Extreme tourism
Sakhalin Region is a center of extreme tourism
Extreme tourism is gaining momentum more and more and consolidates its position among Russian tourists. There are many ways to “tickle” your nerves while on vacation, from which the impressions will remain for a lifetime.
Thrill-seekers are constantly on the lookout for new places to get the next dose of adrenaline, which helps to improve mood and reboot. Not many people know that the Sakhalin Region is one of the regions most saturated with active tourism opportunities.
Mountain bike
SUMMER SEASON: from May to the end of September
An extreme sport and outdoor activity that is rapidly gaining worldwide popularity.
Sakhalin, with its accessible mountainous terrain, is literally created for active leisure, and tourist mountain bike rides in suburban areas will be a great way to spend time in an exciting and useful way.
Thrill-seekers will not be disappointed either, because mountain biking is also a competition for the speed and technicality of passing a mountain route or “trail”, as MTB lovers call it. Exciting high-speed turns on wooded slopes, mini-jumps, steep (and not so) rocky slopes, picturesque views of mountain ranges, a sea of new sensations - all this mixed with a healthy and friendly sports atmosphere can be tried on in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk!
The main place for mountain biking in the southern part of the island is the territory of STK "Gorny Vozdukh", where the "Sakhalin Extreme Cycling Club" regularly conducts MTB training, maintains and expands routes for skiing, and also holds bright, dynamic, spectacular competitions, in which are also attended by guests of the region.
Please note that without training, skills, protection and a proper bike, it is not safe to ride. And without a helmet, it is generally forbidden to go out on the track!
On the territory of "Gorniy Vozdukh" there are six bike trails of varying difficulty, you can see them at the link.
Diving
This is a new direction in the world of Sakhalin tourism. The peculiarity of weather conditions does not always guarantee the possibility of access to open water, although the impressions received from diving in the waters near Sakhalin will overshadow any organizational difficulties. Diving centers "Sakhalin Diving" and "Diving Club Sakhalin" organize training and diving in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. It is possible to organize a tour and explore the seabed near Moneron Island, which is the first marine natural park in Russia.
Rafting
SUMMER SEASON: from May to the end of September
Another way to get an adrenaline rush and hone your skills is kayaking or kayaking. Rafting on the rivers is fraught with a share of danger, and at the same time, allows you to take a closer look at the virgin nature. The most attractive for this type of leisure are the rivers Tayozhnaya, Lyutoga or Dagi. Most often, a group of people is sent for rafting along with a guide or, at a minimum, the obligatory presence of navigation and communication tools suitable for extreme conditions of use.
Surfing in all its manifestations
SUMMER SEASON: from April to the end of October.
Separately, it should be said about surfing and its varieties - windsurfing and kitesurfing. At the beginning of the new century, the Far East met the first surfers in its waters, inspired by the experience of foreign athletes. And after 2010, competitions in this sport began to be held here, both at the regional and federal levels, and at the international level.
You can contact existing surf schools and learn from scratch to conquer the wild waters of Sakhalin and the Kuriles. There are even special tours built on the principle of a surfing camp, where all 7-10-14 days you can be among like-minded people, learn the basics of sports and conquer the waves. It should be borne in mind that all the waters of the Far East do not warm up to the southern +22 or +25, so almost any meeting with open water takes place in a wetsuit.
This year the surfing season on Sakhalin was opened by the Russian team, after which our athletes went to Kunashir to catch a wave.
Windsurfing
It is somewhat similar to surfing - access to the water also occurs on the board. There are two key differences: firstly, a board with a special sail is used for windsurfing, thanks to the interaction with which the movement occurs, and, secondly, the presence of large waves is not so important for this sport - all movement depends on the wind, its direction and athlete's hand strength. Windsurfing is not so popular among amateurs, but professionals can change their usual locations and get unforgettable impressions of unity with the elements in the only island region of Russia.
Sup surfing
This is a relatively new sport that has gained incredible popularity around the world in a short amount of time.
SUP is an abbreviation for "Stand Up Paddle", which means "standing with a paddle" in Russian. Standing on a special board with a paddle in hand, you can safely enjoy the views of the island, and for those who want more activity, SUP can give a serious workout to the whole body.
Surfing with a paddle can be mastered by almost everyone. On Sakhalin, they will offer to make a SUP walk on any body of water. You can conquer lakes, raft down rivers, surf the Sea of Okhotsk. The biggest advantage of SUP compared to other sports is that it only requires a board and a paddle and no special training is needed.
Stand up paddle surfing is very easy to learn. It is easy to learn for children, teenagers and even the elderly. On walks with SUP boards, even those whose physical fitness is far from perfect feel comfortable. SUP is often used at the initial stage of learning to classic surf.
Sakhalin instructors will help you quickly master this sport. They provide both individual and group training. The lesson program includes: water safety, introduction to SUP equipment, stand, start and fall, rowing technique, turns.
Kitesurfing
This is an extreme sport, so it is necessary to learn how to control a kite and a board from an experienced instructor. There are no age restrictions: everyone can learn, so both children and older people are involved in this sport. The main thing is the right technique.
"Kite" comes from the English kite, which means a kite in translation. In kiting, it is used as a driving force, which is used both for movement on land and in water.
Jeeping
SEASON: from April to November
By the number of jeeps per capita, the Sakhalin Region is perhaps among the top regions of Russia. An all-wheel drive "all-terrain vehicle" is not a luxury here, but a real means of transportation.
As it usually happens, all the most beautiful things in nature are not in sight - you still need to fight for access to "views in a million", with off-road and impassable wilds, for example. And here comes the time of machines, the very ones that are ready for any test.
