#windsurfing

#windsurfing

Located within the Maddalena Archipelago National Park, Rosa dei Budelli is one of the Mediterranean's most closely protected beaches. Its pale pink hue, created by microscopic organisms mixed with crushed coral, has made it famous, but access is tightly regulated. Visitors may arrive only by boat and must admire the shoreline from designated areas offshore.

Archaeologists estimate that fishers in Peru have been using the reed boats for approximately 3,500 years. Elaborate ceramics dating back to the sophisticated Moche culture (AD100-800) and the later Chimu civilisation (900-1470), depict figures astride the craft, which was called a tup in the now-extinct Mochica language. They are believed to be among the first crafts to be used for riding waves, possibly predating Polynesian proto-surfing in Hawaii.

On day five of an eight-day, 500-mile mountain bike race in Africa, Piers Constable found himself sprawled in the dirt for the second time. First he'd crashed on his left side, then on his right, until he was, in his own words, "muddied and bloodied," staring at a bike that was very much broken. He remembered a feed station a couple miles away and realized he had two choices: quit or run. He picked up the bike and ran.

My forearms are throbbing, my feet are cramping and my eyes burn from the salty sting of the Atlantic Ocean. And yet I'm oddly euphoric, high on the rush of flying above the water, propelled by the wind. Around me, wings launch 10, even 20 feet in the air, like fireworks lighting up the sky. My wing zips around beneath them, my board barely hovering two feet above the sea - nowhere near as high as I'd like to be, but there's still time.

According to multiple media reports, 66-year-old Kurt Van Dyke died last Saturday in Cahuita, a town near the country's coastline along the Caribbean Sea. The Tico Times, an English language Costa Rican newspaper, reported that Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency received a report about the incident at 10:50 a.m. Van Dyke's body was discovered with signs of asphyxiation and multiple stab wounds, according to a preliminary examination by the investigative agency.

I've wanted to be an ocean swimmer ever since I moved to Sydney. The idea of getting out past the waves and braving the elements excited me. I would tell anyone who would listen: Once I live closer to the beach, I'm going to be out there. Just you wait. I've lived walking distance to the beach for more than a year now. During this time, I've read a lot about ocean swimming: how swimmers overcame challenges or life-altering moments.

Fisher marked the first time Moscone Center hosted something enormous like this; I went on the second night of a two-night takeover, December 20. Operationally, it ran surprisingly smoothly for a first-time venue. Crowd-wise: a lot of phones, a lot of jerseys, a lot of people filming drops they will absolutely never watch again. It felt like a first "rave" moment for a lot of folks since it was an 18+ event.

There's something romantic about sailboats that still speaks to us in this hyper-connected age. The idea that you can harness nothing but wind and water to glide across the ocean feels almost magical. But here's the reality check: even the most old-school sailor needs power these days. Your GPS has to stay on, your radar needs juice, those navigation lights aren't optional, and let's be honest, nobody wants to lose their phone charge mid-voyage.

It's an event so rare that it has only happened 11 times in the past 41 years, and when it's anticipated to run, all of Hawaii turns its attention to the North Shore of Oahu. People arrive a day or two ahead, sleeping in cars or tents on the side of the highway that leads to Waimea Bay and tailgating into the night to claim a sliver of parking. They're waiting to hear if the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surfing contest, also called the Eddie for short, will get the green light from the lifeguards, who have the final say.

For travelers looking to get to know the many-varied charms of the Golden State, discovering it through the best beaches in California is never a bad idea. The state's coastline spans a vast 3,427 miles after all. Among its 420 public beautiful beaches are plentiful opportunities to swim, lay out, look at tide pools, surf to your heart's content, or watch the sunset.

Nazaré, Portugal, historically a fishing village, has become mecca for big wave surfing. It's home to the largest waves ever surfed, and hosts some of the best surfing competitions in the world. Surfing this area is risky enough, but big mountain skier and surfer Chuck Patterson had to take it to the next level, skiing the world's biggest waves. Tow skiing, as they've named this wild activity, is arguably pretty dangerous no matter the size of the wave.

"This community doesn't really have an event like this in the States," Wesley told SnowBrains. "There are small gatherings here and there, but nothing you can count on happening every year. I want this to be something annual-something that brings people together."

It was exactly 23 years ago to the day that Shane McConkey pulled off his first ski base ever at Lover's Leap in Strawberry, California and we are stoked to share that one of his biggest fans in the world has recreated his historic jump. Professional wingsuit athlete Kasey English used the exact same exit point on top of the famous granite cliff near Highway 50 and excuted a picture perfect flight before safely drifted to valley floor under canopy.

Going full throttle off Mainline and making it look this effortless is truly something to behold: "This one is a lot scarier sitting in the sitski getting ready to drop than looking over the edge scoping it beforehand. Such a low POV on that thing, I felt like I was gonna launch into space!" -Jay Rawe Jay rode away clean and was a cool customer as he reached his friends who were filming from below.