We wish it could be as easy as telling you not to be nervous. But we get it; some people aren’t natural-born fishes. And if you’re not a natural-born fish, it’s normal that watersports and the water might make you nervous.
Should that prevent you from enjoying time on the water? Absolutely not. If you’re traveling to countries like Costa Rica, watersports is the go-to thing to do, and you shouldn’t be one to miss out.
There are so many benefits to spending time on the water and building confidence.
Read on for our top tips on what to do if you’re nervous.
Go to a Country Where Water Sports Are Popular
Go to a country where water sports are popular! You can’t go wrong with traveling to a country where they literally live and breathe watersport – they’re experts in what they do. For example, go to a country like Costa Rica, and you’ll be surrounded by people with a passion for watersports and who know how to make people feel comfortable in the water. Sticking with Costa Rica, just look at websites like www.volcano.cr to see a company with years of expertise teaching people the basics of watersports.
These places are geared up for locals and tourists to learn with all the best equipment, trained professionals, and locations. Again, with Costa Rica, you’ve got rivers, the ocean, and lakes to learn about. If the sea freaks you out, you could simply go somewhere like the calm waters of Lake Arenal.
Pick an Easy Sport
This one might sound obvious, but an easy beginner-friendly option is the best. That’s not to say you can’t push the boat out with something like wakeboarding, but if you’re nervous, we’d suggest something like paddleboarding, kayaking, or even surfing on a calm ocean day to build confidence.
Even if you try something like wakeboarding, your first lessons will typically be on land to learn how to find your balance. The more challenging it is, the slower you start, so, technically, there’s an argument to try a tricky sport first, but we won’t contradict ourselves too much.
Starting With a Lesson
Again, an obvious one, and we’ve sort of already spoken about this. If you travel to try watersports, you’ll most likely find lessons or ‘schools’ to learn new watersports. These are, by far, the best way to beat your nerves. You won’t be the first nervous watersporter and you certainly won’t be the last. They’re often tailored towards newbies and have excellent professionals on hand to take the lesson at the pace of the weakest watersporter. You’ll find great lessons in Costa Rica!
Don’t forget to ask questions and show interest. The more you know, the more comfortable you’ll be.
Once you get into the water, you’ll soon forget your worries. You’ll be more worried about how silly you look – and looking silly is fine! The confidence you gain from a watersports experience is immense.
