GO EXTREME THIS SUMMER! BY: ANNE BERNADETTE VILLEZA

Summer is the perfect time to be adventurous. One should not miss the chance to relax and have fun. You should also maximize the opportunity of spending this long vacation with your family. And the other way to enjoy is by trying different things together. For once, it’s never too late to be exploratory.
Extreme sports are really famous nowadays. In the Philippines, extreme sports like rock climbing, wake boarding, white water rafting and sky diving are among the few that being patronized by most Pinoys.


Paintball
Paintball is one of the fastest growing extreme sports in the Philippines. Enthusiasts see it as a sport fit for Filipinos because it does not require height as much as other sports do. Relying on stealth, speed, and targeting, smaller players usually have the upper hand in paintball games because they are quicker and harder to spot. In fact, the Philippine paintball team won top honors in the 2004 Asian Cup and the 2005 Asian Pacific Paintball Amateur Championship. Also, many of the top paintball players in the United States are Filipinos.
The most popular paintball venues in the country are Antipolo, Clark Field Pampanga, and Corregidor. The paintball facility in Boomcamp near Boom na Boom, Pasay City is said to be frequented by competing amateur teams like the Philippine paintball team.

Rock climbing

Broadly speaking, is the act of ascending steep rock formations. Normally, climbers use gear and safety equipment specifically designed for the purpose. Strength, endurance, and mental control are required to cope with tough, dangerous physical challenges, and knowledge of climbing techniques and the use of essential pieces of gear and equipment are crucial. Although rock climbing is an outdoor activity, many cities are home to indoor rock climbing gyms which can be formatted to match the physical (but not necessarily mental or technical) skill level needed for outdoor climbing.


Major rock climbing sites in Philippines are Atimonan, Quezon, Apo Island, El Nido, Palawan, Putting Bato, Climbing Areas in the Philippines, Montalban.



White Water Rafting

The Cagayan de Oro River being very mighty and beautiful offers the full glory of white water rafting. People of all ages and athletic abilities, with no previous experience raft the rivers can challenge the rapids and enjoy the wilderness fun. The Chico River is for those seeking untamed white water thrills offering potentially terrifying drops, ledges, rapids and the most exciting sightseeing trip.

Philippines is now prime destination for whitewater enthusiasts. June to early march is the ideal period for rafting, while July to January is peak white water rafting months. You can go to Chico River, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Antique or Quezon Province.


Sky Diving

Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of performing acrobatics during freefall, followed by pulling the ripcord of a parachute, Although, if you JUMP from said surface, you are technically finishing a jump, You must FALL for it to be considered skydiving, it can be performed from any object as long as you Fall and pull the ripcord before landing.

The Philippines has affordable skydiving packages that allow you to fulfill your dream of hurtling through the sky while marveling at the majestic views. The Skydiving Center in Tanauan, Batangas presents one of the most spectacular skydiving scenery in the world, with a drop zone between Mount Makiling and Taal Volcano.



Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is a water sport which involves riding a wakeboard while being towed by a moving boat. Other vehicles like watercrafts and all-terrain vehicles are also used in wakeboarding. The sport was developed by surfers and snowboarders in the US in the 1980s, combining techniques used in water skiing, snow boarding, and surfing to create an alternative water sport.

A six-hectare cable wake-boarding park inside the provincial capitol complex officially opened last May 2006 during the celebration of the Kaogma Festival which marks Camarines Sur’s foundation day. It’s now considered as the most modern in the world, with a six-point cable ski system. Visit Camsur Water Sports Complex official web site for more details.