Summer days in the city just got more exciting with plenty of adventure and fun in store for all; the young and the young at heart will swear by it! Be it water sports activities or an action-packed day at the paintball or go-karting arena, the range of choices is mind-boggling. With most schools and colleges heading towards the most awaited the time of the year – summer vacations – here’s what Vizagites have to look forward to.
Paintball arena
It could be mistaken as a quiet neighbourhood; that’s until the fighters troop in to the ‘battlefield’. And that marks the beginning of a pulsating mock-combat game. Located near the Senora Beach Resort, the paintball arena of ‘Bunkers N Bonkers’ that was started recently promises an action-packed day for all. A sport that is played in teams or individually, it is a test of coordination, strategy and team-building skills. The player has to defeat the ‘opponent(s)’ by ‘shooting’ them down with a pellet within a stipulated time frame.
Once the game starts, the arena transforms into a ‘war zone’ with the warring factions hiding behind artificial bunkers or objects, dodging the ‘bullets’, which are actually colour-filled capsules, that are water-soluble, non-toxic, hypoallergenic and biodegradable.
The first organised paintball game was played in the U.S.A. by a group of friends in 1981, which over the years spread to more than 200 countries where it is played as a recreational sport and as a professional sport in over 50 countries.
It is also used as a training exercise by the New York Police Department, SWAT in various countries and by IT companies as a team-building exercise. In India, paintball as a sport is being used as a tool for corporate training. Bangalore hosts the Paintball Indian Open every year in which teams come from all over the world to compete for the championship. This year’s championship concluded last week.
In order to get the thrill of the game, all you have to do is block your day and time at the paintball arena and get a feel of the ‘war zone’.
The location is easily accessible but away from the crowd and buzz of the city.
Go-Karting
If speed gives you the adrenalin rush, then this is the place to experience. ‘HiFy’ go-karting arena at the Visakhapatnam-Bheeminupatnam road offers 23 sputtering little buggies powered with 200 cc engines to get the thrill and fun of navigating through the 800-metre circuit, claimed to be the longest track in India. The carts and track have been set up in compliance with the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) guidelines.
The karts are in different sizes suitable for age groups from three years to 70 years. Apart from this, the centre has six ATVs and five bikes for children. There are tyre barriers around the circuit which prevents the driver from getting injured.
So is go-karting being promoted as an amusement or a sport? The young minds behind the entertainment zone say that it is definitely a fun-filled sport, but not just pure amusement as it has its rules and techniques.
The game is very popular in England and Europe and these tracks are the training ground for drivers that progress eventually to higher and faster forms of racing including Formula-I. The partners plan to hold the city’s first National Go-Karting championship in the next two months.
Scuba diving
Dive into the sea to discover the mysterious world of marine life this summer. Adding extra fun to the scorching days of summer is a summer camp on scuba diving by Dolphin Dive Academy. The academy runs three-day beginner’s course on scuba diving. Seven batches are already over.
The next batch will start from Monday. So, be it a basic course in scuba diving or becoming a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) master scuba diver, here’s a chance to try it out. The academy has also initiated a programme called ‘Dive for a Cause’ to protect the coast against debris and create a safe home for marine life.
