If you’re like us, then you’re one of the lovely ladies who goes to the beach and sees surfers and paddle boarders and plenty of other fun beach and ocean or lake activities, wants to join in, but inevitably ends up sunbathing and watching from the sidelines. We usually think to ourselves, “Someday I’ll take a class!” But someday has come and gone, and it is time to take action! Participating in beach activities is much easier than you may think, and in many cases, not as much of a bank-breaker as you’d think! Whether you’re looking for beach ball rentals to get a game of volleyball going in honor of the Olympics, or hoping to compete alongside surfer Kelly Slater in a few years, getting active on the beach is a great way to enjoy yourself and get the day’s cardio out of the way! Not only are we at GalTime huge proponents of putting the fun back in exercise (staying indoors to run on treadmills every day with this gorgeous weather is a crime!) but participating in these beach activs makes hitting the sand fun for everyone, instead of being a solitary day of tanning and ear buds in place. So, not to sound like our parents, but get outside and have some fun! Now, we know Charlotte isn’t exactly a beach-town resort, but you can always hit Lake Norman or Wylie for some lakeside fun. But if you’ve got time to make it over to the coast, don’t miss out on these opportunities to learn how to become the ultimate surfing beach bunny!
Corolla Surf School
Try summer surfing the outer banks of Corolla with CPR certified instructors at Corolla Surf School. Both the New York Times and Fitness Magazine have recommended the school, which offers introductory, advanced beginner, private, and semi-private lessons. Plus, Corolla has been rated one of the top 6 destinations in the United States for learning to surf!
Surf Camp
Conquer surfing and stand up paddle boarding on any one of these gorgeous North Carolinian beaches with WB Surf Camp: Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Bach, Figure Eight Island, Kure Beach, Masonboro Island, Topsail Island, or Surf City! Featuring both family-friendly locales and safe but exhilarating summertime waves, locations like Surf City offer biking, hiking, and golfing in addition to the many beach activities. So if you want to hit the water while the rest of the family watches from the shore (and takes pictures!), rest assured, everyone will have a fun day.
International Board Sailing Club of Charlotte
Interested in trying your hand at wind surfing? As it turns out, a lot of people in Charlotte do! Join the International Board Sailing Club of Charlotte (IBSCC), a group of over 100 members and fanatical windsurfers. While the group doesn’t offer formal lessons, members range from beginners to world-traveling wind-surfers, and informal lessons are offered to all members. With the group you can travel anywhere from Wilmington to Venezuela for some of the world’s best wind surfing!
