Some look at powdery white sands and just think they want to spread a towel and get a tan. However, many others see the perfect venue for sports of various descriptions, some more well known and widely recognised than others.
From an informal game of tossing a Frisbee to much more serious sporting events drawing top international competitors, Cayman’s beaches are a top spot to see what’s hot in beach sports.
Beach volleyball
The best known of all beach sports – it has made it into the Olympic Games after all – beach volleyball has become a feature on Cayman’s beaches, from informal games to leagues and even international events like the NORCECA beach volleyball tournament.
In fact, in December this year Cayman will host the Caribbean Olympic Beach Volleyball qualification finals. This event will decide which Caribbean men’s and women’s team will qualify to play in the final qualification tournament for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
However, the Olympic standard of a two person team is, to put it mildly, a lot of hard work. Put a couple more players on the court, and the workload is cut while the fun is upped – definitely a good compromise for those of lesser athletic ability than the gods and goddesses of the beach.
The Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation organises open recreational leagues to help grow the sport, as well as youth camps to introduce younger players to the game. Cayman will even have representation in beach volleyball at the Pan Am Games. Not to mention that one of Cayman’s national team players is Cristin Alexander, Miss Cayman 2010.
Beach football
Although it does not have quite the same international recognition as beach volleyball just yet, beach football (or soccer, depending on your country of origin) has been gaining a lot of recognition none the less, with top former footballers like Eric Cantona taking an interest in the sport.
Even though the rules reflect that of football, the much smaller playing field and smaller teams make it a sport of speed and agility. The uneven nature of the surface also make sit well worthwhile to keep the ball airborne as much as possible.
Of course, the guaranteed softer landings also do wonders for the acrobatics players are willing to put themselves through, making the game very entertaining to watch, and not half bad to take part in.
All you need is a patch of sand to call your own for a couple of minutes, some improvised goals, and some lines in the sand. Of course, more organised events are plentiful, and well worth a look.
Beach touch rugby
A newer arrival to the sands is beach touch rugby. Originally intended as a fun post-work activity for avid rugby players, it soon became clear that not only is it good fun, but really hard work as well. Running on sand is not as easy as it might seem. The big advantage of touch rugby is of course that it can (and usually is) played in mixed teams, which makes it a very accessible activity. It is always a great social way to get into other forms of rugby, with many of the same skills carrying over.
Wowballs
Although not quite on the beach, Wowballs allow you to make the transition from the beach to the water smoothly and without getting wet. These large, inflatable balls allow users to walk on water, well, eventually at least once you have had some practice at it.
More advanced users can even run in them, but most beginners, after a couple of attempts at standing up, and then splashing down without the splash, are content to just float around a bit and view the underwater world through the transparent skin of the ball. The balls are safely tethered to shore, so there is no risk of floating away, and there is plenty of air for the 10 minute sessions.
For those feeling adventurous there are three locations on island, from Calico Jack’s on Seven Mile Public Beach to Hammerheads in downtown George Town, and the newest location at the Grand Caymanian Ramada Resort.
Where water meets land
Cayman’s shorts are not cover in beaches all around, and one of the best ways to explore the mangroves that line much of the shore is by taking a kayak and snorkel safari, like the one operated by Surfside Aquasports.
The tour is a great introduction to kayaking in Cayman, but more importantly it provides great insight into the importance of the coastal ecosystem, from the mangroves to the sea grass beds and everything in between. After exploring close to shore, the tour takes participants out to a snorkelling platform from where the underwater world is your oyster.
Whether on the beach or around its edges, there is more than enough activities to keep you going. WH