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Surf Travel to South Africa

Surfing app stoked allows users to set up a log of their surf session and share the information with their friends. Arriving in Cape Town is over whelming, the first thing you notice is the warmth and friendly attitude to you the surfer. This country has been through so much in the past 30 years and it has always been my dream to set foot on its soil to surf the glorious waves that caress its shores daily. South Africa is blessed with some of the best and most consistent surf the world has to offer. Couple this with the mild climate and you have a surfing paradise. During the South African winter the coastline is supplied with almost endless groundswell and offshore winds due to the constant flow of cold front activity in the southern Atlantic. So as a surfer arriving from a rainy Oregon to find warmth and amazing surf is a dream come true.

The tour I was on, involved sessions at numerous South African premier surf spots which include Jeffrey’s Bay, Seal Point, Victoria Bay, Bruce’s Beauties and as well as many other spots that “crank” in winter. Dylan collected me after arrival and we were all packed up to head off along the coast. South African surfers are always so stoked it is amazing and Dylan was no acceptation to that rule and assured me that he had a thorough knowledge of surfing in the area and that he was our tour guide. Furthermore he practically guaranteed me that I will get to the respective spots when they are at their best, he just fell short in advising me he had arranged the swell as well.

As we arrived at the lodge on the outskirts of town I was greeted by the other surfers on the tour who had arrived a day or two earlier. Dylan whispered in my ear and ensured me with an eager smile that the tour remains personal and that by limiting the number of people on each tour guarantees we all get a great time. Like all South African’s he is proud of the countries surf and then could not refrain from telling me yet again for the 5th time that he would ensure I surfed as many African barrels as possible. Umm…. I went to bed with that thought. My second day started with Dylan taking the tour to a place at Muzuimbrug, an ideal spot he assured me to get acquainted to African Waves. ‘Muzies’ as it is known, is renowned for its rolling and very consistent A-Frame waves and endless stretch of beach. Whilst Dylan provided surf lessons for some learners on the tour I paddled out the back to enjoy some glass morning surf.

After a hearty lunch we set off on an orientation tour of the stunning Cape Peninsula, Dylan believed this would help us get our bearing on the land and we also had a visit to the Cape Point Nature reserve as well as Cape Towns more famous tourist sights including a visit to boulders beach where wild penguins happily play.

The morning of day 3 was an important one for me personally as I could not wait to set out on our first port of call which was a 65-meter bungee at Gouritz. This is optional on the tour but it’s highly recommended to get you stoked and ready for the adventure that lies ahead and I was game for it. If you plan on doing the worlds highest one later in the trip, I suggest you do this one first to get a feel for it! I did not opt for the higher…

Along the way we stopped at Mossel Bay for a surf session, there was a selection of 3 breaks to choose from, Inner and Outer Pool as well as Ding Dangs. Depending on the conditions and your standard the surf guides will take you to the one with most zest, and they selected one just fine for me.

Inner Pool’s wave breaks very close to famed outer Pool off a section of rocks, walls up when at its best and is usually surfed when Outers is flat. Outer Pool Gets large and challenging in solid winter swell but is usually surfed when clean and orderly in light westerly winds. Outer offers a cooking right hand reef break with a solid wall and a long ride. Ding Dang’s a fun hotdog wave that works when winter swell wraps around cape St Blaise.

After the surf, we set off on the road again, the most beautiful scenery as we enter the ‘Garden Route’ is breath taking and most of us all sighed with disbelief at the views and the panorama that was unrolling ahead of us. Depending on the time of year, apparently the guides can surprise the group and dive for some crayfish (Cape Rock lobster) along the way for the evening dinner, this was not the case for my tour but I gather it can be the norm.

It’s up early to get the best swell the next morning and we all opted to head for a spot called Buffalo Bay Point – a very similar wave to Bruce’s Beauties that too me was going to be the highlight of the tour and was to come so I took this as a trial event. The point can get superlative in the right conditions by all accounts and before leaving the US I had heard great reports of the conditions that can be found here so was please to see a perfect 3ft day.

That evening we checked into another local surf lodge, and zipped out for and evening surf! We headed off to a place I had dreamed of since first seeing the movie Endless Summer – Bruce’s Beauties – it breaks a lot more often than is thought of and is by know means a gentle long boarders paradise. When cooking, Bruce’s is a screaming right hand point that freight trains along a jagged line of rocks. “Get ready for mean gaping barrels” Dylan shouted as he disappeared into the water, leaving the rest of us half changed, running and falling every other step! It was just like a clip from the movie here I was about to hit the surf of Endless Summer.

The next day I found it very difficult to get up to be honest, three great days of epic surf and with another few more to comes I just could not cope… my body was feeling the flight and the perfect surf of the night before. So rather than surf I just joined the tour to watch the rest of the group under a go some lessons on the beach and sat back enjoying the wild environment that seemed as if Portland and US Airports was just a forgotten memory. I could not believe that only 90+ hours ago I was crammed into a bus in Portland with a huge longboard knocking everyone that moved. Now I lay head back on the sand listening to the sounds of sea birds and knowing that I am totally at peace and having the best surf trip in my life. Sure I have surfed some amazing spots but to surf a spot I have seen over a thousand time son video and then to actually enjoy it going off better than in the film was beyond even my wildest thoughts of surfing in South Africa.

After a few more days of touring and surfing spots such as Boneyards, Supertubes, Salad bowls, J-Bay, Tubes, Point and Albatross it was time to start to head back in the direction of the Cape. Everyone on the tour had become exhausted and tired but we were now a travelling surf family too tired to talk but desperate for one more last surf before the Cape and we were not disappointed as slowly we drove towards Buffalo Bay again and it was just as we left it, perfect…

As we drove in to Cape Town the next day Dylan turned to us all and said “How about Sky diving, or Paragliding? – We can even arrange a shark dive if you wish!” – in a great chorus we all said “shut up man… we are exhausted!” The one thing you can say about South African’s they are a great friendly bunch and the stoke of surfing runs deep in there veins.

The beauty of the tour I think was summed up by the people on it, from 6 surfers who were learning to surf for the first time and having lessons daily to the rest of us who ranged from beginner to advanced. We all surfed well and all experienced the conditions first hand. We all had our own experiences and that is something all of us will take away and is our surf memory – an amazing surf trip.

I travelled with Xoxxi ([http://www.xoxxisurf.com/]) which is a surf brand run by regular surfers for regular surfers and they were very helpful in this unique travel surfing experience. You can also visit the South African tourism website at (http://www.southafrica.net/) for other information on visiting the country. You may also like to purchase a book, and I would recommend Surfing in South Africa, By Steve Pike (ISBN: 1919833153).

Author Bio:

Shannon Burke, is a surfer of 3 decades and has enjoyed surfing all over the world, he is a freelance writer and freelance regular surfer that has a quiver of short boards, longboards, body boards and a paddleboard.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shannon_Burke/127316

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1919550

Heli-Skiing Adventures in The Untamed Wild

Heli skiing Canada should put you in the heart of wilderness adventure, but you might want to read the fine print of the company you are working with. Heli-skiing has become so popular that there are a number of companies that now offer tame, cultured versions of heli-skiing, taking you up in a helicopter only to put you down in snow that has been heli-skied 50 times that morning at least. For true heli-ski adventures, check out these gems for the wild at heart.

Canadian Rockies
The great Canadian Rockies make the perfect first-time heli-skiing adventure. It’s a good mix of both remote wilderness and a lodge, as half the time is spent in the boonies and the other half is at a luxury ski resort. You don’t have to break yourself over this adventure, yet you get a taste of what real heli-skiing in the wilderness is all about.

San Juan Mountains, Colorado
San Juan Mountains make for ideal heli-skiing scenery for small groups. The epic journey takes you to some of the world’s most perfect skiing powder. It’s beautiful back country where you feel the winter of the wilderness up close. Once you’ve braved it all, relax, unwind and regroup at Telluride, a premier Colorado ski bum town.

The Swiss Alps
Heli-skiing in the Swiss Alps offers luxurious European chalets combined with remote wilderness adventures. Work your way from Verbier to Zermatt, descending terrain piece by piece while you take in the sheer wonder of this winter world. This is the best powder on the European continent and a dream for skiing.

Pantheons, Canada
If you want remote terrain, it doesn’t get farther out there than the Pantheons in Canada. You can literally ski where no skier has before, but you’ll have one of the few pioneers to explore the range as your guide. The area has just been open for exploration, so this is about as wild as you can get.

Skeena Mountains, Canada
A first class resort with a private setting, Yellow Cedar Lodge overlooks the serenity of Skeena Mountains in Canada. It’s rustic but luxurious. It’s easy to get heli-skiing in remote areas with perfect snow, but after then relax those muscles in a soothing jacuzzi, dine on gourmet cooked meals by world class chefs and spend the evening in a cozy lounge. This is heli-skiing for the refined. Don’t worry. The amenities may be civilized, but the heli-skiing is purely wild. This is what the good life has to offer.

Pilates to Restore the Balance in the Body

If you’ve dreamed of becoming a professional Pilates teacher training Sydney or yoga teacher, I think you will help more people. Pilates is a form of exercise very similar to yoga in which there is great emphasis on the body’s core muscles that is the oblique’s, abdomen, the buttocks, inner and outer thigh, and the lower back. Pilates at San Francisco is very popular among exercisers because it is an all-round exercise that builds up strength, coordination, flexibility, endurance, good posture, and good balance. At the Satori Yoga Studio, Pilates is considered the perfect exercise regimen because it helps in developing concentration, precision, control, flow, centering, and breath. Much emphasis is paid on getting the right form rather than just repeating the exercise multiple times. The whole body is engaged and the chances of being injured during exercise are also at a minimum.

Using Pilates in Everyday Life

Pilates has to be done with concentration and precision. Some of the moves may be concentrating on strengthening one muscle and stretching another. The type of exercises ranges from the simple to the more complex. The Pilates instructors at Satori in San Francisco teach students to think and use their muscles during the workout and then continue this into daily life. Pilates helps you to have a better posture and walk, sit, and stand more erect and with good body mechanics. This form of exercise is named after its inventor Joseph Pilates who created these exercises to treat his injured dancers.

Strengthening the Body Core with Pilates

A lot of the movements used in Pilates is based on yoga movements as well as the movements of graceful animals like the swan, the big cats, and the seals. The Pilates trainers at Satori teach students to start their movements from the core and then move outwards. Strengthening the core is crucial to improve posture and prevent injuries. It also helps to reduce stress and increase flexibility and endurance. Increased circulation leads to strong joints and lean muscles. The instructors at San Francisco themselves are passionate about Pilates and passes on this enthusiasm to their students. It is suitable for any kind of body and people with any type of lifestyle.

Benefits of Practicing Pilates Daily

This is ideal for people with bad backs because it addresses imbalances of the muscle from poor posture and sedentary lifestyles. The abdominals and buttock muscles are stretched and strengthened and the students are taught proper alignment methods to relieve back pain. The equipments at the Satori Yoga Studio uses quality equipments similar to those used by Joseph this like the Gratz apparatus. Exercise regimens are tailored to suit individual students to help them achieve their goal, whether it is rehab from an injury, losing weight, learning the correct posture, or alleviate back pain. Pilates at San Francisco help to make your live more meaningful.

Five Vital Characteristics a Tattoo Artist Must Have

For many filmmakers, the storyboard artist film is essential for visualizing and organizing their projects before they ever reach for their cameras. Are you lately planning to get a tattoo? If yes, apart from choosing profoundly meaningful and aesthetically pleasing designs, which can successfully rejuvenate outer appearance, express bottled-up emotions, pay a tribute to somebody close, or help you rebel against the conventional notions of society, try scheduling appointment with a renowned artist as well. Now with a wide range of options readily available, you must conduct a thorough research, seek specialised recommendations, and look out for five certain essential characteristic traits namely attention to details, artistic ability, ethics, curiosity, and adaptability before arriving at any decision. For details, readers are requested to buy some time and take a close look at the below-mentioned pointers.

  • Attention to Details

Even though it might not seem much necessary but a tattooist must pay attention to details otherwise he or she would not be able to properly carve the intricate aspects of a design. Listening what the client is saying with maximum caution and then carrying out the procedure exactly would pave way for an optimal outcome. Now isn’t that absolutely amazing?

  • Artistic Ability

According to professionals working in the best tattoo studio of Phuket , an individual would only be able to etch beautiful motifs on your skin, if he or she has definite artistic talent, or capability to materialise wonderful visions. While diverse other technical skills could be taught, a flair for art is something innate.

  • Ethics

No matter how much an individual works dedicatedly he or she could only drive customers beyond geographical boundaries and gain a strong footing in market with an ethical approach. You must consider interviewing tattoo artists who strictly adheres to safety protocols under any circumstance and thus keeps varied types of infections at bay.

  • Curiosity

Rather than being contended with whatever they have or do, successful tattoo artists always wish to enhance their knowledge. They are curious to master different styles available besides the conventional black & grey and colour. Starting from interacting with veterans to signing up for edifying newsletters, they actually leave no stone unturned when it comes to performing expertly in the said industry.

  • Adaptability

Highly proficient and adequately experienced artists offering quality services in the best tattoo studio of Phuket for an affordable price have time and again emphasised upon the significance of adaptability. In other words, they said that it is better to walk away from an individual if he or she tries imposing insights and not flexible enough to embrace the emerging trends.

If the tattooist you like possess all characteristics specified above, feel free to hire him or her right now. Doing so would generate best possible results within a stipulated time period.

Epic Characters And Storylines Were Once Concept Art Too!

Creating the concept board frames artist Sydney has a lot more to offer job opportunities. ‘Optimus Prime’, ‘Prince of Persia’, ‘Green Lantern’ and many more such characters that have managed to capture our imagination over the years, simply started out as Concept Art. In fact, movies such ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘Avataar’ and ‘Planet of the Apes’ have some extensive concept art that goes into them before they can materialize onscreen. So when you see one of the Transformers “transform” in and out of their actual form, remember that they were first put onto a piece of paper, or monitor before any of the “transforming” could take place. Every feature, mood, and personality was captured at this very stage of conceptualization.

So, what is Concept Art? Very simply put, it is a form of illustration that’s used to create a tangible, visual representation of an idea. This idea could include a design, a backdrop, a character or even a mood. In short, it is the basic look and feel of all the elements that the game, movie, animation or comic is going to present to its audience. It is the base upon which most sci-fi and fantasy movies, video games and comic books are rolled out. The idea of ‘concept art’ was first introduced in 1930 and further popularized by artists in the automobile and gaming industry.

Concept art earlier involved fine artists wielding out their paint brushes and palettes to stroke out characters and the basic environment with which they will interact. In the more evolved era, the use of software like Photoshop and Corel Painter, as well as dedicated graphics tablets has made life much easier for concept artists to put across their vision, that too within the deadlines. However, to successfully enjoy the benefits of such technology, the artist must be familiar with how paints would blend on an actual canvas.

With the advancement in technology and expectations of the audience, concept art has come to include traditional painting techniques to photo realistic practices. A concept artist begins working with simple sketches of the initial idea, and refines them to finally transform into the realistic pictures required by the company. This makes concept artists almost enigmas of the art world.

So the next time you decide to collect the sands of time in a Prince of Persia, or fling across an Angry Bird, or choose a weapon in Mafia Wars, remember it was all just concept art at one point in time!