Five of the Best Up-and-Coming Snowboarding Destinations

Since its beginnings as more of a fringe spot, snowboarding has made huge inroads into resorts originally intended for those on skis. In fact, many of the world’s best ski resorts have added specific snowboarding parks, including areas for those who prefer a ride on the half-pipe to a day out on the trails.

However, if there’s one thing that the naysayers did get right, it’s that snowboarders are a fun and adventurous bunch. Thus, why go on the same boring vacation that everyone else has already been on? Taking on new parks and hills is a lot more exciting than checking out a spot you’ve already had many times over. But combing the world for the hot new destination is a lot of work, especially after a hard day on the mountain.

For anyone planning a high-energy snowboarding vacation, combing the list of the world’s best mountains for snowboarding would be a time-consuming task. Thankfully, we’ve done it for you. Here are the five hottest spots for some of the world’s best snowboarding. Whether you’re into racing down the mountain or landing perfect tricks, there’s something on the list for everyone.

Hlidarfjall, Iceland – While Iceland might not be at the top of many snowboarding lists, the fact is, this incredible island country has some excellent and rarely explored slopes available. After all, where else can you snowboard on a mountain with views to a sometimes-active volcano? Seven kilometers away from the university town of Akuereyri in the north, Hlidarfjall is one of the most popular resorts in the whole country, with four lifts and a simple ski lodge leading the way to some fun trails. The highlight for visitors seems to be the night boarding.

Whistler Blackcomb – Located in British Columbia, this hugely popular ski and snowboard resort is the largest resort of its kind in all of North America. High-speed lifts mean less wait time between runs, and there’s even an area for tubing when you get sick of boarding.

Bansko, Bulgaria – Western Europe is so last year, anyway. Try what European boarders already figured out, and book a flight to Sofia, Bulgaria. Bansko is only a couple of hours away from the country’s capital city, but it feels like a world once you see those beautiful snow-covered mountains. Located in the beautiful Pirin Range, Bansko has over 20 kilometers of tree-lined slopes in its three separate areas of the mountain.

Borno, Italy – Located in Italy’s Lombardia region, this medium-sized resort offers a truly impressive 700 meters of vertical descent for its skiers and snowboarders. A short trip from Milan, it’s popular with beginner snowboarders because of its large amount of beginner-oriented trails, but both experts and intermediates will also find a number of runs to their liking.

Blafjoll, Iceland – With Iceland’s economy tanking, it’s never been more affordable for snowboarders to head to this magical world of fire, little people, northern lights, and even some excellent snowboarding. One of the largest resorts in Iceland, Blafjoll is best suited for intermediate snowboarders, with slightly more difficult trails. It might have one of the best views around. Night boarding is a popular activity here.

Damian Papworth loves snowboarding in Japan. He is aware that for japan snow accommodation, the Hooting Owl Lodge in Niseko is difficult to beat.

categories: snowboarding,snowboarding apparel,winter gear,sports clothes,winter sports,extreme sports,snow sports,winter,snow,sports,sports and recreation,travel,travel and leisure

Australia’s Unique Gold Coast

Australia’s eastern shore contains many amazing habitats and natural wonders, and the beaches that grace this stretch of the Australian are most definitely among the most alluring in the world. On the eastern coast, and in the nation as a whole, surely among the most famed and gorgeous destinations, with more than enough reason, is Gold Coast City and the wider area of the Gold Coast.

This strip of beautiful shoreline and hinterland is situated in the southeastern corner of the state of Queensland, and happens to be located a relatively quick drive south of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is the biggest city in the country among the non-capital cities, and this is in large part due to the tremendous rate of growth of the tourism sector in the Gold Coast.

One of the most stunning attributes of the Gold Coast is the subtle yet excellent fusion of modern, urban life with pristine natural surroundings, achieved in such a way that few if any other places in the world can claim. The center of town and the most developed area is the narrow stretch of city located right on the waterfront, and there are plenty of high-rise apartment condos and many more features of a modern cityscape; then, there are natural spaces located a little farther inland such as the pristine and biodiverse rainforest and many remote beach areas that are fodder for backpackers, nature lovers, and anybody looking to get back in touch with the great outdoors.

A truly remarkable quality of this area is its winding grid of man-made canals and waterways, which were built as a way to ease development in what was historically a low-lying marshy area. In their totality, these canals stretch out over a distance that is over nine times longer than the world-famous canals of Venice, which is a fair amount of waterways when you think about it. One of the benefits of this feautre has been that lots of properties are located on the waterfront even if they are not right on the beach, and this has helped boost the Gold Coast’s allure.

The excellent surfing conditions to be found in the Gold Coast are perhaps its biggest claim to fame: at the national and global level, the surf breaks here are prized like few others. At spots like Kirra, Burleigh Heads or Surfers Paradise there is just about always going to be a perfect wave right about to break not far from shore, at almost any time of the year.

In keeping with the strong beach culture of the Gold Coast, there is a wonderfully efficient and excellently equipped Shark Control Program in place that has helped keep coastal swimmers free of shark attacks for a very long time indeed, at over fifty years by now. These vigilant eyes help keep locals and tourists happy and relaxed, just the way anybody should feel on a nice vacation.

The local landmarks in the Gold Coast include the Q1 tower, which provides the second-tallest observation spot in the southern hemisphere (approximately 230 meters, or 754 feet high), and Lamington National Park, listed by the UN as a World Heritage Site. It goes without saying that every inch of beach along the Gold Coast is a landmark unto itself

In sum, this is a place with a little something for everybody, and a whole lot more, too! Apparently the 10 million annual tourists that visit the Gold Coast think that way as well, with many of them being Australians themselves…real evidence that this destination is one you can’t afford to miss out on.

A member of a successful surfboard hire network, Gold Coast Surfboards are the organisation to talk to for surfboard hire and other surf travel products You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.

categories: Surf Holiday,Australia,Gold Coast,Family Holiday,Extreme,Beach Vacation,Outdoors,Summer Vacation,Summer Holiday,travel tips,travel,recreation,destinations,recreation and sports

Hitting the Slopes: A Beginner’s Guide to Snowboarding Gear

Dressing for success isn’t just for a first date or a job interview. It’s just as important out on the mountain, where the wrong outfit can mean a lot more than just looking silly. Whether you’ve been snowboarding forever or are just starting out, the most important thing to remember is that dressing for the elements is just as much a part of staying safe as having the right kind of board and staying off of runs that are too difficult for your skill level.

While choosing the right board and binding is important, no one, beginner or expert, should consider a day on the slopes without planning accordingly.

Cotton should be avoided at all costs because unlike synthetics, it actually holds water in instead of wicking it away. That matters when snow is melting on your boots and potentially getting into your socks. An excellent sock made of a materiel like SmartWool will keep you dry and healthy, while cotton will only lead to trouble. Don’t even put a layer of cotton over something synthetic: avoid it at all costs. Good winter gear won’t have cotton elements.

As far as layering goes, it’s the best way to stay both warm and cool out on the slopes. For those snowboarders who are going to be out during spring season, sometimes it’s necessary to remove a layer to beat the heat of the mid-day sun. If, instead of one very thick winter coat and one long underwear shirt, you layer long underwear, a thin sweater, a thick sweater, and a coat with a shell, it will make staying as cool or as warm as you want to be a breeze.

The first and most crucial part of any snowboarding outfit is that initial layer, the base layer. This is where it is really important to remember absolutely no cotton at all. Long underwear, or thermal underwear, should fit snugly but not too tightly, and should be made of a material that will wick sweat away. The same goes for socks, which should be made of wool or some other synthetic material that allows breathing while eliminating the risk of water.

The insulation layer of a snowboarding outfit goes on over the base layer, but does not need to protect from the elements like the outer layer. Also known as the middle layer, this is what provides extra warmth by keeping heat locked firmly in while allowing water to be wicked away. The middle layer consists of a sweater or zip-up, usually made of wool or fleece. Its purpose is to provide a little bit more warmth while not adding too much bulk to the outfit. Boots are also included in the middle layer.

The outer layer of any snowboarding outfit is the stuff that actually keeps you from getting snow in your clothing. It is important to make sure that even something as simple as a cap is not made of cotton, as it is just important for your body to be able to “breathe” while bundled up as it is for the heat to stay locked in. Hats should cover your ears as well as the top of your head, and as people lose almost all of their body heat through their heads, it’s important to find one that fits securely and keeps the heat locked in.

The outer layer of clothing for snowboarding also consists of gloves, which are particularly important given that most snowboarding falls put the most impact on the hands and wrists. Make sure to get a pair that has extra padding in the palm, as well as sufficient insulation. Sometimes, a thin wool glove is worn inside of the large waterproof glove, for extra warmth on particularly cold days.

One of the most important elements of outerwear are the goggles, which protect against just about everything, from ice and water to tree branches and too much sun. Goggles should fit snugly around the face and be attached with a secure band so that they don’t go flying off during a particularly invigorating run.

Once you’re all suited up properly, staying on the mountain for hours at a time is a piece of cake!

If you are considering visiting the Japan Snow, try the Niseko ski fields. It is amazing for those who want to try snowboarding in Japan

categories: snowboarding,snowboarding apparel,winter gear,sports clothes,winter sports,extreme sports,snow sports,winter,snow,sports,sports and recreation,travel,travel and leisure

A Glimpse of the World’s Most Unique Hotels

It used to be that hotels were merely for business stopovers, they were a place you stayed simply for the bed and a nice meal. Now however, the whole concept of the hotel has changed. They are no longer merely a place to rest your head for the night; today’s hotels are places to immerse yourself in another world.

The trend in hotels is towards providing guests with an immersive experience. Hotels have become concepts; no longer is enough to be a stop over. Modern hotels are escapes; they act as little pockets of luxury, of freedom from the normal 9 to five grind.

From art-themed, to book themed, to green and clean to haute cuisine and high fashion, hotels have clung onto every chic and hip meme out there, developing them into posh design concepts which easily attract the curious and smart from all corners of the world to lay down their heads and their dollars for a night’s sleep.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that your standard luxury hotel has gone out of fashion. These are still very much in vogue. Sitting in the lap of luxury by the seaside sipping Mai Tais and other umbrella cocktails is a standard, especially for the jet setters and those on vacation. You can’t visit the pristine beaches of Phuket or the labyrinthine passage ways of Venice without finding a chic and exclusive hotel featuring big screen LCDs and 24 hour room service. These hotels will always be popular. You can always count on the big luxury chains like the Hilton or Four Seasons to offer you every creature comfort in the book.

Nevertheless, nowadays people are seeking more. They’re looking for something different, an authentic experience, whether it be a clean, green hotel in the Amazon jungle or a small artsy boutique in Manhattan. There’s no lack of edgy, cool hotels out there.

Here’s a look at just some of the latest and most unique hotels you can find in exotic and not so exotic locals around the world.

The Magic Mountain Hotel, in Panguipulli, Chile, at the center of the Huilo Huilo nature reserve, is a hotel in the shape of a mountain. Water spouts from the top of the mountain, cascadeing down the sides creating a spectacular sight. This is definitely not your ordinary hotel. It’s set in the middle of a forest in beautiful southern Chile; there are hot tubs made out of tree trunks, perched on a wooden deck overlooking the woodlands; and there’s also a nearby golf course. Rooms start at around $170USD per night.

In Sweden, visitors to Jukkaskjarvi can stay in a hotel made out of pure, solid ice. Although there are several ice hotels in the world, this one was the original Ice Hotel; it’s also the world’s largest hotel made out of ice and snow, covering some 5500 square meters. The hotel started out as a small igloo built on the Torne River, as an art exhibit. Some visitors decided to sleep in the igloo and the ice hotel concept was born from there. Today there are several ice hotels all over the world.

The Harlingen Lighthouse, in Holland served as a beacon for sailors and their ships for over three centuries. Today, the lighthouse had been converted into a romantic getaway for couples. There’s only a few rooms, so book ahead.

The Franklin Feel the Sound Hotel in Rome is all about music. This place is dedicated to good tunes, good design and modern technology. Located a few blocks away from the Vatican in the Prati quarter, this hotel offers guests all the creature comforts including high quality stereo sound systems and vinyl records.

Damian Papworth enjoys helping people on their Gold Coast Holiday. As such, for additional convenience he has built a search engine to find Gold Coast hotels Australia.

categories: Surf Holiday,Australia,Gold Coast,Family Holiday,Extreme,Beach Vacation,Outdoors,Summer Vacation,Summer Holiday,travel tips,travel,recreation,destinations,recreation and sports

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