Archive for September, 2010
Learning How To Surf: 4 Tips For Success In The Water
Sometimes the hardest thing for beginning surfers is the initial embarrassment of not being good at the sport. Keep in mind that all good surfers had to start on the bottom rung just like you. I dont know a single soul who paddled into the water for the first time and didnt feel defeated and just plain bad about his or her ability. There is a steep learning curve and the first month can be painful both physically and mentally but remind yourself that everyone goes through it. You cant get better unless you experience being bad.
So its not surprising that you will become very familiar with the virtue of humility. As youre out there in the lineup observing other peoples epic rides while you in turn paddle for a wave and falter use that to your advantage. Consider your failures as something worth improving upon and try to understand what the good surfers are doing so that you can correct your technique. Its okay to feel completely uncoordinated as you lie there awkwardly belly down on the surfboard. Its better to be out there on the water than cooped up in your house or office wondering why you didnt push yourself harder.
Tip 1: Once you go keep at it for a month.
The best way to get through the difficult beginning stage of your surfing career is to make it as short as possible. Try to dedicate a whole month to your pursuit of surfing. Get in the water every day no matter what the conditions are. Rain or shine just get out there paddle around a bit. You dont even have to catch a wave! The simple act of being on the water and trying will advance your ability is enough.
Tip 2: Choose the right place to learn.
If youre heading out as frequently as you should you should also consider choosing one good learning spot. Find a break that is convenient where people are nice and friendly and where you feel comfortable. Youll establish a comfortable routine in no time and most likely youll acquire some surfing companions! Once you begin paddling out to the same break day in and day out people will recognize you and help you. Eventually they may even wonder where you were if you missed a day and will keep you on track.
Tip 3: Observe advanced surfers and learn from them.
There are also ways to learn how to surf when youre not even in the water! Pick up some good surfing videos and study them for your next session in the water. There are even some good instructional surfing videos at SouthCoast.com taught by pro surfers that are worth a look. Take mental note of the areas your surfing could improve on like how to stand on the board when to pop up how to duck dive how to paddle effectively. Then paddle out and work on what youre having trouble with the most based on what youve seen. You can also learn a lot by observing surfers on the beach. Pick one or two that seem to be catching the most and best waves at that break. Then analyze what it is they are doing that is effective. Maybe they are paddling longer or harder or popping up quicker. Maybe they know the right place to line up to catch the best waves and you dont yet. Observing other surfers is particularly effective if you are having trouble paddling into waves. If youre desperately paddling your heart out but the guy three feet from you is catching every wave that comes by you have some homework to do. Chances are that better surfers have better wave knowledge of your favorite spot and their familiarity with the wave gives them an edge. Next time youre on the beach watch them and find out what makes your local wave tick.
Tip 4: Observe beginning surfers then critique yourself.
Likewise you can learn what not to do. Countless times beginning surfers make mistakes that prevent them from properly catching waves. Sometimes they lie too far back on their boards or dont pop up soon enough. Other times they seem heavy footed and not quick to respond to the conditions of the wave. Make a list of things that beginning surfers do wrong and strive to check your own mistakes off that list. Use it as a checklist when you paddle out each day. That along with your list of what TO DO will get you to the next level in no time!
About the writer: Robb Bailey works for South Coast Surf Shops San Diegos premiere surfboard distributor and surf apparel dealer for more than 30 years. He has been inducted as a lifetime honorary member of his college surf club the Cal Poly Surfers Association and has traveled the world surfing for the past 11 years. Find out more about Robb at SouthCoast.com
Larp Necromancers And How To Play Them In Larp Games
Live Action Role Playing Necromancers in LARP/LRP
The idea of Live Action Role Playing or LARP is to take on a different persona to who you are in everyday life. Whatever genre the game or system you are taking part in is based on will decide and almost definitely limit the type of character that you can play. My article is about playing a Necromancer and the different ways they can be portrayed by you on larp events.
Necromantic Larp Costume
When you go Larping you will need to gather a costume together and a number of props and phys reps that improve and add to the overall look. A classic fantasy Necromancer is likely to be swathed in black probably a robe and a hood gloves too can help and a pale complexion of someone who has forgotten what it is like to venture out in daylight. Any extras you can add to this will make the character look more impressive. Skull motifs look good plus a surgeons bag or similar collection of instruments needed when dealing with dead bodies.
What is Necromancy in Larp?
The Encarta dictionary describes necromancy as the practice of attempting to communicate with the spirits of the dead in order to predict or influence the future. On Live Action Roleplaying events necromancers will not only talk to the dead but in many cases will attempt to animate them as zombies skeletons or even more powerful types of undead such as mummies wraiths and vampires. A classic live role playing necromancer will be trying to raise an army of undead to conquer the world!
How to make your larp Necromancer a bit different
Not every necromancer has to be the classic fantasy type described above and seen on numerous movies and portrayed in fantasy books. A necromancer can be an expert in all things to do with dead bodies lost civilisations and ancient languages; a slightly darker Indiana Jones. They could be a very scholarly type or a different version of a medium oracle seer or fortune teller. It is up to you whether or not you want to make your larp character that bit more unique and any player in any live role playing system could be their usual class or type during the day but at night has a morbid fascination with all things dead!
How not to get your Larp Necromancer killed
Playing evil characters in larp is always difficult; there is a very fine line between role playing evil and actually turning the other people larping against you. In a player vs player system like Herofest you will find it very important to make friends or allies with other like minded characters and can actually join a necromancers faction called the Tombs of the Dymwan however remember evil is often selfish and can turn in on itself so beware your allies as well! In a player vs monster larp system like Heroquest make a point of being evil towards the monsters and not towards other players who are then much more likely to fight alongside you and aid you rather than leaving you to get killed by monster attacks.
Other useful information on Necromancers on Larp events
It is always important when starting a new live role playing character to discuss it with the referees who are in charge of that lrp system. They may have particular ground rules for necromancy which you will need to adhere to. In most cases they will be able to aid you with your character background and even link you in with campaign history and past events. Remember like in all larp the most important thing to do is to have fun and enjoy.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Mark Roberts is the most experienced Larp referee in the world.
He runs a player vs player system in the UK called Herofest http://www.liveroleplaying.co.uk/
He also organises and runs Heroquest http://www.heroquestlarp.co.uk/ a Larp system for Heroic fantasy high hit adventure weekends.
Know More About Technical Diving
Within a decade technical diving has moved from being the preserve of extremists to becoming a main stream yet specialized field. The rationale behind technical diving has been reached only after passing through a series of challenges and scrutiny in the past. In the late 1980s the International Association of Nitrox Technical Divers became the first specialized technical training centre marking a revolution in diving.
For the recreational Scuba diver the diving depth limit is 40m and the diver should surface directly in up an unrestricted course. However technical divers enjoy unlimited diving depth and the diver may need to resurface along a more restricted route such as in technical cave diving.
Wreck diving also challenges the diver’s ability to cope with unstable conditions and the mazelike corridors in a wreck. After a deep dive the diver’s body has absorbed a large amount of inert gas mainly nitrogen. There is a lifethreatening danger in surfacing without following a proper decompression process during the ascent.
Technical diving is a relatively risky activity; therefore the training course follows stricter rules when admitting students. The instructor has the right to refuse nonsuitable candidates onto courses such as technical cave diving and rebreather diving. Generally students participating in basic technical diving courses should have at least two to three years of diving experience perhaps even as certified recreational diving instructors.
The main difference between technical divers and recreational divers is not their experience or courage but their mind set. Recreational divers are happy to swim over coral and fish while technical divers are eager to test their limits. At a depth of 300 feet the diver’s personality clear mind and technique are under massive stress. Even a minor mistake can lead to uncontrolled results in this environment. Therefore psychological fitness is even more important than physical fitness for a technical diver.
How should you choose a technical diving training agent? There are about five international training centres in Hong Kong including the founding agent IANTD and PADI. Several points should be considered when selecting a training centre: equipment availability and standard insistence on reasonable and correct training procedures the experience of the technical diving instructors and the opinions of exstudents. Though cost could be another point to consider the difference of a hundred or a thousand dollars is meaningless compared with the value of your life.
The course structure of a technical diving course is similar to a recreational one in that everyone starts from a basic level even if you are a qualified instructor or experienced diver. The technical deep dive course comprises three different levels under the IANTD and PADI systems.
The basic course is named Advanced Nitrox Diver IANTD or Apprentice Tech Deep Diver PADI. It teaches the student the benefits hazards and proper procedures to dive to a 45m depth using high content oxygen for rapid decompression. This is deeper than the recreational diver’s limit. It is important to strictly follow the time and safety stops procedures for surfacing otherwise decompression sickness the Bends could result. If a diver spends 30mins at a depth of 45m they will need an extra 40minutes for decompression.
After finishing the basic course the student can move on to the Technical Nitrox Diver IANTD or TecDeep Diver PADI. In this course the student dives as deep as 55 meters with two oxygenrich tanks one is pure oxygen for decompression. The 30minute deep dive practice at 55m will necessitate another 50 mins for decompression. Apart from the deep dive practice the student thoroughly studies the high pressure impact on the diver and psychological changes and works on improving posture and buoyancy control technique.
The final course is Trimix Diver. The diver uses a combination of low oxygen low nitrogen and high helium gas mixtures for an 80m dive. This gas mix is essential for such a deep dive as ordinary pressurized air places negative impacts on the diver’s body at depths of more than 55m. The 21 in air after 55m depth will cause the diver to conrulse and even lose consciousness this is oxygen toxcity. Inappropriate usage of the trimix gases however will also cause problems; therefore specialized training is a must.
All the technical diving courses include lectures pool work and deep water practice. The ratio of instructor to student is much lower than in recreational diving courses in which one instructor handles 3 to 4 students and the ratio is even stricter for certain courses to account for the more complicated nature of the course.
Technical Diving is still a risky activity the technique and experience learnt from technical diving can feed back into recreational diving to improve the safety standard for the whole diving industry.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Max helps people to loof for the best Golf Vacation in South East Asia. Find out more at Malaysia Golf Guide .