Watersports blog

The fishing industry in the state of Alaska is thriving as always. Despite the ongoing financial crisis in the global market, the fishing industry remains a lucrative market.

According to the data released in the latest issue of Alaska Economic Trends, the number of jobs related in the fishing industry has reached more than 50,000. The numbers usually go higher during peak seasons.

Employment pertaining to fish harvesting declined slightly last year at 0.7 percent thus bringing the 7-year tally to a decline of 17 percent. The figures are affected by the state of salmon markets.

As for fishing jobs, more than 2,300 permits were released in 2007 with 30 percent of the workers connected with the salmon market. Groundfish landings in the state reached four billion pounds and created additional 1,182 jobs last year, not to mention the addition of 1,246 fishermen in halibut fishery.

Overall, the state’s fishing industry helped Alaska’s GDP last year after it contributed more than $770 million. It only shows that the fishing industry in Alaska is not affected by the global economic crisis. Seafood products have generated $2 billion worth of exports for the state in the past two years.

German car manufacturer Audi has reportedly withdrawn its sponsorship of Team Germany sailing team in the America’s Cup. However, team coordinator Jochen Schuemann said that they will continue with their bid despite this setback.

Audi has been the main sponsor of the German sailing team but Schuemann, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, said that they are now looking for a new sponsor.

Audi officials reasoned that the global economic crisis forced them to withdraw the sponsorship to the sailing team. The German sailing team is bidding to win the upcoming America’s Cup, one of the most prestigious sailing competitions in the world.

Schuemann revealed that he knew about the announcement a week before. He added that he wanted to meet with the car maker officials that time but he was called beforehand saying that there’s no need to come.

Team Germany has already withdrawn its participation at the Pacific Series event in New Zealand this coming February.

Schuemann won his first Olympic gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and won his other two gold medals at the 1988 Seoul and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He was the sporting director for Swiss sailing team Alinghi wherein the team won the 2003 and 2007 America’s Cup.

The organizers of an international boat show in Germany next year expressed their optimism that the event will still be successful despite the current global economic crisis.

According to press releases, the 40th International Boat Show or Boot 2009 will proceed as planned in Dusseldorf, Germany from January 17 to 25, 2009.

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Boot 2009 Project Director Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel said that the trade center will definitely be filled with representatives from different parts of the world. The watersports and yachting industry will be strengthening its presence during the event.

About 1,650 exhibitors representing 55 countries will be displaying their goods in the allocated seventeen halls in the venue.

Nations that are well-represented will come from neighboring European countries such as Italy, France, Great Britain and Netherlands.

Aside from the yachting and watersports trade event, the Diving Show boot will also take place with 350 exhibitors expected to showcase their high-end products such as Bauer Kompressoren and Aqualung. Diving legend Hans Hass, currently ninety years old, will be signing autographs and present his books as well.

Jungmichel said that the event aims to attract a new demographic that will gain interest in the industry considering the new innovations and exciting opportunities.

After several hours of intense search, divers found the body of 25-year old Sean Patrick Spiegel who was reported missing since Saturday at the Forth Fathom Grotto in Marion County, Florida.

According to the authorities, Spiegel’s body was found in one of the caves at around 8 pm on Sunday. They said that his body was intact and will undergo medical autopsy in order to determine the real cause of death. Spiegel’s diving equipment was also taken as part of the investigation.

Spiegel and four of his friends reportedly stayed at a rented log cabin nearby. They group had their diving adventure on Saturday morning, going as deep as 104 feet. Instead of going with the group in their ascent above water, Spiegel signaled that he still has six minutes remaining and would like to continue diving. That’s the last time they saw Spiegel.

More than 10 divers were hired to do the comprehensive search but encountered no results early on.

Spiegel is said to be an experience scuba diver. This pronouncement prompted the authorities to conduct an investigation for possible foul play.
As of press time, Spiegel’s friends decline to give comments.

Rough Guides, the publisher behind new book “Ultimate Adventures,” declared two Canadian rivers as world’s top rafting destinations. These rivers are located in Quebec and British Columbia.

British Columbia’s Klinaklini River is located at Queen Charlotte Strait. According to the book, the start location of the river rafting adventure site can only be accessed by helicopter. The idea of having an adventure in a remote area adds more excitement considering that there are “unexpected twists and turns” along the way.

“The reward, besides the adrenalin rush from the heart-stopping chutes and wild runs, is some of British Columbia’s most exquisite scenery,” the book stated.

The Magpie River, located in Quebec, is also hard to access considering that it takes 190 kilometers to travel. It may take a week to reach the said river. Despite this, travelers still go to this river because the Magpie Falls is nearby and the view is definitely breathtaking.

“This rushing chute of water cuts through a largely untouched wilderness larger than the whole of Scandinavia,” the book stated.

The recommended period to go to these rivers is from June to August. Other great rivers stated in the book are Brahmaputra River in Tibet, Karnali River in Nepal, Omo River in Ethiopia and Karamea River in New Zealand.

Body boarding is an imitative way of wave riding. Its average board consists of small and rectangular hydrodynamic foam. This board can be shaped, formed and adapted to different sizes of the riders and different riding styles.  Body boarding has been rapidly growing especially in the last few decades. In fact, it is now considered as one of the most popular extreme water sports worldwide.

Body boarding is also regarded as one of the first known forms of surfing. Though it has existed centuries before the European contact, it was only when James King, the lieutenant of the Discovery wrote and described surfing when he first saw it in Hawaii that body boarding started its history in writing.

So what are the equipments needed in body boarding? Here they are:

1.    Multi-surf board wall rock
2.    Wall accent
3.    Long sleeve rash guard (clothing)
4.    wetsuit (clothing)
5.    skim board
6.    surfboard
7.    surf carrier
8.    body board
9.    body board bag
10.    flotation vest
11.    beach shelter
12.    wake surfer
13.    gloves
14.    waterproof wrist camera
15.    rack pad
16.    swimsuit
17.    traction pad
18.    single wall rack
19.    surfboard fin set

You might think that body boarding is such an expensive sport. Yes it is! However, the pleasure you get when you are there is priceless!

At the last World Surfing Games held in Portugal, New Zealand finished 10th, 2 places higher than its rank in the 2006 event.

The best finish was contributed by Daryn McBride of Mt. Maunganui, who ranked ninth in the overall longboard division. However, he was eliminated from the said division by Miguel Ruivo and Briton Ben Skinner of Portugal in the repechage.

McBride ranked third as he scored 9.36 points out of 20. He had to score 4.52 point but managed to score 3.53 on his final wave.

Earlier, Luke Cederman and Zennor Wernham and Maz Quinn were eliminated from the men’s division.

Quinn had the best score of the three; however, he could not succeed in the repechage placing him only in the third. The fickle condition of the water and the small waves made life a bit difficult for Quinn, who finished with a total score of 7.01 and 10.16 point ride.

Quinn was the highest finisher representing New Zealand in the open men’s team placing him on the 17th. Wernham ranked 25th. It was a notable improvement in his performance in 2006 where he placed 41st.
Cederman was also victimized by the small waves. Well-known for his fiery forehand surfing but still, he could not find that fiery forehand with the smaller waves on his backhand thereby placing him only on the 33rd.

All tourists as well as the locals who want to cool down and have fun under the scorching summer sun may have in the near future, a new option as the proposal for the building of the Ta’Quali finally gets the green light.
The application the Malta Environment and Planning Authority received is generally related to the larger tract of property beside the Flower Power nursery and is planned to be a family-oriented sports complex. This sports complex is said to include basketball and tennis courts, rock-climbing and rugby grounds. However, the most awaited is its water skiing complex.
The idea about Ta’Quali is to develop an all-season ski complex placed in a climate-controlled environment. This project is said to be promoted as a proposal which largely encourages sports-oriented and leisure projects.
According to organizers of this project, the ski-complex would definitely be using a massive amount of energy and water to run. Nevertheless, the local company organizing the project said that the project will be backed up by their British investors. The company even explains that the development of the project is eco-friendly because it will be using recycled water and solar. For this reason, people will definitely have fun without worrying about the environment.

Water sports have always been adventurous and fun especially for kids however, safety should always be the first priority. When taking your kids to the beach or the pool to do water sports, you have to make sure that the location has the complete safety facilities. Your children should also compulsorarily wear their life jackets, even if they know how to swim.

Life jackets, lifebuoys and whistle are the very important things that you should check before allowing your kid to do water sports. He should also be accompanied by an adult or an attentive lifeguard. Your kid should also be lectured with the first things to do when there is an emergency. Remember that you should only allow your kid to do water sports when the weather or climate is pleasant.

There are many different kinds of water sports for your kid. There are some that are done for pleasure and there are some for adventure and excitement. Your child can engage in boating, rafting, canoeing, sailing, scuba diving, surfing and of course swimming but remember, no matter what your kid chose to engage and participate in; excitement, fun and adventure are useless when his safety is at stake.

The recent fall of the US Economy as well as several other economies around the world is impacting Scuba Diving Tourism. Several Tourism in Australia and other parts of the world have closed their scuba diving tours. Rising fuel costs, diminished interest and global economic instability are to blame for this event.

Australia is home of the Great Barrier Reef. It is one of the most alive and intriguing scuba diving spots in the entire world. Divers come to the Great Barrier Reef hoping to see marine life at its best. That is why, it is a sad occasion to see scuba diving tourism in this area slowly ebb away. Of course, interest in the Barrier Reef and scuba diving in general will never cease. It is only experiencing a minor set back that tourist operators hope will revert as soon as the economy gets back on its feet.

One of the affected business include Townsville’ Sunsea Cruises in north Queensland. Australia. Operator Darin McDonald says that he has to close trips to the Great Barrier Reef because people are getting more cautious about taking scuba diving holidays because prices are going up. He says that cancelling the tours was a hard decision.

“It’s certainly been a gut-wrenching exercise,” Said McDonald. “We can’t continue to make the losses we have on this operation. We’ve looked at other options of how we can save this business. But realistically, we can’t see any other option but to have to close the doors.”