Outdoor Sports Guide » Camping

Worldwide climbing

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:18:56 +0000

There are various types of climbing such as rock climbing, ice climbing, buildering (climbing up the outside of tall buildings), bouldering as well as mountaineering by using various techniques to ascend mountains. Because there is so much choice climbing makes such an exciting sport for all age groups.

Rock Climbing:

Rock climbing is the most familiar form of climbing which It involves climbing up or across man-made rock walls or natural rock formations. Its goal is to reach the top, known as the summit. Like all other extreme sports, rock climbing needs proper training and knowledge of climbing techniques and also the usage of specialized equipment. It requires strength, agility and endurance and is a sport that is physically demanding as well as mentally. Rock climbers also need to have a high level of control.

Ice Climbing:

This sport involves climbing ice formations, ie.cliffs and rocks covered with ice, frozen waterfalls and icefalls. Ice climbing is generally devided into two different types alpine ice and water ice.

Alpine ice is found on mountains and is usually climbed when trying to each the summit, where as water ice is when a flow of water has frozen, it is often found on cliffs. Both types depend on weather conditions, and training on knowledge is essential for climbers.

Buildering:

Buildering is when you climb on the outside of buildings and other structures. It is also known as urban climbing. Buildering attracts huge crowds and media attention, calling it the modern day spiderman.

Climbers start with smaller sections of buildings and gradually build on there skills to accomplish larger structures. Buildering can be a dangerous sport if practised without ropes and protection. It makes training a must.

Bouldering:
This sport gains new skills in climbing, and is now a popular sport in its own right. It is a style of rock climbing used without rope and is normally restricted to very short climbs to limit serious injury. It is a great sport to develop your skills.

It is usually practised on natural or man-made boulders (a large rock). The more experienced climber can practice at the base of larger rock faces.

Essential Camping Gear

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:14:21 +0000

When selecting the right gear for your first campout, the basic essentials that you have to take with you are shelter, a bed and food.
For enjoyable family camping, you should pick a camping tent that will support the needs of your family. Tents come in three basic shapes: A-frame, Dome tents and Walled tents.

A-frame tents, shaped like the letter “A”, are typically small, durable and sleep 2-3 people, with a waterproof floor, mosquito screen vents and doors. The breathable fabric allows the moisture from inside to be released while the waterproof rain fly protects the outside.

Dome tents are the most popular tent shapes, with poles bend over the body of the tent that give it plenty of stability, even in strong winds. They have spacious interiors with plenty of headroom.

Walled tents are large “condo” looking tents with walls, a ceiling and lots of room. A ridgepole runs between upright poles to hold the tent up. They basically use the same wall materials (nylon and polyester),but are more bulky to transport and more difficult to setup. Ideal for long campouts.

A good sleeping bag to keep you warm at night is the other essential for comfortable camping. You may use a sleeping pad between you and the cold ground which will give you a cushy sleep surface. The best choices for pads are foam, self-inflating pads, or air mattress.

Lastly is the food, and the preparation of it that is essential for enjoyable camping and outdoor cooking. You may choose to bring with you hot dogs with corn-on-the-cob and some brownies and milk for dessert or scrambled eggs, bacon, orange juice, brown toast and coffee for the morning. The perishable items will fit into a cooler that is easy to transport and store.

You will also need a camp stove and a cooking kit consisting of pots and pans and some disposable plates, cups and utensils. Most campsites have a picnic table and grill or BBQ. so you have to bring some charcoal along with you.Camping Essentials – Checklist

Golden opportunity for schoolboys

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:24:53 +0000

This year’s Glucofit Cricket Sixes tournament, starting on October 16, gives schoolboys from the once war-torn North and East the opportunity to rub shoulders with Colombo’s elite. This is further evidence on how much this tournament has gained popularity over the years. Six combined school sides will feature players from lesser known schools and districts like Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Bandarawela, Moneragala, Ampara and Hambantota.

Another new concept is the Free Hit off a no-ball and also an arts competition where students of Wesley College will figure in the Glucofit Cricart. This competition will be extended to all schools around the country from next year.

The organisers will make use of the occasion to declare open on the final day of the tournament the newly re-laid turf pitches at Campbell Park which was supervised by Sri Lanka Cricket. The winners will receive the Munchee Glucofit Champions Trophy and the runner-up the Old Wesleyites SC trophy.

There are individuals awards for Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Fielder, Highest Number of Sixes, Man of the Tournament, Man of the Final, and Best Outstation Team. Another new trophy is for the Well Disciplined Team on and off the field.

Wesley’s oldest living cricket captain who resides in Sri Lanka, Edmund Dissanayake, will be the chief guest. Dissanayake, who captained Wesley in 1946 is 86 years old and is one of four cricketers from the Hambantota district to have led the schools at cricket. The others were TI Cassim (1944), Mahendra Dissanayake (1984) and Danesh Dissanayake (1989).

From – www.cricinfo.com

CAMPING

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:15:12 +0000

Dome tents are the most popular tent shapes, with poles bend over the body of the tent that give it plenty of stability, even in strong winds. They have spacious interiors with plenty of headroom.