C
hildren love playing
with water, whether it's
splashing around in the
tub or pool. For those more
adventurous, Hong Kong is a wonderful
place for water sports with the young
ones. While our beaches are far from
pristine, they are in plentiful supply.
Many are sheltered by mountains
which make for safer swimming
currents, especially for children. In
addition, our mild yet windy climate
provides the perfect setting for water
sports, while offering plenty of thrills.
Water sports are great for kids. Not
only do they help improve coordination
and motor skills, they’re also loads of
fun and look so cool - at least, when
done right! In Hong Kong, many classes
are available for children from eight
years old and most classes require
participants to be able to swim at least
fifty metres. This is because water sports
require somewhat greater strength
and coordination than other activities,
such as swimming or soccer. There
are advantages to starting early, as
Darren the owner of Splash Hong Kong
explains. “Children learn much easier
and faster, than adults. Their innate
fearlessness is also a big plus, although
that might add a few grey hairs to
parents watching from shore.”
According to Fesco, an instructor
at Aqua Bound, “sailing, kayaking
and wake-boarding are good
introductory activities for younger
children. Windsurfing and Stand-Up
Paddling (SUP) require more strength
and power, and are therefore more
suitable for early teenagers.” While not
compulsory, he adds, “children who
have had experience swimming in the
sea are much more confident when
encountering waves and low water
visibility.”
Now that winter is behind us,
Sue Lynn
Tan
goes in search of some of the best
water sports centres to enjoy with your
children – here are her top 15.
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