WATER SPORTS

WATERSKIING

Water skiing is a sport between surfing and skiing. High speeds can be achieved needing good reflexes and balance. The participant skiing on the water can go barefoot or mounted on one or two skis, holding a rope pulled by a motorboat. Competitive waterskiing has three trials, slalom, jumps and stunts. The slalom trial consists in towing the participant forward between buoys and the skier, on one single ski must avoid them in zig zag. In the stunts trial the participant slides on a single ski towed by a motorboat and makes the greater number of acrobatic figures in 20 seconds oneway and other 20 seconds on the way back. The jumps trial consists of jumping as far as possible on two skis more than 2 metres when passing a ramp. Following in the discipline of waterskiing, we can talk about wakeboard, as well as its variants, wakeskate and wakesurf.

WAKEBOARDING

It's a modality between waterskiing and snowboarding. The rider (the athlete) is mounted as in a surf board or snow board and safety bindings are used for the feet. The rider is towed by a speedboat. The boat causes waves and the skier must use them to make stunts in the air. One can jump up to 3 metres making leaps known as 'grabs' which is a leap attaching the board to one hand.

WAKESKATING

Wakeskating is a cross between wakeboarding and skating. This sport is practised both towed by a motorboat and by a cable ski but the rider's board (who practises this sport) is untied using gummy products on the boards to get more grip. It can be practised both in the sea and lakes or swimmimg pools. The boards are smaller for greater freedom of movement.

WAKESURFING

Wakesurfing is a modality between surfing and wakeboarding. It consists in surfing the wave caused by an axis boat to not make contact with the wave, and do it on a shorter board than a surfing one. This sport can be practised in flat water both in the sea and lakes or swamps.

KITESURFING

Kitesurfing is a sport of sliding on a board or a ski of a wakeboard type and propelled by a kite. The athlete is called 'kiter', who is tied to the kite by 2 or 3 strings and to a bar (where to hold onto) by other 2 ropes.

STAND UP PADDLE SURF (SUP)

Stand up Paddle Surfing or SUP is a sport between surfing and rowing. It consists of rowing standing on a large surfboard. It is a sport which does not require much preparation and it is perfect for visiting coves or caves of difficult access. It can be practised on flat water to have a ride or visit new areas, and it can also be practised with swell. It is a very complete sport because one exercises arms, back, abdominal muscles and legs as you have to mantain balance constantly on the board.

SURF

Surfing is a sport that involves sliding on the sea waves standing on a board pointing it thanks to one or more keels at the back of the board. It is a dangerous sport both for the physical effort and for the possibility of hitting another nearby athlete. The difficulty is in the waves, depending on their speed, size and shape, the surfer will be able to practise this sport or not.

BODYSURFING

Bodysurfing is the sport of surfing a wave without a board or any help. Those who practise this sport (bodysurfers) are equipped with a pair of 'flippers' to help catch the wave. Bodysurfing can be practised in waves of large size and one can get a good run making stunts.

BODYBOARDING

Bodyboarding is the sport that uses a board to surf the waves but the athlete must lie down. The surfer can use flippers.

LONGBOARDING

Longboarding is the way to slide standing on the waves with a bigger board than a surf one with specific dimensions. Those who want to learn to surf can start with these boards as it is easier to make the set up (take off), it has greater stability, these boards have a maximum flotation and catch better the small waves (ideal for beginners)

KNEEBOARDING

Kneeboarding is surfing waves with a board in kneeling position being possible the use of flippers. These boards are short, wide and thick which give a lot of speed.

SKIMBOARDING

Skimboarding consists of launching a fine wooden or fiber board one metre long over the seashore, take a run up and ride it. Head towards the wave turn back on it. This sport can be practised when there is no swell. The condition is being on a bank of sand and with a depth of a few centimetres of water

WINDSURFING

Windsurfing or sailboarding is a sport modality between sailing and surfing. It consists of moving through the water on a board similar to a surf one and provided with an articulated sail permitting its free rotation on a single joining point with the board. It can be manipulated depending on the wind direction and the board position.

DINGHY SAILING

Dinghy sailing is a type of sailing with sailing boats stranded on the ground before and after the non-motorized boating and they paticipate in a boat-race near the coast.

JET SKIING

Jet skiing is a sport that uses jet skis as light watercrafts propelled by turbines. There are two modalities, single-seater or multi seater (RunAbout). Wide range of power levels with different qualifications depending on the cylinder capacity.

OPEN WATER SWIMMING

Open water swimming is a discipline of swimming consisting of swimming in open areas such as rivers, lakes or the sea.

CANOEING

Canoeing is the sports practice in two kinds of crafts: canoe and kayak. In both crafts the canoeist sits in the direction of travel and the paddle is not tied to the craft. The canoe is a craft for up to10 paddlers and open on top, the canoeist has a single-bladed paddle. Canoeists can go sitting or kneeling. The kajak is a different craft from the canoe and it has given its name to another sport: kayaking, although 'Canoeing' includes the sports in both crafts.

KAYAKING

Kayaking is canoeing in kayak, being this acraft for 1 to 4 canoeists, it is completely closed and the paddler can only go sitting. It is a lighter craft being used double-bladed paddles to paddle to both sides of the kayak.

ROWING

Rowing is a set of sports disciplines consisting in the propulsion of a craft by the force of one or more rowers. The rowers are seated with their backs opposite to the direction of travel with one or two oars hooked to the craft. In the Olympic rowing there are 14 modalities and other more included in the non Olympic rowing.

DIVING (SWIMMING)

Divinging or jumping is a form of high risk sport or training consisting of jumping into the water of a swimming pool, river, lake or sea from a considerable height. It is required a high degree of precision achieved after lots of hours of training.

UNDERWATER DIVING

Underwater diving is an activity in which a person is immersed in the water with or without the aid of special equipment, either in the sea, or a river, a swimming pool, etc. When it is carried out without breathing apparatus is called apnea or free-diving. Scuba diving is the most practised in the world

SNORKEL

Snorkelling is type of underwater diving where the swimmer is not immersed, but just floats on the water surface with a tube (snorkel in English) for breathing, a diving mask and some flippers for the feet.

SAND SPORTS

BOSSABALL

Bossaball is a relatively new sport combining several sports: acrobatic gymnastics, capoeira and football. It is similar to beach volleyball, using as field an inflatable satge with capoeira music as background where the leader of the group plays the referee.

BEACH FOOTBALL

Beach football is a modality of football played on a flat sandy surface with five players in each team

FOOTVOLLEY

Footvolley is a sport combining football and volleyball practised normally on a sandy surface.Each team is formed by one or twoplayers. The field is the same as in beach volleyball but, it is not permitted to touch the ball with the hands or the arms.

PADDLE BALL GAMES

Paddle ball games are the most popular and informal sports played on the beach. They are of all type, from the two typical bats to badminton games.

SPORT FISHING

Sport fishing is an activity consisting in catching fish with a recreational aim, not a lucrative one as in commercial fishing, There are two types of sport fishing: fishing in fresh water and in salt water. They are employed fishing rods, reels, fishing line and hooks with natural or artificial bait.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Beach volleyball is a variation of volleyball played on the sand, usually on the beach. Another feature of this sport is the number of members in the team, the regulation applied in official competitions establishes teams of two players providing no option to change, but it is normally played in an informal way anywhere and the teams may have more members.

SPORTS THAT CAN BE PLAYED NEAR BEACHES AND COVES

CANYONING

Canyoing is an adventure sport practised in canyons or ravines in rivers or torrents. These routes have varied stretches such as low water flow areas, waterfalls, lush greenery areas, climbing areas, etc. It can be practised in group and specific equipment must be carried. In Majorca it is practised in many places, some of them very well-known like Torrent de Pareis.

CYCLING

Majorca is a perfect island for cyclists thanks to the improvement and signposting both in roads and trails for cyclists, the weather all year round, beautiful landscapes and different levels in its routes. There are hotels providing massage facilities, bicycle repair and special menus for these athletes all along the cycling routes. They can enjoy the culture, traditions, gastronomy and its beautiful beaches and coves while they are touring the island by bike.

CLIMBING

Climbing is an activity consisting in ascending steep walls making use of physical and mental strength. It is a dangerous activity, so almost of its variations require strong security measures. There are many modalities of climbing depending on the place to climb (rock, ice...), the equipment to use and other factors. We will mention some types of climbing:

FREE CLIMBING

Hands and feet can only be used as elements to move upward. They use ropes and safety devices for protection. 'Cat's feet', which is a kind of adaptable and tough footwear, are normally used as they provides grip as long as the rock is not wet and a chalk bag to spread on the hands in order to not slide.

CLASSICAL OR TRADITIONAL CLIMBING

Classic climbing tries to be done in a traditional alpine way ascending by a lead that the first climber goes installing with safety devices and bolt anchors.

SPORT CLIMBING

Sport climbing uses anchors fixed to the wall and previously laidd on the lead, so the climber is more focused on technic. This is characterized by reducing the risk of the climber.

BIG WALLS

Climbing on big walls or 'Big wall' climbing usually takes several days. Technics of artificial climbing are used and some materials as well as supplies must be taken to spend a few days in the mountains.

ARTIFICIAL CLIMBING

In artificial climbing all kind of material to help climb is used, both material for protection and material to move upward. It is a slow and laborious climbing used by speleologists to explore caves walls and ceilings.

FREE SOLO CLIMBING

Free solo climbing is famous for going without any ropes or safety devices. It is usually practised by very experienced climbers on walls they already know well and below their level.

SOLO CLIMBING

Solo climbing is a style of climbing in which a climber goes alone and secures him/herself. From the typical knots to the self-security devices. It is necessary to abseil down to retrieve the rope and the safety devices.

BOULDERING

It is a style of free solo climbing in which the climber moves little height upward so there is no serious danger. A mat is installed to prevent shock in case of fall. A trend of bopuldering is deep-water soloing or psicobloc at the mat is changed by the sea water.

PSICOBLOC

Psicoblocis a type of free solo climbing practised on cliffs with enough surface subsidence to avoid beating against the projections of the rocks. The climber falls into the sea.

SPELEOLOGY

Speleology is a science which explores and studies underground cavities.It is similar to asport because some certain physical conditions are required to study some caves. Some definitions name it in Spanish 'espeleilismo'. Speleology comprises Karstic speleology, Cave diving and Volcanic speleology

KARST SPELEOLOGY

Karst speleology when practised in caves with great length and unevenness, it can be said that these are of karstic origin (dug by water streams). They are usually very hard routes and at some stretches they may become isolated and with no oxygen. They normally use ropes as in climbing.

CAVE DIVING

It's a variation of speleology focused on the exporation of underwater cavities. It must be performed by experienced divers as it is one of the most dangerous in the world.

VOLCANIC SPELEOLOGY

Volcanic speleology is the activity developed in volcanic caves created by lava or thermal retraction movement. These caves, unlike Karst sepleology, are usually hroizontal and with little slope, so it is rarely needed to progress with aid of ropes. This modality can only be made in the Canary Islands.

NORDIC WALKING

Endurance sport consisting in walking with the aid of two sticks. It originated in the 30s as training in the low season for cross-country skiers.

HIKING

Hiking is not a competitive sport consisting in walking on real cattle tracks, minor roads or trails enjoying landscapes and fresh air. In the Balearic Islands it is very common because of the good weather throughout the year round, although they are usually avoided the hottest months of the year. Most of the routes cover the Tramuntana mountain range, but there are also paths along the coast and the prairie.

TAI CHI CHUAN

Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan is a Chinese martial art with benefits for our physical and mental health. It consists in making relaxing and harmonious movements. It is recommended in several diseases and it s based in the traditional Chinese medicine. They can be seen groups near the beaches in summer.

YOGA

Yoga is a discipline, a science , a philosophy with its origins in India five thousands years ago. There are different types of yoga being the Hatha Yoga the most known. This consists in the practice of physical positions, breathing exercises and other practices. It aims to have greater awareness of body, mind and divinity.

All these sports and some more can be done to agreater or lesser extent on our beaches. For some sports it will be necessary to take some lessons or to hire the quipment, for others we will only need to find out the route to the cove we wt tano visit and move to that place. In this website you will be able to find these routes in the islands of Majorca and Formentera.