Would YOU brave this while on holiday? Most EXTREME water sports revealed
BEACH HOLIDAYS are generally synonymous with relaxation, peace and quiet.
Get your share of holiday thrills of with these extreme water sports
The sound of waves crashing on the sand, feeling of fresh sea air and promise of soothing salt water lures many Brits to sun-kissed shores.
Tropical getaways are among the most popular holiday types for those residing in the UK, and with good reason.
But for some adventure-seekers, the sun and sea isn’t just a place to relax and unwind. In fact, quite the opposite.
From flyboarding to hydrofoiling, the world of water sports has gone from leisurely to extreme in recent years.
Whether it’s using high-speed motorised contraptions or braving blistering temperatures in Nordic waters, there’s not much thrill-seekers can’t find in European oceans.
Travel expert Donna Jeavons, Contiki Sales & Marketing Director UK & Europe, said: “Young travellers are always looking to get more out of their holidays.
“They’re seeking out those moments that get the heart racing and that will be remembered forever.”
From getting air over Ibiza to surviving in sub-zero Scandinavia, here are the most extreme water sports in Europe compiled by Contiki.
The sport involves neck breaking speeds, being pulled behind a motorboat
Sit-down hydrofoiling – France
A variant water skiing, the sit-down hydrofoil involves reaching jaw-dropping velocities while being dragged behind a speedboat.
Experienced hydrofoilers use the momentum to flip, twist and spin in some of Europe’s most stunning settings.
Lakes just north of Paris are popular for keen water skiers and hydrofoilers to congregate and do their thing.
Flyboarding might just be the closest you will get to a personal jetpack
Flyboarding – Ibiza, Spain
Likened to something out of a superhero movie, the art of flyboarding is a futuristic sport sure to get the adrenalin pumping.
The hoverboard-looking device straps your feet to a board with a water jet pack underneath.
The water goes from a jetski, through a connection tube, and out the jetpack device underneath your feet, which in turn propels you like a superhuman through the water and air.
Diving in sub-zero temperatures can prove a challenge even to seasoned divers
Ice diving – Scandinavia
For seasoned divers familiar with the depths of the ocean who are looking for something a little more challenging, ice diving is a must.
Incredible creatures, exceptional visibility and sub-zero temperatures, ice diving is a one-of-a-kind adventure but certainly not for the faint hearted.
Scandinavia offers some incredible ice diving sites; from deep quarries in Sweden to icy lakes in Norway.
Hilarity as man fails at windsurfing
Flyfishing – Spain
The Spanish certainly like their heights. This extreme water sport involves a blow up boat, incredibly high speeds and a whole lot of air.
Accompanied by a personal ‘guide’ who balances on the blow up boat between the two passengers, this activity propels you through the air like a kite while tethered to a speedboat.
Would you be game enough to try it?