Canyoning: Extreme Water and Then Some!

So you think riding the rapids in a rubber dinghy is the ultimate extreme sport? Think again! There's denying the rush involved, when you find yourself bobbing above and below the waterline while ten tons of water is bouncing you you off a granite face, but for sheer thrills that'll get your heart pumping I say give CANYONING a try! In the United States canyoning is knowning at canyoneering. Well -- I'm not in the USA! In these parts it's canyoning and you might as well leave any thoughts of a rubber dinghy back home! Canyoning gets you about as up close and in your face with water, rocks, rivers and rabids as you can get. "Cuz in canyoning it's just you and 'ol Mother Nature. In canyoning everything is on foot. And all you can do is go foreward. In my book that's not a bad way to play -- whether it's an extreme sport or life in general!

When it comes to water falls, frothing rivers, gurgling rapids and water that tends to splash in your face at a rate of 200 liters a second, Italy has a lot to offer. In fact, the Association of Canyoning in Italy (www.canyoning.it) provides a thorough overview of where to go and who to go with if you're looking for that next extreme adventure.

Canyoning -- it should be pointed out -- is not an individual sport, it's a group sport. In fact Canyoning.it makes the smart call by recommending that you never go canyoning with less than 4 people. More than anything this has to do with safety, but it also has to do with the amount of equipment the sport demands. Each person really only needs a pair of tennis shoes and gloves (I find workout gloves are best -- you the kind -- with the cut off fingers) a helmet is essential and a wet suit isn't a bad option either. Rocks can cut and a layer of Neoprene will do wonders at protecting your skin, not to mention your butt.

It's the other accuderments that are important -- ropes and harness and maybe pick and axe will defintily come in handy. In canyoning you could find yourself looking a waterfall straight in the eye or slippery-slide down a crevice carved in stone. Waterfalls in particular point out www.gardacanyon.com will mean climbing up and then down or perhaps just down.

Typical canyoning excursions can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. Longer courses in this country (and also abroad elsewhere in Europe) are available that involve overnight excursions. It's really a matter of how deep in you want to find yourself.

According to www.canyonland.it, there are many areas throughout Italy where you can enjoy canyoning. The Lago di Garda area in the north I'm, particularly familiar with and offers a nice mix of waterfalls and rapids. And as I've mentioned before, canyoning.it is a great multi-use site wher you can find information on where to go and who can teach you.

In my book, canyoning joins other off-the-wall sports like canopy walking as past-times that not only keep your interest but breed confidence as well. So go on, I dare ya - next time you're up for a challenge, leave the rubber raft in the garage and really feel the rush of the water with a canyoning excursion!