Friday, February 29, 2008

Outdoor Skiiing


Outdoor Skiing is very thrilling. If you get good at it you can try snowboarding and Para-Skiing.

My first Ski trip was to Liberty Mountains, PA with my friends from Grad School. I felt twice my weight once I got buckled up with my Ski boots and Ski. I felt like a penguin when I was walking. Initially there was a training session for a couple of hours and then I went up the ski lift, without acing how to stop or turn. I had a couple of falls but I totally enjoyed Skiing.

Check the following videos:

Waterborne Snowboarding



Ski Jumping



Para-Skiing



Wuhu!! Only if I could Ski better. I definitely want to try my Ski on waterborne skiing and Para-Skiing.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Flakiness in the flakes (Indoor Skiing, Dubai)

Flakiness in the flakes with Ice Skiing, Snowboarding and Snow tubing.

Yet another sport which I really wish to master. I went skiing at
Liberty Mountains, PA. I also had some indoor Ski experience at Ski Dubai Snow Park. I'll talk about my indoor skiing experience here. Check back for my next post on outdoor skiing, which is definitely more fun; to be out there, skiing down the mountains, with snow ranges surrounding you. The best part is when the sun shines over the snow-clad slope and you ski down the incline. Superb!!

I went to Ski Dubai, one of the unique things I did during my visit to Dubai.
Ski Dubai located in Mall of Emirates, Dubai is the world's third largest indoor ski slope, with 22,500 square metres covered with real snow all year round.
Sky Dubai has the world's largest indoor Snow Park
and other facilities like Skiing, snowboarding, Toboganning, snow tubing and Ski School which also has a free boot camp.

I enjoyed the snow tubing and another ride, where you come down an icy track on a rubber sledge. Unfortunately the sledge is too short for those who are tall; didn't bother me though. The Skiing part is fun too. It gives you a feel of coming down a 50 degree snowy incline.
Another project at Dubai Sunny Mountain Ski Dome in Dubailand is due to open in 2008. The project consists of a dome within which, there will be all kind of Arctic experiences, ranging from Penguinarium, snow castle, ice-rink, snowfall, sound and light effects, snow maze, and polar bears!!

Showtime!!
Sharapova and Davenport in Ski Dubai






Sunday, February 24, 2008

DropZones

DropZone!!??!!
Ski Diving. This is one activity which will definitely get your adrenaline pumping!!

Tandem Skydiving is the best choice for those who have decided to jump for the first time. You are connected via a harness to an experienced skydiver ("tandem master"). You can experience total exhilaration while freefalling through the fathomless sky at 120mph for roughly 3 mins, as in my case. At most places you can even video-shoot your jump.

How it all works-- A group of skydivers will fly in an aircraft to an altitude of around 13,000 feet, and free-fall for a period of time before activating a parachute to slow the landing down to safe speeds. Once the parachute is opened, you can control your direction and speed with cords that are attached to the parachute, and aim for the landing site.

Skydivers are always looking for something new to do in the air. Another crazy thing people end up doing is Stuff Jump. In these jumps the skydivers jump out with some object. Rubber raft jumps are popular, where the jumpers sit in a rubber raft. At a certain height the jumpers break off from the object and deploy their parachutes, leaving it to crash into the ground at a very high speed.There are some variations in the types of jumps which include Wingsuit flying, Formation skydiving, Skysurfing; in which the skydiver wears a board attached to his or her feet and performs surfing aerobatics during freefall.

There are also options for Indoor skydiving available at various places. It enables you to do all kinds of acrobatics and experience the air hitting your body, all in a vertical tunnel with a huge blower on the floor.

If you take this as a passion and want your name to be in the records, check these SkyDiving records.
DropZone Locator-- Here is a comprehensive database for skiding locations around the globe.

Be Safe and enjoy Skidiving!!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Yosemite National Park, CA adventure

Yosemite, California! Ahh its a beauty which still simmers inside my mind..
I'll try to keep this post more informative, than personal. Check the comments on my adventure apologue.

The best way to get here is definitely by road.
Once you get there, you have plenty of options for accommodation. Nevertheless, you need to make reservations well in advance if you intent to make your trip during the busy summer months! Among the two most common options of camping and lodging; I would highly recommend Camping. You will totally enjoy sleeping under the stars, in the tent, relishing barbecued hot dogs, potato, corn and beer, sitting around the bonfire!! I totally enjoyed that part!

Now lets get into some action. The best things to do in Yosemite is Hiking, Biking, Rock Climbing , Water Activities (don't miss Rafting here) and Winter Sports. Yosemite is covered with peaks and valleys and a couple of waterfalls. The Half Dome is a Yosemite icon and rises nearly 5000 feet above the Valley. The Half Dome Day Hike is an exciting, arduous hike and the best rated by me. Make sure you have enough time because it could take nearly 10 hours to hike to Half Dome and back. The most unique part of this hike, if you reach the end, is the ascent up the cables. There are many other hikes, like the one along the Glacier Point road, Hikes in Wawona and the Mariposa Grove, Hetch Hetchy and Tuolumne Meadows. If you get here in the winter, which is from Mid- December to March, definitely enjoy the Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding and Ice Skating in the outdoor Ice skating ring.
With all this said I feel like planning a trip to Yosemite again. All Yosemiters please add your comments and additional information!

Check this cool video of Action Adept Yosemite Valley!!





Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Terrapin Adventure

Since I come from TerpLand I'm gonna bring my space up to date about activities close to UMD campus.
Here are a few exciting things you can involve yourself in:

>> Watch a movie in the pool http://www.crs.umd.edu/gradstudents/

You can also celebrate the last day of classes by relaxing in a "Floating Theatre" at the Outdoor Aquatic Center.

Movie lovers can also enjoy their movie under the Stars at the La Plata Plaza. Check the CRS website for more information. These events are free for all UM affiliated personnel.

>> You can also register for the adventure trips organized by Campus Recreation Services. This includes various activities from Kayaking to Hiking to Caving!!!
If you had registered for any trip through CRS in the past, please add your comments to this post.

>> I totally enjoy biking through the woods. The UMCP campus is also a great place to bike around, provided its good weather. You can rent a bike from CRS and go on one of the many biking trails. Here are some trail maps.

>> Wall Climbing is yet another thing that you can try for FREE!! It is a 55 foot tall climbing wall, which is one of the tallest on the East Coast.

>> There is a resourceful rental center where you can rent everything you might need for a trip from a tent to a sleeping bag. You can even rent equipment for snowboarding, caving, etc. The rental rates are also pretty cheap. There is a library with maps and books and you can even ask the ORC (Outdoor Recreation Center) staff to help you plan your trip.

Here we go..

Heyya everyone!! Welcome to my space.
I am a total adventure seeker, I'd love to get on to the top of a mountain and dive from there!!
This is a part of my world where I'll try to bring out the best of high adventure- high action- unique stuff you can find at different places. I'll start with the places I've visited, primarily, United States, Dubai and India. This could include various fun activities including sky diving, scuba diving, theme restaurants, theme parks, dome theaters, night clubs, snorkeling, kayaking; anything that gets my adrenaline pumping will be on my blogspace. So please check back if you get a adrenaline rush too.