An Introduction to Water Sports
Water is not only essential for life, but also for the practice of various sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, among many others. However, there are some disciplines that stand out for their spectacularity and on World Water Day we present them to you.
Wakeboarding
Also known as water skiing, wakeboarding consists of sliding on the water on top of a board while being pulled by a rope towed by a boat or jet ski.
In Mexico, it is regulated by the Mexican Water Ski and Wakeboard Federation (FEMEW) and the main place to practice it is Acapulco, Guerrero. However, Jalisco, Monterrey, and Querétaro are also venues for events and schools.
Surfing
Practiced for over 500 years in the Polynesian Islands, surfing consists of riding and maneuvering on waves on top of a board. The sport has different categories depending on the size of the board or the type of waves.
San Miguel Beach in Ensenada, Baja California, is considered the birthplace of this sport in Mexico. Various annual competitions are also held there. Other options include Zicatela Beach in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca; Punta Mita in Nayarit; Bahía del Escorpión in San Juanico, Baja California Sur; and Todos Santos in Baja California Sur.
Cliff Diving
This variation of diving was popularized by the company Red Bull, promoter of various extreme sports, and consists of jumping into the water from a height of 27 meters.
The tour takes place around the world and a championship is held every year.
Mexico has a couple of representatives in this sport, although Jonathan Paredes has been one of the most successful, as he finished second in the 2016 World Championship.
Kayaking
Kayaking is designed for a single occupant, who sits facing forward and propels the boat with a double-bladed paddle.
The boat is enclosed, leaving only space for the paddler.
It is said that the Maya people in Mexico used kayaks for trade with different Central American cultures, and today they are used for exotic trips through the Sea of Cortez and the Mexican Caribbean.
Kayaking is also practiced for river descents in Mexican rivers that have rapids, such as the Amacuzac River in Guerrero, the Filo Bobos River in Veracruz, and the Santa María River in San Luis Potosí.