning a range of stunts and freestyle moves that are sure to impress your friends and family. If you’re new to the world of stunt scootering, you can start with basic tricks such as the bunny hop, the fakie, in which you ride your scooter backwards, and the nose pivot where you spin your scooter deck around using only the front wheel. Once you’ve learnt these basics, you can then move on to more challenging and advanced manoeuvres.
As with any sport, though, having the right equipment is essential if you want to hone your skills. Some of the best scooters for beginners and intermediate riders are those manufactured by Crisp, known for manufacturing high-quality stunt scooters for the serious beginners. For more information on the full range of their products, visit Skates, where you can find their four main models, along with all the accessories you need to ensure you look good while learning.
Trampolining
Trampolining has always been something of an uplifting experience, but now a new generation of trampoline parks are raising the sport to a new level of popularity and are fast-becoming the must-visit destination in cities across the country.
Forget the idea of young girls in leotards learning to do backflips – trampoline parks take this activity to the extreme. Rather than having a few individual trampolines scattered across a sports hall, these parks feature virtually wall-to-wall trampolines meaning you can bounce your way from one end of the room to the other with ease.
Any gaps or spaces are filled with pieces of foam, ensuring a soft landing and adding to the fun. As well as learning to perform a wide range of stunts and tricks, you can also attend Flip Fit classes, like those offered in Chester, and burn up to 1,000 calories in a single session through a unique combination of cardio, core stability and resistance training. Ideal for the family, those with young kids and those with adult ones, trampolining is great fun for everyone looking for mindless fun and the chance to show off some skill.
