Wetsuits and Booties!

Wetsuits and booties are now on sale at the Adventure Out store! But what about the people that don't surf? Shouldn't they have some excuse to buy stetchy neoprene material clothing that looks ultra cool as well as keeping you warm even in the ocean?

Uses for wesuits besides surfing: Shark costume, fun thing to wear to the water slide park, progessive balerina outfit, extra large case for laptop computer, a body to make a scarecrow out of, ninja gear, something to wear if auditioning for the next Matrix movie, cool outfit to wear if playing in a heavy metal band, cool outfit to wear if playing in a mariachi band...


Booties: Drink coozie, flower vase, motorcycle boots, cooler looking aqua socks to wear to the pool, shoes so grippy you wouldn't fall when running, even if you're at the pool, feet for a ninja turtle costume, small house for a pet hamster, pen and pencil holder, arrow quiver, something warm to wear on hands during halloween night if your costume is an upside down man...



Happy Shopping! Enjoy the Summer!

Sweat Lodge

After one of the flintknapping classes last week, some students were invited to the house of Cliff Hodges (Adventure Out CEO) for a tradtional native sweat lodge. This was not an official Adventure Out event, but more of a bonus gift for anyone who took the flintnapping class taught by guest survival instructor, Bill McConnell.

For those who are not aware of what a sweat lodge is, it is a ceremony that has been done by various native peoples. The ceremony takes place in a lodge made from a skeleton of bent sapling poles covered with many blankets, tarps or anything else that can seal heat inside the small dome shape that people sit in. Heat inside a sweat lodge is created by placing hot rocks in the center and pouring water on them. The steam is trapped inside the dome and increases the temperature.






People have different ultimate reasons for doing a "sweat". There also different customs on how the lodge should be prepared, what herbs should be offered, and how the fire should be structured and kept to heat the rocks. I am not an expert on sweat lodges and the traditions that go with them, but I can tell you what I was able to take from the experience.

Physically, the sweat lodge acts as cleanser. The temperature inside a lodge is extremely hot and toxins in your body are released through your sweat. It is like a sauna that is uncomfortably hot. However, the uncomfortable part of the sweat lodge is crucial. Doing a sweat lodge isn't really something you do for fun like getting a massage, or sitting in a hot tub. It is a ceremony that puts you in a unfamiliar state that is uncomfortable, but allows you to relect about yourself and realize how comfortable our life usually is. I am not saying life is easy or is not a struggle at times. But doing a sweat lodge makes you feel alive in a way that cannot be felt regularly. It is also a way to check in with yourself wherever you may be in your life.

If anyone is interested in learning more about sweat lodges or other native traditions, check out some AO Survival Classes.

Keep enjoying the Spring!

Tree 9 Santa Cruz

If you are an adventurous person living in Santa Cruz, climbing Tree 9 should be on your to do list. Climbing Tree 9 is almost a rite of passage when you are a freshman at UCSC. Some people go there and climb half way up, or maybe three quarters of the way up, but you can't experience the full feeling of Tree 9 unless you climb all the way to the top. Once you get up there, the wind is in your face, and you can see all the way to the ocean on a clear day.



Many people leave little notes or tie small ribbons at the top...something to show you were there. There are many myths about if people have died climbing the tree. Im not sure if this is true, but it is important to take stong caution if you do decided to veture up. The tree has perfect bare branches to step on, but they can get very slippery from moisture in the air. You don't need to be a student to climb Tree 9. It is located in the upper campus natural reserve off the Seep Trail. For directions to Tree 9 Click Here! Stay safe.





If you are a climber, but are more interested in climbing a piece of rock, check out some Rock Climbing Classes!

What boadsport is coolest?

It's amazing how boardsports have progressed over the years. People are always striving to get more technical, ride with smoother style, and to GO BIGGER! A common debate has always been about what boardsport is the coolest, hardest or most fun to do.

Making a decision is hard when having to choose between surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, or wakeboarding.















There are other off shoots of these sports such as skim boarding, dirtboard riding and even sand boarding. What's your favorite boardsport? Leave a comment for the Adventure Out community and tell us why you like your boardsport. If you do all of them, thats even cooler!



If Surfing is your favorite, and you want to get a lot better, check out some AO SURF LESSONS!.