Should high school deans and the Department of Education at large rethink requirements for swimming and other water sports due to water worries in the United States?

Maintaining a swimming pool and program in public schools is incredibly costly, especially in times of economic recession. The budget for water sports programs in high school include fees for supplies, staff, and other maintenance. Are major swimming pools for high schools and recreational teams still a cost effective activity considering natural resource concerns?

Ultimately, ensuring the sustainable use of water resources necessitates control for consumption in all capacities. Affects of the global water crisis are felt at every level of the population in industrialized and developing countries alike.

Since swimming is a recreational activity, can policy makers or local schools prove that such classes are imperative to delivering a quality education to high school students? Or will the Department of Education and local school districts need to make a big plunge…eradicating water sports from education?

Due to economic disparities that exist between school districts in communities with different tax brackets, removing swimming lessons could be a step toward equalizing education across the United States.

If school districts with swimming pools effectively prove that swimming lessons are an integral part of quality education, then a case for establishing swimming pools in every school could be made. Clearly, such a mandate would not be economically viable.

For some students, swimming lessons may present an exciting alternative as opposed to otherwise dry physical education classes. For others,  changing into a swim suit in front of classmates is a dreadfully uncomfortable experience.

Firstly, educators should analyze how swimming made its way into public school curriculum. Secondly, budget experts and deans need to identify if such a costly program is indeed still an immutable facet of the American secondary education experience.

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The Evolution of Sui-Ren: Water Ninja Techniques

There are five distinct categories of how water was used by ninjas. The ninja used special boats called hasami bune that were shaped like tennis rackets. They were specifically designed to cross rivers that could not be jumped.

Water was also used as a strategic weapon by ninja. Attacking enemy forces included destroying an individual or community’s access to water resources. Contaminating water or withholding water resources from captives was a method of combat for the ninja.

Using water as a weapon in this way does not involve direct combat or threat to the ninja. In fact, polluting a water source that supplies a local village with water for crops and daily needs could do more damage than direct combat, while not directly endangering the ninja. In essence, it was an ancient form of eco-terrorism.

Interestingly, ninjas used reeds as breathing tools that allowed them to stay below the water for extended periods of time. Sophisticated equipment such as oxygen and breathing tanks would actually be too cumbersome for the ninja. In order to fight battles in the water, the ninja would have to be nimble and unrestrained by weighty equipment.

These long reeds doubled as weapons from which ninjas could launch darts. A ninja could hide beneath the surface of the water and target an opponent with darts that he could shoot from the same reed supplying water.

Ninjas also used water systems such as water wells and urns to hide themselves. A ninja could remain under water while watching an enemy and waiting for the perfect moment to attack, all the while breathing adequate quantities of air through a reed.

Finally, ninjas were taught the invaluable skill of finding and purifying water, even under duress. In combat, water resources are precious. In order to survive, ninjas needed to know how to find safe water to replenish their bodies.

For ninjas, water was imperative to survival on all levels. Water underscored their survival in strategic battle the health of their bodies. These ancient techniques of using water as a weapon did not fade as did the art of ninja. Rather these same methods of eco-terrorism and water combat have evolved into more advanced techniques for waging war.

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In a previous article published on 18 January 2011, Devine told WaterWideWeb, “Estimates based on information from the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce indicate that the event fuels $2 million into the local economy.”

Andrew Schultz, a first-time attendee of the BJIE, was the official winner of this year’s competition. Schultz and a group of six friends drove in from a small town close to Milwaukee, WI. They lodged at a local hotel and participated in the competition that took place on 22 January 2011.

Schultz landed a 7.18 lb. Northern Pike fish in 11 feet of water. Unbeknownst to Schultz, he would drive home $150,000 richer than when he traveled to Minnesota the prior evening. Schultz’s lucky catch was reeled in using only a minnow and a tip-up device.  “A tip-up device covers the fishing hole so that a fisherman doesn’t have to sit there and attract the fish,” explained Devine.

The BJIE starts at 12 p.m. and contestants typically hit the ice between 9 and 10 a.m to choose their fishing holes. For three hours, contestants fish the lake, competing to catch the biggest fish.

Shelters are not allowed on the ice so all participants have to bundle up and brave the cold weather on the day of the event. This year, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton withstood the cold to participate in the event but didn’t catch anything.

According to Devine, a contestant narrowly missed the 3 p.m. deadline by 12 minutes, thus disqualifying the weigh in. “A contestant came in at 3:12 p.m. to weigh in a larger fish but the event ended at 3 p.m.,” noted Devine. 

For the past 5 years, the BJIE has partnered with the non-profit organization Recycle Fish (RF). RF donates people power and bags filled with water for contestants to safely transport their catches from the lake to the weighing station.

The life expectancy of the fish when carried in these bags is longer than if fishermen had to carry their fish to the weighing stations without water. By safely returning more fish to the lake with the help of  the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the freshwater ecosystem of the lake is minimally  compromised by the competition.

RF also collaborates with a program called Pikes for Vets which donates fresh fish to Veteran’s organization so that army vets can enjoy a big fish fry.

Three hundred volunteers helped make the 2011 BJIE a success. Devine estimates that approximately $180-200,000 will be donated to local charities and organizations based on the donations made in previous years by the BJIE.

The BJIE is an event that merges economic development with recreation and good-natured competition for the local community of Brainerd, Minnesota. You don’t have to be an expert with top-notch equipment to win the BJIE, as proved by Schultz. You just have to love ice fishing and not mind the frigid temperatures.

The photo above was provided by the 2010 Brainerd Jaycee Ice-Fishing Competition

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In a telephone interview, Cabrinha told WaterWideWeb, “The day that I won the Billabong in 2004, I wasn’t out there pursuing a record. I was just doing my thing.”

Throughout his career, Cabrinha has experimented with kite surfing, tow surfing, and wind surfing. “Now I stick to surfing and kite surfing. But, I’d say that kite surfing is a main stay,” says Cabrinha.

The 7 year title holder has had his fair share of close encounters with dorsal fins and sharks. In Hawaii, there aren’t many sharks. So, seeing a shark in the water is always a bit alarming, he says.

On a trip to Tahiti two years ago, Cabrinha was shocked that sharks were everywhere. Apparently, the natives of Tahiti were not spooked by sharks swimming freely all around them. “Sharks in the water there are like neighborhood dogs. The relaxed attitude of the locals makes you feel more relaxed. You recalibrate your attitude toward them,” noted Cabrinha.

Part of Cabrinha’s success with big waves can be attributed to his participation in tow surfing. “In tow surfing, you use a jet ski to reach waves that you normally can’t paddle into,” explained Cabrinha. He and his friends pioneered tow surfing which allowed them to surf wave that were never ridden in places that nobody wanted to ride.

Cabrinha’s advice to aspiring surfers is to be concerned with the sport itself, versus the reward of riding the world’s largest wave. “First, enjoy it. Set personal challenges for yourself, and the rest will happen around you,” Cabrinha assures young surfers. “The prize becomes the mission rather than the journey. For me, it’s always been about testing myself and impacting the sport in a different way.”

At the conclusion of the interview, Cabrinha reminds readers that the surfers out there riding the biggest waves aren’t doing it because they’re after a prize. They’re out there because they are doing what the really love to do. Those who are passionate about the sport will challenge themselves the hardest. And those are the individuals who enhance the sport and leave behind their legacy in sport’s history.

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The Wickedest City Under Water

Gonzalez is a “big fish” in Florida’s Biscayne Bay. The Captain has been catching bonefish for over two decades. In the past seven years, Gonzalez has caught almost 1,500 bonefish. He also works with Dr. Jerry Ault and Mike Larkin of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science that is researching bonefish population and behavior.

In January 2011, The Bonefish & Tarpon Journal featured an entire story on the contribution of Gonzalez to the sport and science of bone fishing. Specifically, Gonzalez works with acoustic telemetry studies and the long-term anchoring-tagging program.

Tagging the bonefish allows scientists to track the number of bonefish from Biscayne Bay all the way down to the Florida Keys. Research and tracking of bonefish is important to preserving the sport of fishing and the money that it flows into the economy annually. According to Ault, the average bonefish represents  $3,500 per year and $75,000 in its lifetime.

If the bonefish population were to alter drastically, it would be indicative that either the ecosystem of the fish had altered or some change to its immediate environment had occurred.

Gonzalez’s findings have concluded that bonefish are not just “locals” in their water. Rather, they travel to other seas. Larger bonefish have distanced themselves offshore of Biscayne Bay. Sometimes, the fish travel into even deeper seas when the temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

In fact, a fish that Gonzalez caught in Biscayne Bay was actually found almost 11 months later at Andros Island in the Bahamas.

Presently, bonefish research can’t be compared over the long-term because there haven’t been any historical studies.  The work of Gonzalez and his affiliates at the University of Miami is laying the framework for future comparative studies of bonefish over time.

Nostalgically, the old Captain says, “So yes, the fishing is not as strong as it used to be. But we’ll always be talking about how it used to be.”

Photo provided by Captain Joe Gonzalez

Please watch videos of fishing in Biscayne Bay by the Capatain here

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The event began in 1990 by the Brainerd chapter of the United States Junior Chamber as an effort to empower youth, impact the local community, and support local charities. In the first year of the BJIE, the event netted $5,000. Now, in its 21^st year, the event nets roughly $500,000 and counting.

Mary Devine, marketing coordinator and past chairman of BJIE, told WaterWideWeb “Estimates based on information from the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce indicate that the event fuels $2 million into the local economy.”

Brainerd is the hub of Minnesota’s lake country. It’s a popular summer tourist destination but visits to the area are less frequent during the frigid winter months. So, the BJIE presents an opportunity for local businesses to earn extra income in the off season.

Approximately $250,000 of BJIE earnings are given to local charities each year. Seventy percent of this ice fishing philanthropy is allocated yearly to the Confidence Learning Center, a program that facilitates outdoor activities for individuals with developmental disabilities.

BJIE assures responsible fishing in Brainerd waters as well. Competitive fishing events pose a threat to the ecological environment of lakes and freshwater ecosystems if careful attention is not paid to balancing the amount of fish retrieved and returned to the freshwater system.

“We make a contribution to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources every year,” assured Devine. More than 100,000 fish are returned to the lake after the competition. This amount totals more than the fish removed, according to Devine.

Unfortunately, the environment of Brainerd has suffered from the adverse affects of global climate change. As a result, the cost-effective sport of ice fishing has become increasingly popular. “Over the past ten years, the weather pattern has altered. We haven’t had enough snow to support winter sports like skiing and snowmobiling,” informed Devine.

The natives of Minnesota are adapting to these moderate climate changes by adopting new hobbies, most notably, ice fishing. “Snow fall is not the same as it has been historically. I’m sure local businessmen have seen the increase in fishing equipment sold,” noted Devine. Product development for ice fishing is occurring rapidly and the sport is garnering more attention. Ironically, global climate change is accompanied by changes in leisure time activities as well.

The BJIE is more than a gathering of thirteen thousand men, women, youth and prime aged in ice cold competition for cash and prizes. The competition is a boost to the local economy, and a family fun activity. Collaboration with Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources is also a noble and public endeavor to promote fish friendly competition in Brainerd.

WaterWideWeb will follow up with the BJIE committee to report on the event winners and other eco-friendly facets of the event. Stay tuned for more on ice fishing in Brainerd.

The photo above was provided by the Brainerd Jaycee Ice Fishing Extravaganza Committee.

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On Saturday October 30, 2010, the Rip Curl 2010 competition will continue.  Renowned surfers from across the world will rip the tides for a chance to be the next Rip Curl 2010 World Champion. How has surfing revolutionized from a fun in the sun activity to a professional game? Who will win the Rip Curl 2010 contest? 

Surfing was once a beach boy past-time. Now, it’s a full fledged professional sport. Since its inception in the 1960’s and 1970’s, surfing games have garnered attention from amateurs, professionals, and fans world-wide.

Major competitions such as the Smirnoff Pro, The Duke Kahanamohu Class and the Pipeline Masters have existed since the early days of the sports contests.

In 1969 at Bells Beach in Australia, the Rip Curl Pro Search hit the sands and is unlike the aforementioned classic contests. The Rip Curl Pro Search hosts an annual world tournament where surfer dudes and dudettes battle on the world’s beaches with nothing but their boards.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons Mavericks Surf Competition 2010

 As surfing has developed, the rules and judging criteria have as well. This year, the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) modified the judging criteria to ensure that the sport maintains integrity through steady progress.

Scoring waves is judged with respect to commitment and a wave’s degree of difficulty. Top scores are earned by the use of innovative and progressive body moves. Final assessments are based upon these standards along with the combination and variety of maneuvers that a surfer exhibits.

But, a surfer is only as good as the next wave. So, speed, power, and flow factor into the final tallied score of all participants. Points are awarded to the surfer and the sum total is an average of rating based upon the above criteria.

On a scale of 0-10, with zero being very poor and 10 being exceptional, the sum score of each competitor determines whether he or she will continue to the next competition.

This year’s competition includes 32 top male surfers and 17 top female surfers.  A gender disparity remains within the sport. However, the accomplishments of the female competitors certainly speak volumes about the talent and dedication of the women on the waves.

At the top of the women’s roster is Stephanie Gilmore (AU) who hit the surfer scene in 2005 at the age of 17. Since then, Gilmore has gone on to win two consecutive Women’s World Titles, the Vans Hawaiian Triple Crown Title, five ASP Women’s World Tour victories and the accolades continue.

Kelly Slater

 Thus far, surfer Kelly Slater (US) has dominated the male division of the RipCurl 2010 Pro Search. Slater is a nine time ASP World Champion. He celebrated an early victory at the first Bells Beach, Australia competition and, he beat his opponent Jordy Smith (SA) by a 1.9 score on the sandy shores of Supertubos, Portugal on October 14, 2010.

Watch the video of Kelly Slater and Jordy Smith in Supertubos, Portugal here

Slater is an outstanding athlete and a charitable giver. He donates to charities such as Life Rolls On, SurfAid, and Space Coast Early Intervention Center.

The Rip Curl 2010 contest is an exciting event that gathers large amounts of people to the world’s beaches. The Rip Curl Planet Initiative is an endeavor to ensure that the Rip Curl Event is environmentally friendly despite the number of people, parties and pollution that can result from the festivities.

Proper waste management and recycling bins will be strategically placed around the area and frequently discarded where the Rip Curl event will take places. Beach clean-ups will happen daily to remove all garbage and refuse left behind by patrons.  Fences will be erected and special security will ensure that patrons do not walk on the sand dunes around the event site.

The Surfrider Foundation Chapter will assist with planting native trees as part of the Rip Curl Planet Initiative. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources will donate “non-invasive and erosion-control species” in accordance with the coastal and reforestation program of the organization.  The initiative will also provide eco education in local schools and environmental organizations will provide materials on-site at the event.

While watching the Alley Oop twists and twirls can be entertaining, attendees and participants must surf responsibly, which means respecting the oceanic environment. The days leading up to the final competition mount anticipation as fans hold out to see which surfer will expertly ride out the waves.  And for the winner? Stay tuned….

Rafting is continuously gaining in popularity due to the fact that one does not need to be a real professional athlete to paddle down the waves. This unique experience intrigues many tourists that join crews lead by experimented guides who are familiar with the risks and the potential dangers of different rivers.  In order to prevent dangerous accidents, rafting rivers are classified by experts in a scale that ranks from 1 to 6 indicating how demanding or risky some paths of the rivers. The more risky the river is the more likely it is that the paddlers will end up become swimmers for more than once.

The International Rafting Federation (IRF) defines rafting as a “human activity conducted on running rivers requiring physical skill using paddle and oar power in soft crafts and which is generally accepted as being a social, commercial and competitive sport” (Source: http://www.internationalrafting.com/?page_id=529).  This world organization oversees rafting activities all over the world trying to advocate the need to preserve the social values associated with this sport. Perseverance, respect for other and team spirit are crucial to this sport.  The mission of IRF is to maintain and promote the values and conditions to the safe practice of this sport at the competition or recreational level. In addition, the IRF is working hard in order to promote rafting as a safe sport defending its interest at a national and international level. Finally, one of IRF’s most important goals is to promote water conservation and the respect for the rivers and the wildlife surrounding them.

Many specialized travel agencies organize rafting vacations in breath take wild scenarios around the United States or Canada. This sorts of trips allow tourists to experience a unique adventurous experience while discovering the beautiful nature and wildlife in the most remote areas like the Firth River, a hidden jewel north of Canada.  This river is situated deep in the northern Yukon Territory, close to Alaska. The Firth river “flows through the centre of Ivvavik National Park where the wildlife include muskox, caribou, wolves, eagles and falcons that can be observed in the rocky panorama of the Arctic scenery.

Another unique rafting experience that is perceived by the ultimate rafting experience by extreme water sports lovers and experts is the Patagonia rafting experience down the Futaleufu river, acclaimed as one of the most challenging rivers in the world. “The river’s name is derived from a local Mapuche Indian word meaning “big big river” and it lives up to its billing in every respect” (Source: http://www.exchile.com/fachome.html). Expediciones Chile organizes a series of different vacation tours that rank from a week of rafting down Futaleufu to a concentration of four extreme rafting days. An interesting alternative that combines nature to all sorts of sports is the Futaleufu Multisport Chile rafting week. This special excursion mixes the pleasures of rafting to the ones of mountain biking and hiking. This adventurous vacation is way to discover a beautiful country, meet no friends and overcome all your fears.

From a method of transportation to a recreational activity that unites people from all over the world, rafting is a sport that enables people to develop a close relationship with nature. Numerous rivers around the United States are a perfect scenery for tourists or beginners who strive to acquire expertise in this sport. For those who love risks and extreme adventurous the Futaleufu river is what of the most thrilling experience when it comes to rafting.

Cave diving differs from cavern diving insofar cavern diving is the exploration of overhead environments while remaining close to the entrances. Cave divers on the other hand, will enter the cave and go as deep as thousands of yards. In addition “cavern divers keep the entrance clearly in sight at all times, and use a guideline so that, should sight of the entrance be accidentally lost, divers can immediately regain it” (Source: http://www.cavediving.com/what/start/02.htm). In this sense, cavern diving is a safer sport insofar the diver remain in the emergency swimming zone while cave divers risk it all and go far beyond. For this reason, cavern diving is considered to be a form of recreational diving while cave diving is much more technical. Cave diving certificates are only available through serious and recognized organizations such as the National Speleological Society cave Diving Section (NSS-CDS) or the National Association for Cave Diving (NACD). Another significant difference between these two types of diving is the equipment used: cavern divers use an equipment that is similar to the one used by divers in open water, while cave divers need to make some modification to their gear, especially when it comes to the gas-delivery systems. While, somewhat inexperienced curious underwater lovers can do cavern diving, cave diving is a serious and more dangerous sport limited to a target of experts with a certification.

Cave diving can be done in many places around the world such as Europe, Japan, Hawaii or Brazil. In North America, the most famous regions are ones such as California, Nevada, Missouri or Virginia. The north of Florida is one of the world’s top destinations for cave divers. Despite what you might believe, cave diving can be done in any season of the year, even if some season factors due affect the coasts of Florida and Mexico.

Jill Heinerth decided to blend together her passion for the underwater world and photography to accomplish real masterpieces. For close to 15 years she has been exploring caves around the world from the icebergs of the Antarctic to the coasts of North Africa. This renowned photographer and filmmaker wants to remind to people not to exaggerate and to go further than their limits. She reminds her fans that more than 400 people have died all over the world because of cave diving accidents and it is important for cave divers to have a real certification.  Jill Heinerth has all the credits to prove her expertise, she was named a living legend by Sport diving magazine and “she was named Canadian Technical Diver of the Year and holds various pioneering diving records” (Source: http://www.intotheplanet.com/IntoThePlanet/About.html). This Canadian diver is well-known around the world diving community has she gives many motivational speeches, presentation and shop works to various clubs and organizations around the world. In addition, she holds more than twenty years of teaching experience with classes in cave diving, rebreather and photographic pursuits.  According to experts, “less than one percent of the recreational diving population possesses the knowledge, skills, attitude and judgment needed to cave dive as safely as possible” (Source: http://www.cavediving.com/who/start/index.htm). Fitness, ability, years of experience and training are all needed in order to enjoy a beautiful and most importantly safe experience under water.

Cave diving is a serious and dangerous sport that needs to be taken seriously. If diving in a responsible manner, cave can open doors to an exclusive under water world of beautiful species and underwater secrets. Professional diver, photographer and filmmaker, Jill Heinerth illustrates the gorgeous secrets of the underwater world while reminding her fans that safety is the most important element when it comes to diving.

For centuries to come sailing remained a means of transportation and the centre pillar to fishing activities.  In the 17^th century, this activity gradually became a sport with the Dutch who started to use small boats called “Yaghtschip” (which meant “hunting ship”) for recreational purposes. Today these boats are commonly called yachts. In not time sailing became popular in Holland and England and this new passion was quickly exported to the colonies. Sailing clubs quickly started spreading all over Europe and soon enough sailing competitions started taking place in the American colonies. This new sport soon turned into a real social phenomenon, with sailors forming clubs and groups in different towns, gathering to plan new trips or to discuss the latest news.

This gave like to the world’s oldest “Yacht Clubs”.  “The world’s first yacht club was founded in Cork, Ireland in 1720” (Source: http://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-sailing.htm) and one the of world’s most famous clubs, the New York Yacht Club was founded in 1844. John Cox gave birth to this prestigious club when he decided he wanted to start racing other local sailors. Only ten years later, the New York born club, was taking things to the next level as they started racing internationally. Little did he know that this was the starting point that gave life to America’s Cup, one of the world’s most important and prestigious sailing event. For 132 years in a row (1851 to 1983) the Americans proudly won every single trophy until they had to give their title away to Australia. “Since then, the only other countries that have won the Cup were New Zealand in 1995 and Switzerland in 2000” (Source: http://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-sailing-1.htm). Founded at the beginning of the 20^th century, the International Racing Union establishes a set of international norms and regulations that need to be respected in order to render all events more objective and fair.

This sport is now recognized officially and has its own special magazine publication called Sailing Magazine with quality pictures and the latest news on sailing. This magazine is the oldest one in America, it was founded in 1966 by “an avid Great Lakes sailor” (source: http://www.sailingmagazine.net/about).  The publication offers advice about the boats, keeps the readers informed about the latest events and presents breath taking testimonial cover stories.  If you have already flipped through the magazine daydreaming about giving this amazing sport a shot, you probably know that sailing comes in a variety of different boats that can go from the small boats to keelboats.

Small sailing boats, also known as centerboards are the easiest and cheapest way to get started. Generally under 25 feet in length, they “include a wide assortment of dinghies (open cockpit), daysailers (with foredecks and gear enclosure) and small day sailing keelboats” (Source: http://training.ussailing.org/Learning/Getting_started.htm).  Most reacreational centres, day camps and universities rent small sailing boats as the obviously have a cost that is much more inferior while still providing quality results. On the other hand, the term “keelboat” is used to described sailboats with a weighted keel, also known as the vertical fin of the boat.  This term is used to describe yachts of considerably large sizes. These boats have the necessary commodities for longer trips, like bathrooms, or cooking facilities.

If you don’t consider taking up this sport seriously or you simply don’t have the time or money to invest into expensive equipment or sailing lesson you still have one valid alternative to enjoy the beauty of these boats. Many locations all over the world offer all inclusive vacation trips on sailboats. This is a great way to enjoy the ocean and discover the majestic power of the wind without making too much of a commitment. A sailing trip vacation might just become one of your most adventurous and memorable vacations for the next couple of years to come.