December Break Water Sports

This past December break, I wanted to focus on taking advantage of being outdoors through activity, specifically focusing on water sports. This was a good change of pace for me, as I did not want to take part in home workout videos which I commit to when isolating. Thus, over the course of the December break, I participated in a variety of different water sports activities to build my experiences for the end of the year. Throughout the December break, I was determined to avoid spending time sitting in front of screens mindlessly, making it a goal for me to do at least one outdoor activity every day of the break to make the most out of the free time I had. I focused on three main activities; surfing, sailing, and stand-up paddleboarding. These three activities would allow me to spend time on the ocean water, getting away from the desk, whilst still exhibiting commitment within the activity component of CAS.

Surfing:

Throughout the break, I attempted to surf every day, as it was I find it is a fulfilling way to end the day. I went surfing multiple times during this break with my dad, and I developed a lot of my skills, including how to determine where you should be in the bay to get strong waves, and how to recognize sets of waves. I was happy to surf again, as I hadn’t done so in a while due to the covid restrictions. We would surf from 4 pm until 6:30 pm, enabling us to appreciate the sunsets as the wind would start to die down. However, I also pushed myself to get up early occasionally throughout the break to surf in the morning as the wind would die down and the waves wouldn’t be as choppy. It was pleasant to start the day off with some activity in the water, making me feel productive and content for the rest of the day. The morning surfs were very calm, and it was gratifying to be awake and active at a time of the day where the air was crisp, and many people were still asleep. Surfing allowed me to commit to my activity goals, making sure I stay in good health, whilst allowing me to spend time with family members and learn new skills from them.

Surfing in Weligama Bay, photo creds (Jacob Pringiers)

Sailing:

Sailing has always been a way for me to spend time on the ocean whilst connecting with others. Practicing this skill allows me to improve my sailing, as many of my family members are proficient at this sport, and provide me with the feedback necessary to improve. I have always worked taking control of the boat and regulating direction using the wind. Over the course of the break, I sailed on a variety of different boats, in order to apply my sailing skills in slightly different mediums. One of the days that my father and I went sailing, it began to rain heavily. With that, the wind died down and we were stuck in the bay. This was a good opportunity to undertake this challenge in a way that would develop my sailing skills in the process (connected to the learning outcomes). We had capsized prior to the wind dying down, which allowed me to attempt to get the boat back upright. This is a challenge I do not get to practice often, having capsized as a cause of the strong winds before the storm. I managed to get the boat upright, and my father and I got back on. The rain was so heavy that we could hardly see the buildings on the beach, and the boat was barely moving. Despite this, we set on course to the beach in hopes of getting there eventually as the rain pounded down without hesitation. We kept on-track, doing the best with the wind that we had, laughing at the situation in the process. We got to the beach eventually, being surprisingly cold for being in a tropical country. With that, I was able to practice my skills in an environment that was definitely not optimal, allowing me to truly get a strong foothold on using the most of the wind to get to our destination. This was an unforgettable experience that only made me appreciate the sport of sailing more. Below is an image before the heavy rains had started:

Sailing on a laser, photo creds (Jacob Pringiers)

Stand Up Paddle Boarding:

The final water sports activity I consistently practiced throughout the December break was stand up paddleboarding. Stand up paddleboarding allows me to focus and improve on my balance, as well as core strength. I enjoy SUP as it allows me to spend time with my family members, and appreciate the landscape. In Weligama bay, we were able to SUP through the Mirissa harbor, which was a very enjoyable experience as all the fishermen’s boats had very creative designs. We were able to reach the Harbor during our first SUP trip, yet by the end of the break, we could reach the end of the bay just before the open ocean. The main challenge of this experience was the mental wall that would be built when SUP against the wind. This required a lot of upper body strength, which is something I physically want to improve on. I noticed over the course of the break, with all the upper body orientating sports, I was able to improve on my upper-body strength.

SUP in Weligama Bay, photo creds (Jacob Pringiers)

I have deeply enjoyed this active CAS experience, as I was able to socialize with my family and stay active outdoors. I was able to build and develop my skills in a variety of different water sports with the help of my family members. Being outside yet distanced from others during the coronavirus has helped my mentality, as staying isolated indoors can impact mental health. I am happy to be fortunate enough to have had this experience during my December break, whilst maintaining my fitness and building on my activity goals.