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Water skiing is a relatively new sport that combines skiing and surfing, in which skiers, holding on to a rope, glide through water pulled by motor boats that travel at more than fifty kilometers per hour. Ralph Samuel invented it in the twenty-second year of the last century, although it really became popular in the fifties of the last century, when the main achievements in this sport discipline appeared, such as wetsuits and more powerful boats.
This sport, as a sports and health direction, helps to strengthen the whole body, paying special attention to the limbs, and requires good reflexes and balance. It was a demonstration discipline at the Olympic Games in the German city of Munich in the seventy-second year of the last century. In which various variations of this water sport were used. Classical water skiing was divided into four sub-modalities: slalom, figures, jumping and combined performances, water skiing and its disciplines, wakeskating (skateboarding) and wakesurfing (surfing), skiing and barefoot racing.
In the latter case, the skier moves without them, although shoe skis can be used, which are much shorter than ordinary skis or such as a round plate with a diameter of about a meter. Compared to classic slalom, the boat moves in a straight line through the center of the track, on which there are a number of buoys, which the athlete must do in a zigzag pattern, increasing speed. In a jump, he, in turn, passes on two skis along a fiberglass ramp. Only wider models are used for figures and the goal is to complete the most tricks in 20 seconds each way and the same number backwards. In conclusion, combined performances combine the three previous types. Also you can learn more about jet ski safari tenerife at jetskiingtenerife.com.
Pros and cons of classes:
For
- Classes create commitment: because it is an activity with many variations, it encourages the development of a sports habit.
- Relieve tension: requires concentration during activity and physical effort, which helps to relieve psychological tension from the body and mind.
- Increase physical strength: water sports improve the strength of the arms and legs, which make incredible efforts.
- Improve reflexes: Attention, direction change and the aquatic environment increase alertness and help improve reflexes.
- Improves balance: This is one of its main benefits, as being upright on the board while moving improves overall balance and coordination.
Against
- Shoulder dislocations, epicondylitis, and thumb dislocation are some of the most common upper limb injuries in this sport. The speed and strain with which this is practiced means that neck contractures and whiplash injuries can also occur. As far as the lower body is concerned, knee problems are the most common.
Necessary accessories
- Required equipment includes:
- life vest,
- goggles that protect against water splashes and bright sun,
- palogne, that is, a handle and a braided nylon rope that the skier clings to. The use of a helmet, gloves or wetsuit is optional.
Benefits of water skiing and wakeboarding
Over the past decades, research has shown how physical activity improves our cognitive functions. In addition, they bring many benefits to our mental well-being. “Regular exercise is good for your mood, memory, or learning.” This is explained by psychiatrist John Ratey of Harvard Medical School, author of The New and Revolutionary Science of Debate and the Brain.
Similarly, there are studies in the general population that show how the practice of well-planned, regular, moderate physical activity, tailored to the needs of each individual, helps improve both physical and psychological health (Bouchard, Shepard and Stevens, 1993; ACSM, 1999; Zulaika, Infante and Iturriaga, 2006), resulting in improved quality of life. Regular exercise contributes to a healthier lifestyle. And also to reduce or eliminate risk factors associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Psychological aspect
So what are the psychological benefits and positive effects of sport, exercise and physical activity?
- Reduce stress and anxiety.
- Minimize depression.
- Increase the feeling of happiness and sense of well-being.
- Helping you look and feel better.
- Improve mental abilities, performance and sexual activity.
- Increase endurance.
- Physically improve many pathologies and ailments directly related to the loss of quality of life,
- Contribute to the restoration of mental state and optimism.
If you enjoy the outdoors and love the water, the beach or surfing, water skiing is an extension of those activities. But in addition to the pleasure of doing water skiing, as in surfing and kitesurfing, it adds thrills and adrenaline. This adrenaline rush occurs because you are clinging to a piece of rope attached to the stern of a boat that is speeding over 50 km / h!
This speed, combined with the unique sensation of floating on water, where you feel the wind on your face and hear the sound of water droplets under your feet, is sure to completely change your body. Increase your stimuli and release energy and joy. Having figured out all these aspects, let’s focus on the benefits of water skiing.
Muscle tone
There is a misconception that water skiing is only for the lower body. But this is not true. Water skiing uses every muscle in your body. Develop your posture while keeping your shoulders and arms toned by constantly working on towing your boat. It works together with the abdominals, which are continuously reduced for 15-25 minutes.
Your back absorbs the tension in the rope by keeping your torso upright as you squat, and your legs act as shock absorbers to keep you in the ski position. In short, when you go into the water and ski, you will be doing more than 5 exercises at the same time for 15-25 minutes. Not bad, right? Much better than going to the gym!
Increasing functional endurance
Water skiing forces you to stand up straight and keep resisting. This works the core muscles: the muscles in the arms, the muscles in the legs, and all the muscles around them. It’s also much safer than using free weights, which can strain your muscles and don’t even work your entire body.
Beneficial effect on the body
- Water skiing engages almost every muscle in the body without wearing out the joints as it is all resistance to body weight in a free range of motion.
- Promotes rapid strengthening of the legs. They absorb the energy of the transition of the wake and the imperfections of the moving water, control your direction and bend into half squats, giving you especially strong quads.
- The development of proprioception, that is, the feeling that gives awareness of the position of the body in relation to the environment around us.
- Promotes laterality and spatiotemporal orientation.
- Increases self-esteem.
- Increases self-confidence.
- This implies personal growth leading to increased emotional and personal well-being.
- It is a good emotional and mental relaxant, as when playing sports in an unusual environment, the brain is completely disconnected from everyday life.
- Helps fight stress and anxiety.
- This helps to introduce a number of norms, habits and techniques into the child and adolescent, allowing them to better adapt to the environment.
- The Meditative Aspect: Being in the water, just like being on a boat, can have a calming effect on the mind and make you focus on the task at hand, forgetting everyday stress and worries. Not to mention, endorphin activity will make you happy and healthy!
- Calorie burn: One hour of water skiing will burn about 400 calories.
- Beneficial for overall health: Like all forms of exercise, water skiing can reduce or eliminate the risk of many health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. You can also lower your risk of coronary heart disease by lowering your triglycerides and raising your “good” cholesterol.
Finally. Water skiing and wakeboarding offer the opportunity to socialize, compete and enjoy pleasant and fun activities in an unrivaled environment and in constant contact with nature, which helps to strengthen the immune system!