We’ve all seen sporting sights in the water; trendy surfer dudes on sharp surfboards, cool dads on novelty boogie-boards, and all-in-one wetsuit-clad beauties to name but a few. But this is the first time I have seen a water sport which involves a helmeted person flying down river rapids at a terrifying speed clinging to their board.
I barely have time to rub my eyes when another flies by shrieking and laughing, also kitted out in a presumably water-proof helmet.
But this isn’t your average black-run version of surfing, it’s actually a trendy new sport called hydrospeeding which is currently sweeping through Northern Spain. Hydrospeeding is all about descending white water rapids on a body float which can be likened to a floating toboggan – similar to a body board.
The hydrospeeding season starts in March and ends in August due to the warmer temperatures that can be enjoyed during these months and the river levels being lower.
I travel to a rural mountain village, Murillo de Gallego, in the Pyrenees of a Northern Spanish province, Huesca, which is nationally renowned for its white water-rapid rivers. The small village, between the winding Mallos de Murillo foothills and the Gallego river, is home to just 120 residents and is less than an hour from Zaragoza airport.
There are three different companies that organise hydrospeeding holidays or packages in Northern Spain; Active Adventure, Catalan Pyrenees Program and UR Pirineos. I chose the latter due to its recession-friendly prices and location. UR Pirineos is also the only tour operator that gives you choice of accommodation, though this is fairly easy as there are only three different hotels and hostels throughout the village.
This month’s hydrospeeding kick off is one of the region’s biggest attractions and has only taken place once before in March 2008. I soon learn that hydrospeeding through rapids is a strange experience.
For fearless riders it's ideal; you can't see a thing. As I launch myself onto my hydro-board I hear fellow hydro-boarders laughing, screeching, and, more worryingly, crashing into each other.
Eventually, I allow myself to float down the river – which is surprisingly cold considering March purportedly marks the beginning of ‘warm temperatures’ – and the water carries me to the centre of the rapids.
Entering into the whirlpool-like waves the hydroboard skates over the foam and bobs between the contrasting water currents.
Once I stop spluttering and take my focus away from the fact that I cannot neither see nor hear anything but the crashing of water around my head, my hydroboard starts to become a pinnacle for pleasure. It gives a similar sensation to body-boarding, yet faster and more exhilarating.
Eventually, as the group – who I suspect may have had their fair share of the waters – come to a wobbly stop as the beginners’ hydrospeeding flags wave into sight, and we climb onto the banks collapsing in a crumpled heap.
The watersport is not complex, but you do need bags of energy (or a spare pair of lungs) and plenty of courage. Expert Barry Nolan from the British Hydrospeeding Society says, “It is quite straightforward – it’s not rocket science.”
“The only technique that you need is to propel yourself through the water using your legs. Your legs are the propulsion. You have to push the water behind you with flippers; it is like riding a bike in water.”
Hydrospeeding equipment includes an extra-thick wetsuit called a neoprene suit, a water helmet, flippers, a pair of palms (your own!), and a soft or hard hydrospeeding board; the density depends on your level.
UR Pirineos organise the equipment and they also arrange transport to and from Murillo de Gallego, accommodation and hydrospeeding groups and lessons, as well as additional activities and evenings out. A weekend hydrospeeding package including extra activities such as canoeing or rock climbing amounts to £300. The package without added benefits is £220. Both packages include tours of the village of Gallego but neither includes flights to Zaragoza airport, the nearest pick-up point for UR Pirineos and uses Ryan Air and Iberia airlines.
Aside from the daytime hydrospeeding activities – I learn that the following day we are to move up a step in hydrospeeding – there is more excitement brewing: Los Arcos, a small village fifteen minutes from Murillo de Gallego, has just opened its own bodega named ‘Bodegas Ochea de Los Arcos’.
A small family-run business, it sits at the top of a hill, keeping a watchful eye over the sleepy village and occasional stirring. It is built entirely from wood and stone and the wine cellars are buried deep within the belly of the building.
After some enthusiastic wine-tasting, UR Pireneos take the now-tipsy group back to our home village, where we are taken to a local’s house for some traditional Northern Spanish food. We gratefully devour the cold salamis and baguettes, which is followed by a large, warm tortilla – a delicious potato omelet containing vegetables, bacon and melted cheese. Foodies and wine lovers alike will definitely not be spoiled for choice.
The next day is followed by more hydrospeeding. This time though, we move to a higher part of the river which has a grading of two, rather than the previous day’s currents which were graded one. Rivers have a grading between one and five, five being the strongest of currents. In Murillo de Gallego, the flow rates of the river are measured and graded daily.
Unlike the majority of other water activities, you must be over sixteen years old to hydrospeed. Strong swimming skills are also a necessity.
Experienced hydrospeeders can surf the swells and foam, while performing 360 degree spins and all a variety of other exciting maneuvers. UR Pirineos offer lessons and group sessions for the more advanced hyrdrospeeder, although these do come with at an extra cost of thirty pounds.
As my energetic hydrospeeding weekend draws to a close, I feel exhausted and as though every bone in my body has been softly pummeled. However, it has been an invigorating and exhilarating experience although not one I would necessarily want to repeat in a hurry.
On leaving the small village I have come to cherish for the weekend, I immediately notice a group of hydrospeeders who our host explains are of an ‘intermediate to advanced’ level. I feel that my departure timing couldn’t be more appropriate.
INFO
UR Pirineos: +34 974 38 30 48
info@pirineos.es
www.pirineos.es
Iberia Airline: 0870 609 0500
www.iberia.com/gb/
Ryanair: 0905 566 0000
http://www.ryanair.com/
I barely have time to rub my eyes when another flies by shrieking and laughing, also kitted out in a presumably water-proof helmet.
But this isn’t your average black-run version of surfing, it’s actually a trendy new sport called hydrospeeding which is currently sweeping through Northern Spain. Hydrospeeding is all about descending white water rapids on a body float which can be likened to a floating toboggan – similar to a body board.
The hydrospeeding season starts in March and ends in August due to the warmer temperatures that can be enjoyed during these months and the river levels being lower.
I travel to a rural mountain village, Murillo de Gallego, in the Pyrenees of a Northern Spanish province, Huesca, which is nationally renowned for its white water-rapid rivers. The small village, between the winding Mallos de Murillo foothills and the Gallego river, is home to just 120 residents and is less than an hour from Zaragoza airport.
There are three different companies that organise hydrospeeding holidays or packages in Northern Spain; Active Adventure, Catalan Pyrenees Program and UR Pirineos. I chose the latter due to its recession-friendly prices and location. UR Pirineos is also the only tour operator that gives you choice of accommodation, though this is fairly easy as there are only three different hotels and hostels throughout the village.
This month’s hydrospeeding kick off is one of the region’s biggest attractions and has only taken place once before in March 2008. I soon learn that hydrospeeding through rapids is a strange experience.
For fearless riders it's ideal; you can't see a thing. As I launch myself onto my hydro-board I hear fellow hydro-boarders laughing, screeching, and, more worryingly, crashing into each other.
Eventually, I allow myself to float down the river – which is surprisingly cold considering March purportedly marks the beginning of ‘warm temperatures’ – and the water carries me to the centre of the rapids.
Entering into the whirlpool-like waves the hydroboard skates over the foam and bobs between the contrasting water currents.
Once I stop spluttering and take my focus away from the fact that I cannot neither see nor hear anything but the crashing of water around my head, my hydroboard starts to become a pinnacle for pleasure. It gives a similar sensation to body-boarding, yet faster and more exhilarating.
Eventually, as the group – who I suspect may have had their fair share of the waters – come to a wobbly stop as the beginners’ hydrospeeding flags wave into sight, and we climb onto the banks collapsing in a crumpled heap.
The watersport is not complex, but you do need bags of energy (or a spare pair of lungs) and plenty of courage. Expert Barry Nolan from the British Hydrospeeding Society says, “It is quite straightforward – it’s not rocket science.”
“The only technique that you need is to propel yourself through the water using your legs. Your legs are the propulsion. You have to push the water behind you with flippers; it is like riding a bike in water.”
Hydrospeeding equipment includes an extra-thick wetsuit called a neoprene suit, a water helmet, flippers, a pair of palms (your own!), and a soft or hard hydrospeeding board; the density depends on your level.
UR Pirineos organise the equipment and they also arrange transport to and from Murillo de Gallego, accommodation and hydrospeeding groups and lessons, as well as additional activities and evenings out. A weekend hydrospeeding package including extra activities such as canoeing or rock climbing amounts to £300. The package without added benefits is £220. Both packages include tours of the village of Gallego but neither includes flights to Zaragoza airport, the nearest pick-up point for UR Pirineos and uses Ryan Air and Iberia airlines.
Aside from the daytime hydrospeeding activities – I learn that the following day we are to move up a step in hydrospeeding – there is more excitement brewing: Los Arcos, a small village fifteen minutes from Murillo de Gallego, has just opened its own bodega named ‘Bodegas Ochea de Los Arcos’.
A small family-run business, it sits at the top of a hill, keeping a watchful eye over the sleepy village and occasional stirring. It is built entirely from wood and stone and the wine cellars are buried deep within the belly of the building.
After some enthusiastic wine-tasting, UR Pireneos take the now-tipsy group back to our home village, where we are taken to a local’s house for some traditional Northern Spanish food. We gratefully devour the cold salamis and baguettes, which is followed by a large, warm tortilla – a delicious potato omelet containing vegetables, bacon and melted cheese. Foodies and wine lovers alike will definitely not be spoiled for choice.
The next day is followed by more hydrospeeding. This time though, we move to a higher part of the river which has a grading of two, rather than the previous day’s currents which were graded one. Rivers have a grading between one and five, five being the strongest of currents. In Murillo de Gallego, the flow rates of the river are measured and graded daily.
Unlike the majority of other water activities, you must be over sixteen years old to hydrospeed. Strong swimming skills are also a necessity.
Experienced hydrospeeders can surf the swells and foam, while performing 360 degree spins and all a variety of other exciting maneuvers. UR Pirineos offer lessons and group sessions for the more advanced hyrdrospeeder, although these do come with at an extra cost of thirty pounds.
As my energetic hydrospeeding weekend draws to a close, I feel exhausted and as though every bone in my body has been softly pummeled. However, it has been an invigorating and exhilarating experience although not one I would necessarily want to repeat in a hurry.
On leaving the small village I have come to cherish for the weekend, I immediately notice a group of hydrospeeders who our host explains are of an ‘intermediate to advanced’ level. I feel that my departure timing couldn’t be more appropriate.
INFO
UR Pirineos: +34 974 38 30 48
info@pirineos.es
www.pirineos.es
Iberia Airline: 0870 609 0500
www.iberia.com/gb/
Ryanair: 0905 566 0000
http://www.ryanair.com/
.jpg)