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Adventure Sports in Andalucia
By Chris Jones
Andalucia has some of the best venues in the world
for a range of sports, which should satisfy the desire for modest
thrills and adventure inherent in most of us. Within a relatively
small area, the region has the sea, hills and mountains, undulating
countryside, forests, wide open spaces, lakes and rivers, major
cities and tiny hamlets, hundreds of wonderfully sunny days, just
the right amount of rain, snow, beautiful flora and fauna, dozens
of species of wild animals and birds - enough to be going on with.
As for adventure sports, perhaps we should count
ourselves fortunate that in southern Spain we don't have any
skyscrapers
to attract base-jumpers. There are, however, plenty of seriously
high cliff faces, especially around the Sierra Nevada and Ronda,
should you fancy your chances at this off-the-wall (literally)
occupation.
Basically, what you do is run as fast as you can and hurl yourself
off the edge of a cliff, assume the straddle position, manoeuvre
yourself as far away from the face as possible and open the 'chute,
all within about six or seven seconds, and then float gently
to
the ground. That's the theory, anyway. The legality of base-jumping
is questionable, particularly in urban areas, although that does
seem to add a certain frisson for some. It won't surprise you
to
know that there is no official organisation for base-jumpers.
Skydiving, for those with a bent for the mega-adrenalin
rush, is similar to regular free fall parachuting, but much,
much,
much faster. Aficionados exit the plane and then invert themselves,
head pointing straight down, legs together and arms clamped to
their
sides. The idea, quite simply, is to go as fast as possible...and
they do, at times reaching speeds edging around 200mph. Someway
prior to hitting the ground, preferably, you just pull out of
the
dive, assume the normal straddle shape, decelerate and release
the parachute. A buzz, or what! Not unnaturally, it is advisable
to
have mastered free fall in the sit fly and star shape positions
before attempting it head first.
More information is available from the Skydiving Centre at the La Juliana airfield
located about 25km south west of Seville off the A474.
Speed skiing is exactly what it says - going hell-for-leather
straight down a near-vertical, ice-covered track on a pair of skis,
described as 'nearly past fear at terminal velocity'. The skis are
wider than normal, you carry body-hugging poles, aerodynamic helmets
are mandatory, and so is a large helping of courage and a touching
faith in your own ability on 240cm-long, 30lb fibreglass planks.
In Andalucia, those heading for the Sierra Nevada have to do their
fastest down the black runs. Incidentally, you stop by the simple
expedient of sliding up a gentle gradient at the end of the run.
Then head for the nearest bar.
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Andalucian Cycling Experience
Guided or self-led cycling in the mountains and national parks surrounding Ronda, in southern Spain. Cycling tours for roadies, mountain bikers, and leisure cyclists. |
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