Hasta La Ideas

The ultimate to-do list when visiting a tropical heaven on earth

While Bora Bora might be the obvious choice for honeymooners seeking a romantic getaway, adventure-seekers the world over flock to the island for year-round activities. Beyond offering a wealth of deepwater sight-seeing for any seasoned scuba diver and an ocean pass that offers daredevil surfers the waves of their life, Bora Bora has a range of activities to please any skill level.

The plane ride from Tahiti to Bora Bora is a quick 40 minute trip. Le Méredien Bora Bora, which hosted my stay, is centrally located on the island and took care of organizing every last detail of my venture-filled stay. I woke up every morning and dove off the deck of my over-water bungalow, the only way I would recommend staying in Bora Bora, straight into the ocean for a morning of snorkeling. Beyond the enjoyment right outside my door, here are the activities I explored while on the island.

Bora Bora Aquabiking

Imagine driving around on a cross between a Vespa and a submarine, and you’ll have an idea of the aquabike experience. To get to the right spot, you need to take a boat to another part of the island where you get on a van, drive around the island, and then get on another boat and ride out to the middle of the ocean. Next, you sit down on the electric-powered bike with a friend in tow. A bowl filled with oxygen covers your head allowing you to breathe normally when fully submerged. Here’s where all the effort becomes worth it as an expert diver leads you along the ocean floor to navigate around schools of fish, coral reefs and a few hidden surprises along the way. It’s an entirely surreal experience, and a great way to sea the ocean floor if you’re a deepsea novice. Other than one place in Mauritius, there’s no where else in the world that offers the aquabike experience.

The Marine Turtle’s Protection Center

Of the many treasures in French Polynesia, few mean more to local culture than the turtle. At Le Méredien, The Marine Turtle’s Protection Center has partnered with the Ministry of the Environment to serve as a rehabilitation center for injured green turtles and imbricated turtles. The expansive visiting center in the resort’s private lagoon allow guests to view turtle feedings, learn about their environment and swim and snorkel among the over 100 turtles in resort waters and local channel. The opportunity to swim among these endangered species at Le Méredien is unique to French Polynesia.

Kainalu XT Paddle Boarding

To up your island workout, schedule an afternoon of paddle boarding. Led by fitness experts Kainalu XT, who come out to your hotel with full equipment in hand, they’ll guide you through a workout that focuses on deep core strengthening as well as overall conditioning. Skipping the general challenge of surfing by learning to get up on a board, paddle boarding is an entertaining exercise for anyone with even a smidgen of balance. It’s a rhythmic yet challenging workout, paddling in and around the bay and through bungalow bridges. The workout ends with a sunset cruise around the island, powered by your ever-energetic Kainalu XT instructors.

Shark and Stingray Feeding

Another must-do afternoon of ocean sight-seeing: feeding a large mix of sharks and man rays in shallow ocean water. First, choose a great tour guide. We were led out to sea by Cilly (aka the Tahitian Keith Richards), who was armed with a ukulele and a do-anything attitude. Cilly is part of Tahiti tourism favorite Fanfan Excursions. After a round of snorkeling looking for the elusive Manta Rays, we threw anchor in another well-trafficked ocean spot.

Throw some fresh French bread into the ocean and watch as you’re instantly surrounded by scores of attractive fish. Then upgrade your bait to a bucket of scrum and witness a herd of black fin sharks and friendly stingrays circling in on you. Stingrays here are used to human visits and not shy to get close. You’ll soon discover that one of the softest textures in all of Polynesia is the padding on a stingray’s nose. A daring visitor can even ride one like a jetski. After the feeding, Cilly will sail you an islet for a traditional motu picnic of fried bread and raw fish tossed with coconut milk.

Email fanfantaxiboat [at] mail [dot] pf for more information.

Aspen-style schooling on Orbea’s full-carbon road bike

As an avid urban cyclist, I’ve spent many hours riding various city streets on a fixed gear bike. When The Little Nell Adventure Concierge challenged me to a full road bike experience traversing the beautiful terrain of Aspen, I wasn’t sure how I would measure up. Home to some of the most challenging roads for competitive cycling in the U.S. with its treacherous climbs and speed-demon downhill stretches, the topography is tough for even world champions to tackle.

To aid in my endeavor, The Little Nell outfitted me with a top tier cycling kit, a full carbon Orbea road bike, top of the line bike computer and local professional cyclist and trainer Scott Kasin.

After a few pointers, some subsequent adjustments and a little mockery about “riding like a bike messenger” I was cycling more smoothly and efficiently. Having one of Aspen’s top athletes riding alongside me proved an invaluable resource in learning how to properly operate an elite competition road bike.

Carbon from head to toe and laced with Dura-ace components, the robustly lightweight Orbea road killer really took off when pointed up hill. And after four straight hours of leg burning ascents, the Orca felt right at home and under control bolting downhill at well over 40mph. To understand the full capacity of the cycling machine, Orbea’s intensely accurate description helps set the scene, stating “It is not a product, it is a feeling. It’s competition. It’s adrenaline.”

By the end of the second day my Garmin Edge 800 informed me I had ascended over 6,000 vertical feet, ridden nearly 70 miles, conquered the breathtaking Maroon Bells and climbed from flower laden valleys to the snow covered peaks of Independence Pass—the most difficult stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. What began as a formidable task turned into an exciting adventure thanks to Kasin’s stern teachings and integral instructions, which kept me on course even when a certain “Livestrong” cyclist sped by in a flash of yellow and black.

For more information on the Aspen cycling experience, visit The Little Nell Adventure Concierge.

Images by Graham Hiemstra and Cameron L. Martindell

Three thrill-supplying destinations and the sporting gear to go with them

Even as our hemisphere finally begins to thaw, we at Cool Hunting think that everyone who’s suffered countless blizzards, waist-high slush and bone-chilling cold deserves a break. For sun-worshippers, powder junkies or anyone in between, we put together our latest favorite getaways and the accoutrements—classic products with exceptional design—that complement the locales we’ve found and make these destinations truly next-level.

Surf Costa Rica’s secret break with handmade wooden boards

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica: Salsa Brava Break

Puerto Viejo, a village on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast (about three hours from the country’s capital, San Jose), attracts diehard surfers who are looking for a more relaxed vibe than that of the often-crowded spots on the Pacific. Salsa Brava, a break that has been called Costa Rica’s heaviest and best, provides the main draw to the area while still remaining relatively untouched. Surfers can expect swells that are head-high to triple overhead (swell is biggest from December through March) at Salsa Brava, a name that loosely translates to “fierce sauce.”

42 Surfboards

If you’re going to surf an epic break, then it’s essential to have a board worthy of such a storied wave. Hand-shaped in Oregon, the products crafted by 42 Surfboards more than stand up to the challenge. Shaper Lars Bergström, a fifth-generation wood-worker who has been making surfboards since he was in high school, leads the team, producing classic American surfboards that not only ride waves but ride the test of time, lasting buyers a lifetime. Setting the brand apart is both their use of sustainable wood in making the board, as well as their attention to detail and pride in their bespoke creations that combine traditional wood-working technique with CAD technology. Whenever possible, the board will be hand delivered to its buyer—so be sure to order well before planning a trip to Salsa Brava.

Find your “true stoke” at Jackson Hole’s first eco-tel

Jackson, WY: Terra Hotel

Hotel Terra in Jackson Hole provides shelter for skiers who’ve traveled to Wyoming to shred some of the country’s best and most challenging terrain, as well as for the many visitors who come to take in the spectacular Teton Mountain Range and nearby national park. The lodgings combine all the luxury and amenities of a boutique hotel with a LEED-certified building and sustainable operating practices (including providing guests with reusable aluminum water bottles and access to alternative and energy efficient transportation). Working with the credo that an eco-hotel is healthier for both its guest and the land it inhabits, Terra demonstrates that luxury and eco-friendliness can go hand-in-hand.

ScottyBob Skis

Though some visitors to the Hotel Terra will hole up in the resort’s Chill Spa, most will hit the slopes, where the go-to gear for navigating Jackson’s trademark waist-deep powder is a pair of ScottyBob’s handmade skis. When Scotty Bob Carlson was working as a telemark instructor, he noticed that the symmetrical design of skis was inherently flawed. Building on this discovery, he put together a set of asymmetrical skis, a means of construction that ensures the highest level of precision, responsiveness, and ease and fluidity of turns, which will no doubt help you achieve the Telemarker’s coveted sublime moment or “true stoke.” Each and every pair that Scotty Bob produces is handmade in Colorado, ensuring that all the equipment that he manufactures is built with love and attention to quality and detail.

Image via The American Craftsman Project

Hike Twin Farms’ expansive acres in custom boots

Barnard, VT: Twin Farms

Ten miles north of Woodstock, VT lies Barnard, home to Twin Farms, a country estate-turned-resort and spa. Guests stay in a variety of accommodations scattered about the property, from rooms in a 1795-era farmhouse to freestanding cottages, and eat locally-sourced meals custom prepared by the in-house culinary team. In addition to tennis, swimming and croquet, Twin Farms’ property includes over five miles of hiking trails on their 300 acres of property; ranging from beginner to intermediate, these hikes lead guests through wildflower meadows, a hardwood forest, and a smattering of ponds. Those who wish to traverse a little more serious terrain can easily access nearby Mount Ascutney, Camel’s Hump, and the Appalachian Trail.

Limmer Custom Boots

Choosing to venture to these strenuous trails requires a comfortable, supportive hiking boot—that’s where Limmer comes in. Launched in 1925 when the Limmer family emigrated to the U.S. from the Bavarian Alps, the boot company represents a longstanding tradition of handcraftsmanship and the highest in walking shoe quality. Though Limmer’s custom products are built to suit the needs of each individual customer (who often opts to go for a custom model due to a fit challenge or simply looking for the best performing shoe), the boot generally includes a Vibram® sole with a multi-layer system designed to support and stabilize the arch, ankle, toe and heel. It’s worth the cost (around $625) and the wait (usually around six weeks); Limmer’s repair shop often sees boots that are 50 years old (or more) come in to be patched up and sent back to their satisfied owners. Whether you’re summiting the peaks of some of Vermont’s most beautiful mountains in a pair of custom Limmers or just braving unplowed sidewalks, trust us—your feet will thank you.

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