At last the Sun is out but

Is  Sun exposure good for you?

sun on your watersports holiday

Of course we get a lot of Sun exposure in St Tropez. There is not a product called St Tropez tan for no good reason. But is it good for you?

We all know the warmth and light of the sun makes us feel more cheerful. It also undoubtedly makes us look better, and getting a tan (however short lived it is) is a very popular pastime. However as the ozone level decreases and the suns rays become more powerful we have learnt to regularly apply protective suncream. We are all aware of the dangers of over-exposure. Sun-burn can be very dangerous and must be avoided. However there is some evidence that shying away from the sun can be detrimental to health. Vitamin D is an essential result of sunlight and creates strong bones and muscle tone. So smothering with high factor sun cream may not always be the answer.   There is evidence that is does not protect against latent skin cancers.

Food for thought is the self evident fact that applying large quantities of chemicals to the skin means that the body is absorbing unnatural applications, which in the long run may affect the hormonal balance of the body. And could lead to other health problems.

We have fourteen years of extended sun exposure here at Adventure St Tropez so our advice is first of all

Enjoy the sun…it is good for you.  Wear quality protective suncream particularly when in and on the water. Cover up  in the midday sun. Always wear protective good quality sunglasses. Half an hour of sun exposure mid morning and afternoon, will build your skin melanin  nicely and help to protect against sunburn on your watersports holiday.

Spring Sunshine is nearly here so-

Step into the Spring Sunshine and –

Win this fabulous NQLondonBag

Watersports and NQLondonBag

Spring is just around the corner – March 20th. And aren’t we just so ready for some Spring Sunshine. So here’s a great offer to put a Spring in your step.

All you have to do is read this blog and then add your own comment and click the ‘show on facebook’ link. We’d love to know what your favourite sport is. And we’d love to know how you think you could use this NQLondonBag as the perfect partner for your sport.  So comments please. Then your name will be added to our Draw on the first day of Spring, March the 20th.

Here we have last years’ winner Lisa showing how she uses her NQLondonBag in two of her favourite sports.

When coaching Wakeboarding at Adventure St Tropez I love throwing all my phones, cards, suncream and sunglasses in my Pink Carlton. Zip it up and everything is safe and sound and close to hand. Love it and use it every day and in the evenings too. If it gets a little grubby just pop it in the washing machine and ‘Voila’ good as new,

Biking and NQLondonBag

Shabana Creator and designer of NQLondongBags has very kindly donated some Carltons and St Martins to Giveaway in our competitions. So many thanks to our sporty friend Shabana (wakeboarder and snowboarder) for supporting us. Be sure to mention the brand when everyone admires your great bag.

In step with our Spring theme winning bags will be Yellow or Green.  So girls and boys (your partner will love it) let us know your favourite sports and how you could make your bag- the Perfect Partner for your favourite sport.

Shabana and Jenny Snowboarding

2016 a great Wedding Year

This year some very important people are getting married

Luke (Skywalker) Thomas and Jessica (Rabbit) Tucker 10th January 2016

That wakeboard kiss

It is always lovely to get good news.  Weddings are  good news, and this is a great Wedding Year. In just a few days time the utterly lovely and super talented Luke (Skywalker) Thomas and Jess (Rabbit) Tucker are getting married in Sri Lanka. They met at Adventure St Tropez in 2007. Luke came to work with us as wakeboard instructor and Jess was on holiday when we picked him up from Nice airport. We had white water rafted at Gorges du Verdon and picked Luke up on our way back. Despite looking like a slightly drowned and de-hydrated rabbit (not rat) Jess must have impressed. Three days later they were walking around the marina hand in hand. The rest is history. They live in New Zealand and Luke besides running Christchurch Wake and editing Forward Wake magazine, finds time to coach around the world. Jess is a doctor and works with abused women. She also is the most amazing cake and pudding cook. Her cakes are to swoon for. And Luke eats a lot of her cake…I believe.

We love these guys they are always so up-beat and positive and just the best couple in the world to cheer you up.

We were really excited to welcome them back to St Tropez this summer.  In true Adventuresports style they cycled from Geneva down to St Tropez climbing 17 cols and impressing us to pieces.

Back where it all started

And back where it all started, we are all happily enjoying a glass or two of Rose this summer. We wish these guys every happiness and know they will make a superb marriage.

More news of the Wedding Year to follow.

At the highest Col

Memories are a treasure

So how do we hold on to our memories

It is often said ‘you are what you eat’ but equally it is true ‘that you are what you do’. The more adventurous and active a life style led then the more memories you will have to share.

Lester and Jenny

Today we are so lucky to have the ability to share and and savour our memories. The digital revolution enables us to keep and hold what is dear to us close and accessible. Facebook  Google+ however you feel about them mean we can keep in touch with our past. The times that meant the most to you. Captured in time and there to return to time and again. What a treasure.

At Adventure St Tropez we love to give you memories.

The excitement of learning to waterski or wakeboard. Sailing to a beautiful cove and anchoring for a swim and snorkel. Jumping off rocks and kayaking in beautiful places. Just being in the warmth and ambiance of the Gulf of St Tropez. Memories are made of this. Who am I to disagree?

Kayaking in Port Grimaud

Some of you loved the wakeboarding.  Some of you loved the kayaking some of you loved speed and power boating. Some of you loved to jet-ski.  Some of you just loved to sail away. And all of you loved the Rose wine the sun and the warm clear sea.

And we loved the memories you made for us. Thank you.

Waterskiing memories

What every girl needs is a sporty fashion neoprene bag

Here at Adventure St Tropez we always like to look our best when being adventurous. Bright colours and practical materials being the benchmark. So what every girl needs for her sporty life is a bag that you can stuff with essentials and if it gets wet, stained or marked simply pop in the washing machine in its own wash bag. Good as new

Win this Bag

We love NQ London bags, they are bright, cheery and eye catching and     super practical.  And they are all Made in England. So we are offering a     chance  for you to win one of these cracking bags in our draw. And here it is   The Pink Carlton.       All you have to do is

1. make a comment on this blog (only available through facebook)

2. Like our Adventure St Tropez facebook (if you haven’t already)

3. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website

Your name will then be entered in our draw to be made at the end of March

In the meantime take a look at the NQ Bags they are ideal for an active lifestyle and we love that they are made in England. We have been sporting our Berkeley and are loving the attention this bag is getting.  Ideal for taking to the beach for that surfing or wakeboarding session. Best of luck to you all.

Bags enjoying the waves

The Berkley blue and bold

Wakeboard Park

Wakeboarding in St Tropez

Discover Adventure Holidays France

In a few surprising places

Adventure (a bold and sometimes risky undertaking with uncertain outcomes)  Increasingly we love to spend our leisure time finding new adventure activities.  We enjoy  exploring secret new places with all the excitement and pleasure this can bring.  This leads many of us to seek an Adventure Holiday France.  What better than to invest  our holiday time in adventurous and special experiences.

At Adventure St Tropez we know how to involve our guests in those special Adventure Holidays in France and here are some of the trips that we love to offer.

Crocodile Rock at Gigaro Beach

Just a few miles from our marina on the nature reserve of Cap Lardier we start our Adventure with a twenty minute hike along the coastal rocky path. The views down to the crystal clear Mediterranean are so inviting and the sea is azure blue  it is hard to imagine a more beautiful view. Soon we arrive at a rocky outcrop shaped entirely like a Crocodile. Around this rock are some amazing snorkelling spots. So we stop and prepare our snorkels and dip into the crystal water. Straight away there are many small fish and sea vegetation, all made twinkling and ever changing by the sunlight through the water. At the head of the Crocodile rock a large colony of fish seem to be always ready for some light bites of french bread. Hiding in rock cracks and crannies are rarer fish of the most beautiful hues. Octopus, squid and a few other sea hide furtively but can often be seen. We snorkel over to a little blow hole diving under to pop up among the coast rocks. Further afield the coast path stretches to some distant quiet bays where you can wander if you wish.

Coastal Safaris

Every time we take to sea it is an Adventure wind and waves being  unpredictable. Each trip is different and we discover more adventures along the way. One of our favourite safaris is to Cap Taillet because the waters are simply  like a giant swimming pool. Positioned close to some protected snorkel waters you will enjoy diving through coral and secret tunnels to discover fish and sea vegetation in abundance. Discovering rock jumps proves to be very adventurous with some high and challenging escarpments to create great jumping and diving sports. Only for the truly Adventurous.

Watersports activity

Get  fit for summer with watersports activity

Summer Time is here and time to think about getting fit for summer. Shifting a few unnecessary pounds toning up.  What more pleasurable way of doing it than taking up a watersports activity.

Here are a few ideas and recommendations for getting in to watersports activities.

Surfing is without doubt the watersport that tests and trains all parts of the body. A great workout paddling through the waves powering against the oceans strength and diving through the surf. The explosive action of jumping to your feet and holding balance and reacting to the wave dynamics tests every muscle.   If you are a beginner expect to find a lot of other people out in the water, it is a very popular sport and take lessons in a Surfing GB school, at least to begin with.

Windsurfing again it is best to learn in a Royal Yachting Association Teaching Establishment the RYA method is tried and tested and has an excellent training programme. Windsurfing requires skill  and  uses all body parts (including your brain power) to achieve balance and control of the sail to work with the wind to plane across the water. Another very portable and accessible sport.

Wakeboarding and waterskiing. Both these watersports require use of muscles you probably didn’t know you had. Along with forearm, shoulder and back strength your core abs get the best work-out ever.   It is recommended to learn with a qualified BWSW coach and boat driver. Alternatively you can go to one of the many wakeparks around the country. Be ready for a few faceplants and wipeouts along the way to success.

Kayaking and canoeing. Another very accessible sports and we include in that wave-ski which is one of our favourite sports. Hard work on the forearms and shoulders plus the abs get a good workout if you apply the correct techniques.

Although we don’t get a lot of surf in the south of France  we’re out there when we can. We offer all the above activities at Adventure St Tropez, and with experienced well qualified coaches you are bound to succeed. What better idea than to learn these sports in the warmth of the mediterranean all as part of your watersports holiday.