Sports Then and Now

The sun is shining, the skies are blue, the kids are finally out of school – everyone loves the summertime! Whether its barbecuing, long evenings out on the town, camping, family vacations, or even just a solitary walk on the beach, there is something for everyone to look forward to. If you love to be near the water during the summer months, it is never too late to try out a new water sport – it could be scuba diving, water skiing, surfing, kayaking, or even good old-fashioned fishing. You never know what you might fall in love with until you give it a chance!

Water sports

Although there are some competitive, team-based water sports, the majority of recreational water sports do not fall into either of these categories. Swimming is probably the most popular choice for the casual athlete because it requires very little athletic ability to learn and is a family-friendly activity. Not only is learning to swim an essential life skill that could save your child’s life, swimming is one of the safest youth sports that is often chosen by mindful parents due to the very low risk of injuries to adolescent competitors, especially in comparison to other popular sports such as football, soccer, basketball, or gymnastics. Other water sports that are family-friendly include fishing and boating, which are also both safe and fun for everybody.

Gear up

Once you have decided on what kind of water sport you want to try out, the next step is to make sure you have all the supplies you will need. Items such as sunglasses, swimwear, sunscreen, towels, and waterproof cases for your electronics are just a few essentials you will need to add to any list in preparation for a water sport. While you shop around, either online or in a brick and mortar store, make sure to not cut corners when it comes to quality, value, or style – you and your family deserve the very best; a good place to start is dosgardenias.com, which offers luxury swimsuits for women. After you have acquired the basics, it will then be time to make your shopping list more specific to whatever sport it is you choose – if you choose scuba diving, you will need a snorkel and flippers; if you choose fishing, you will need a rod and bait; for water skiing, you will need poles and ropes; if you choose surfing, it will require some homework on your part to invest in a good surfboard before heading to the beach.

What are you waiting for

With only a few weeks to spare, you should start preparing now. That means reserving a campsite, buying swimsuits for everyone, stocking up on first aid supplies, and looking at weather forecasts; you can never be too prepared to go out and have fun in the sun. Water sports are a great way to get involved in your local community and keep your family healthy. Stay safe, and good luck in discovering your next aquatic adventure.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan