July 7, 2021
We know that very many have skipped the last season of skiing – we had numerous postponed alpine events and opted to ride out the pandemic in the Alps. There isn’t a scrap of celebration with enjoying private slopes – our industry has been decimated by the pandemic, and we spent much of the winter reflecting on how people make the ski experience so unique. And there really isn’t anything that can compete with the thrill of riding down mountains, sharing views with colleagues and watching the sunset over the snowfields of the Alps. We created an app to reconnect skiers and snowboarders with the snow digitally, but we appreciate that most would take the real thing every time.
Tourist hotspots in Spain can see beaches overrun with parasols and loungers - not our idea of an escape. Coasteering has come along and offered a whole new perspective on coastal Spain, with an exploration of rugged, deserted coves on the rock and in water. It’s a whole new angle – replacing crowds and the buzz of life, coasteering offers solitude, adventure and the rhythmical sound of the ocean. Routes vary, but generally, coasteering offers cliff jumps, swimming, climbing and caving. Plunging into emerald Mediterranean waters from cliffs is a unique experience and a very new slant of coastal events.
Zip wires have been strung across many routes worldwide, but few come close to the drama of the Orelle – Val Thorens zip that reaches speeds above 100 km/h. At over 3000m high, the zip offers stunning views across the roof of the Alps, whilst the 250m drop to the valley isn’t a sight too many of us experience and live to tell the tale.
It’s not something that lends itself to a Bournemouth bank holiday weekend, but on windswept, spacious, low-tide beaches, Blokarting is different and seriously special. With its roots in land yachting, Blokarts are ultra-minimal triangular karting frames underneath a sail. Haul in the rope, feel the wind hit the sail and hang on – these things are rapid and nimble. It takes just a matter of minutes to get the hang of speed and direction control, and then it is time to show your colleagues who the boss is. Unlike bulky and heavy sailing yachts, Blokarts are incredibly responsive and offer an incredible intimacy with the power of the wind.
Sailing shares the wind's propulsion with Blokarts but little else. Crewed by teams, yachts are far more involved and there is enormous team satisfaction in taking the clean air and line in front of rival boats. Unlike Blokarts, sailing yachts usually double as floating bars, with the chance to enjoy a drop of something in some of the most exquisite locations imaginable.
While we’ve missed these activities, it will be all the more enjoyable when we are finally standing atop Mallorcan Cove again!