Riders to the sea

A chance for novices to give adventure sports a shot, and experience the adrenaline rush

You can’t conquer the sea in a day. But you can get a pretty good head start, and Tent N Trek wants to help you do just that. The outdoor adventure company has been teaching surfing, snorkelling and stand-up paddling along the Chennai coast for over a year now, and will be conducting an introductory class for beginners once again, this Sunday.

When they say beginners, they mean absolute beginners: even those who can’t swim, or those who feel more than a little intimidated by the deep blues, or aren’t sure if they have the fitness level for such activities.

So, what if a participant doesn’t fall into the conventional definition of ‘fit’? Do not worry, assures Manoj Suriya, one of the organisers of Tent N Trek. “You just need to be more than 10 years old and possess a taste for adventure. We will handle the rest. That’s why we have certified trainers. In any case, participants won’t be in danger because they won’t be taken into the deep sea.”

Apart from full-fledged certification courses, which last for at least a month, programmes like the one on Sunday are designed around tackling first-time jitters. They also conduct a short introduction into oceanography.

“We’ve realised that the more people know about the sea, the less scared they feel. So we teach them the basics of the structure and formation of waves, to get them familiar with the idea,” explains Suriya.

Once that is over, the participants make their way to the water with the instructors. The instructors, who are from Bay of Life Surf School, make it a point to not leave any participant unattended. “Surfing, snorkelling and stand-up paddling: each has a different area of focus. Some depend a lot on balance; others require stamina. The instructors guide you through it,” says Suriya. “For instance, while stand-up paddling, you need to maintain your balance standing upright on a surf board.”

Tent N’ Trek is sought out by seasoned adventurers, for everything from mountain biking to white water rafting. But the organisation also focuses on wannabe adventurers, teetering hesitantly on the threshold. So, if you aren’t sure about adventure sports in the sea, explore the possibility this weekend and find out how you fare.

The registration fee is ₹1,350. To register, contact 9159544544.