The Activity People Blog

What’s the Difference Between a Skydive and a Parachute Jump?

Throwing yourself out of a plane might not be everybody’s idea of fun but for real adrenalin junkies nothing comes close to the rush of taking to the skies and making a daring descent back to the safety of solid ground. If you are brave enough to head for the heavens you have a tricky decision to make between a skydive or a parachute jump, so to help make the decision a little easier here’s a quick look at some of the main differences between the two.

SKYDIVING

Skydives usually take place from around 14,000 feet.
Most skydives are done with an instructor and are known as tandem skydives.
Skydivers experience an exhilarating 65 second free-fall.
The parachute is deployed by the instructor.
It’s the instructors job to control the descent and landing.

PARACHUTE JUMPING

Parachute jumps usually take place from around 3,000 feet.
All parachute jumps are done without an instructor.
If you choose a parachute jump you won’t experience any free-fall.
The parachute deploys automatically as soon as you leave the plane.
It’s the jumpers job to control their descent and land safely.

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Whichever airborne activity you opt for you’re in for the experience of a life time and if you’re still not sure which of the two you should pick why not find out how brave you really are by starting out with a slightly less daunting parachute jump. Once you’ve experienced the intense excitement of a parachute jump you’ll be ready to take things up a notch and head for the heavens to take on an exhilarating skydive.

Bernie’s Travel Log: 500km of Wet and Wild Windsurfing

Here at Activity HQ we don’t just sell the most adrenalin fuelled activities, we also take part in them, and as we speak, one of our directors is windsurfing 500km down the northern coast of Brazil! Bernie is one of 14 windsurfers from around the world making the epic journey from Fortaleza and we’ll have regular updates of their progress throughout the week, starting with a summary of day one from Bernie’s travel diary.

Day 1: Fortaleza

Day one was epic! My best single run being a 10km blast taking just 20mins before gybing 2.5km out to sea. Lots of big ships in the way! The wind direction was perfect for long runs near parallel to the coast.

There were problems though, logistical issues beset the first day meaning we set off 3 hours later than planned, thus missing the best wind (my 10km run would no doubt have taken a lot less than 15 minutes in the earlier stronger winds). The alarm on a bridge was set off when sailing under it because the tide was higher than planned, mast contact meant a wobbly ride for one of the team but all good.

The late start meant a night time finish (flashing lights on buoyancy jackets proved their worth) for some. Missing the low tide meant a number of trashings in the shore dump for a number of the team. Including the rather uncomfortable 10 minutes (felt significantly longer as most of it was under water) I spent being rolled whilst trying to protect my kit before finally being dumped on the beach 500 metres downwind. A combination of big dumping waves, low wind (which is always significantly lower in the impact zone), and a sail not designed for a wave environment led to a tricky water start being impossible.

A lot of lessons learnt, not the least being set off early. Today is windier, if we catch the early low tide we’ll be 60 kms down the coast at our next stop in no time.

For the most up to date information on Bernie’s progress head over to our Facebook and Twitter accounts or follow his GPS tracker labelled Activity HQ by following this link.

Driving Experiences: 10 Seriously Fast Supercars you Could be Driving

Winning the lottery isn’t the only way to get your hands on the wheel of a ludicrously fast luxury car. Our range of heart racing driving experiences give you the chance to channel your inner James Bond and put the car of your dreams through its paces. The only hard part is choosing from the huge range of high-spec supercars on offer. So here’s a look at ten of the most fast and furious supercars available at our sites across the country.

Lamborghini Gallardo

Estimated top speed: 202 mph
0-60: 3.4 seconds
Price: £125,000

There’s nothing subtle about a Lamborghini, these beasts are loud and proud. If the roar of the engine doesn’t turn heads, their distinctive paintwork will. The Gallardo is even used by the Italian police force to keep criminals off the streets of Rome.

Porsche 911 GT3

Estimated top speed: 196 mph
0-60: 3.5 seconds
Price: £100,540.00

Porsche is the largest race car manufacturer in the world, and all the speed and style of their thorough bred racers can be found in the 911 GT3.

Ferrari F430

Estimated top speed: 202 mph
0-60: 3.6 seconds
Fact: £119,500

An icon of the motoring world, Ferraris are fast, furious and full of flair. It’s impossible not to love blasting round the track in this Italian, motoring masterpiece.

Aston Martin DB9

Estimated top speed: 183 mph
0-60: 4.6 seconds
Price: £135,527

Like Bond, the Aston Martin oozes class, and it’s easy to see why the world’s most famous spy has a soft spot for Astons. The DB9 has featured in two of the last three 007 movies and is the ultimate combination of speed and style.

Subaru WRX STI

Estimated top speed: 155 mph
0-60: 4.5 seconds
Price: £28,995

Subaru is rich in rallying history and the WRX STI is just as fast on the track as it is off it. This is definitely one for the boy racers out there, no matter how old they are!

Audi R8

Estimated top speed: 185 mph
0-60: 4.8 seconds
Price: £93,735

Adding brains and brawn to the supercar scene the R8 smashes the German stereotype in style, the V8 engine is guaranteed to have petrol heads purring.

Formula Ford 2000

Estimated top speed: 130 mph
0-60: 4.8 seconds

Single seater Formula Ford racing cars are as close as you can get to getting behind the wheel of an F1 car. So if you fancy yourself as the next Lewis Hamilton why not find out how good you really are!

Nissan GTR

Estimated top Speed: 195 mph
0-60: 2.9 seconds
Price: £76,610

You might recognise the GTR from the Fast and Furious films but there are no Hollywood effects behind these seriously souped up street racers.

Lotus Elise

Estimated top speed: 150 mph
0-60: 4.3 seconds
Price: £35,000

What the Elsie lacks in size it more than makes up for in speed. The small but mighty roadsters can compete with the best in terms of acceleration and when it comes to fun, nothing comes close!

Jaguar E-Type

Estimated top speed: 153 mph
0-60: 6.7 seconds
Price: £120,000

You don’t have to be a classic car enthusiast to appreciate the E-Type, it was was recently voted the most beautiful sports car ever! and it’s no slouch either, which isn’t something you could say about most 53-year-olds.

Book your driving experience with The Activity People today!

White water rafting: Six handy tips

1. Be prepared to get wet! – You’re in for a soaking so wear swimwear, take a towel and pack a spare set of clothes to change into.

2. Make sure your boat is well balanced. – Balancing the boat is essential, people of similar weight and paddling power should be positioned opposite each other.

3. Communicate with your team. – When you’re racing down fast flowing stretches of white water simple communication is key. Establishing a basic set of commands will mean you can quickly relay instructions as you meet obstacles head on.

4. Make sure you’re holding your paddle properly. – Holding your paddle correctly is key for safety. One hand should be at the base of the paddle and the other should be over the T shaped grip at the top. Keeping your hand over the T grip will not only help you control the paddle, it will also cushion the blow should you accidentally catch yourself with the paddle.

5. Fully submerge the blade of the paddle – Improving your paddling technique will give you more purchase as you fight the fast flowing water. Submerging the blade of the paddle is a much more efficient way of paddling.

6. Try and stay in the raft – It sounds obvious doesn’t it but it’s easier said than done. Hold on tight and try to keep your balance by leaning towards the centre of the boat.

Can You Stop the Zombie Invasion?

Halloween is almost upon us and an undead invasion is sweeping the country, airsoft and paintball sites across the country have been overrun by hoards of flesh eating zombies and it’s time to fight back! So if you’re too old for trick or treating or just want to kick some zombie butt, there’s no better way to celebrate the spookiest day of the year.

Survival is key, and it’s not as simple as you might imagine. Not only will you have to fight off the infected, you’ll also have to franticly search the game zones for ammunition, tools and medicine. You’ll also have have to storm and secure buildings eliminating any zombies that try and get in your way. Nowhere is safe and you can quickly find yourself outnumbered so it’s essential you work well as a team if you’re going to survive the night.

Zombies aren’t just roaming the countryside, they’re making their way into towns and cities too – they’ve even taken control of an abandoned shopping centre! Almost nowhere is free from the infected and indoor airsoft sites are just as badly affected as outdoor arenas. You’ll receive detailed instructions on how to take down your undead enemy as well as some tips on how to survive the attack, but after that you’re on your own.

It’s only a matter of time before the zombies are banished to their graves for another year so make the most of these awesome events and put your survival skills to the ultimate test before it’s too late. We guarantee you’re in for Halloween you’ll never forget!

Indoor vs Outdoor Activities: Which to choose

Choosing between an indoor and outdoor activity can be tricky, especially when there are so many exhilarating activities to choose from. So to help you choose the perfect activity here’s a look at some of the best bits about both.

When you’re choosing an activity the Great British weather is definitely something which you need to consider. Only the most extreme weather conditions will lead to an activity being cancelled, and some activities are even more fun after a bit of rain. After all, racing around an off-road karting track or quad circuit wouldn’t be the same without a nice bit of mud, and as long as you’re dressed for the weather there’s no reason why it should spoil your fun!

If that doesn’t sound like your thing, indoor activities are the only way to guarantee you’re safe from the worst of the weather, and they’re still just as much fun. Indoor activities such as paintball and karting combine all the fun of an outdoor sessions with the added bonus of being sheltered from the elements, so if you don’t want to gamble on the weather they make the perfect choice.

There might not be as much choice when it comes to indoor activities, but they still give you the chance to experience some awesome adrenalin rushes that you wouldn’t normally find here in the UK. For example you can take to the slopes to try your hand at skiing or snowboarding all without having to leave the country (and you’re even guaranteed snow all year round!). If you’re trying an activity for the first time or just want to hone your skills an indoor session is the perfect way to prepare for a more challenging outdoor experience. Even professional climbers spend hours fine tuning their technique on indoor climbing walls before they take on the real thing.

The great thing about outdoor activities is that there is such a huge range to choose from, whether you want to take to the water or head for the skies there is something to suit thrill seekers of all levels. From paintball to parachute jumping and everything in between there’s no better feeling than heading out into the great outdoors to take part in an exhilarating activity. So as long as you’re not put off by the chance of a bit of rain there’s no reason why you won’t love taking to the great outdoors for an adrenalin-fuelled activity.

If you’re still struggling to choose whether to opt for an indoor or outdoor activity you’ve got the perfect excuse to give them both a go and have a load of fun finding out!

Red Rush Vouchers – The Ultimate Gift!

For some people it’s probably a little too soon to be mentioning the “C word”, but that time of year is fast approaching where the more organised among us are starting to think about what would make the perfect present. So if you’re already searching the web for ideas, you may have just stumbled across the perfect solution!

We all know that one person who’s already received every gift going, and is almost impossible to please when it comes to gift giving. So instead of heading out on a last minute trolley dash, why not treat them to an unforgettable gift experience?

Gift experiences are a great way to take part in some truly once-in-a-lifetime activities, and more importantly they save you the stress of searching the shops! There’s a huge range of exhilarating activities to choose from and our activities range from paintball to parachute jumping, so there’s something to suit thrill seekers of all levels. So whether you’re looking to treat the petrol head in your life, or know an adrenalin junkie that would prefer to leave the safety of solid ground a Red Rush voucher could make the perfect present.

To make receiving a Red Rush voucher even more exciting we’ve launched a stylish new range of gift boxes. As well as their voucher the lucky recipient will also get their hands on a free copy of the Adrenalin Guide. A 100-page glossy book crammed with full colour photos and information on the most exhilarating activities on the planet!

So why not treat the adrenalin junkie in your life to an experience they’ll never forget, and for all you early birds we’re offering 10% off any Red Rush activity voucher purchased before Friday 31st October. To receive the exclusive discount simply use the code TAPB10 when booking and you’ll receive 10% off your order, terms apply, offer ends 31/10/14.

White Water Rafting – Strange Beginnings

White water rafting is one of the most popular adrenalin activities in the world, and millions of people put their paddling prowess to the test by taking on some of the wildest, white water stretches they can find. The main reason people choose to take on the challenge of white water rafting is to experience the rush of racing down fast flowing water, negotiating rocks and rapids as they go. However in its formative years rafting served a much more practical purpose, a million miles away from the adrenalin fuelled white water sport many people recognise it as today.

In the 1840’s United States Army officer Lt. John Fremont and inventor Horace H. Day created the first rubber river raft. Their primitive but revolutionary raft was made from four rubber cloth tubes and a wraparound floor. They made their first successful voyage in 1842 when they used their raft to survey parts of the Rocky mountains which were only accessible by boat.

As rafting slowly gained in popularity it became more viable as a business opportunity and in an attempt to capitalise on its growth John D. Rockefeller Jr. constructed a hotel in the Gran Tenton national park Wyoming. In the late 1950’s the lodge started offering trips down the river in surplus war rafts which were 8ft wide and over 20ft long. The trips were so popular that rival rafting companies started to spring up across the United States, offering rides down some of the fastest and most thrilling stretches of water in the country.

White water rafting grew in popularity throughout the 60’s and 70’s and in 1972 it was included to the Olympic Games held in Munich. In 1997 the international federation of rafting was established and the first international white water rafting championships were held in 1999. The introduction of an international governing body meant rafting became much more strongly regulated and as a result safety improved. The information available to rafters also improved and rivers were graded 1-6 using the International Scale of River Difficulty designed to reflect the technical difficulty and skill level required to navigate a section of river. Rafters use this system to find out what kind of conditions they can expect to face on stretches of river they’ve never been down before.

Modern day white water rafting has changed dramatically and almost anybody can take to the water for the challenge of negotiating boulder strewn rapids and fast flowing water. There are rafting sites across the globe and its popularity continues to grow, especially in the UK. Scotland is home to some of the best and most difficult white water rafting routes in the world which may explain why it’s so popular. There are even artificial rafting sites with man made rapids that are tailor made to put a rafters paddling skills to the test. So whether you’re trying rafting for the first time or just want to hone your skills the perfect location could be closer than you think. It may have started out as a way of crossing treacherous stretches of water but the fun that can be had in a modern day rafting experience is second to none!

Are you ready to take on the assault course?

Are you ready to take on an adrenaline fuelled assault course?

If you’re ultra competitive or just like getting muddy, taking on an assault course is a great experience for friends or workmates. So here is a quick look at what you can expect from your day tackling some of the trickiest obstacle courses Britain has to offer. A typical course will contain all the old favourites as well as a few newer obstacles. Wherever you chose to take part you can certainly expect to face rope swings, tunnels and the much feared monkey bars.

Some obstacles will require you to work on your own such as the tyre run, where you will work your way over a series of tyres placed along the course. Other obstacles will require you to depend on the help of your team mates. The most difficult of all being the dreaded high wall, for which you will have to muster all of your strength to pull yourself over an impossibly steep wall.

It is worth pointing out that the course can be made as fun or as challenging as desired. For groups who are just out for a bit of fun, this is an ideal day out too. Most courses offer a free run system where you’re given a set amount of time, usually an hour, to tackle the obstacles at your own pace. This means you’re free to get as wet and muddy as you like by repeating any of the obstacles or dodging some of the more daunting ones.

Once the adrenaline is pumping you then have the chance to take on some of the obstacles against the clock in a time trail. You can also compete against other teams taking on the assault course, teams will normally have a minimum of five members and a maximum of ten. Once in your teams it’s a race to the finish, to post the fastest time, with prizes for the winners as well as a booby prize for those with the slowest time.

Assault courses are traditionally used in military training to increase fitness and to practice techniques that can be used for crossing rough terrain. The military also understand the benefits assault courses have for improving team work and increasing self confidence. While you may not be ready to trek through the Amazon rainforest by the end of the course, you will hopefully have a new found respect for your friends or work colleagues.

Your day will normally last anything between 1-2 hours depending on how many of the different challenges you take on, with a break halfway through to get some much needed rest. Marshall’s will be situated around the course to ensure your safety and help out with any of the more difficult obstacles. Getting a bit wet and muddy comes with the territory so you will need a towel and a clean set of clothes.

So are you ready to swing, crawl and climb your way around some of Britain’s maddest and muddiest assault courses in the ultimate test of teamwork and determination?