Mallorca: deep water soloing, mountain biking, caving and paragliding

In this article, Tom de Dorlodot, renowned adventurer and paraglider, tells us about the time he spent in Mallorca with the participants of the Lotto Young Adventurers.

The Lotto Young Adventurers

For this third edition of Lotto Young Adventurers, we took the winners of our competition to the island of Mallorca in Spain. Over 2 consecutive weeks, Search Projects hosted, aboard the sailboat of the same name, the 2 groups of 4 young people, French-speaking and then Dutch-speaking, who won the competition. We had prepared a tailor-made programme for them, a concentrate of adventure focused on discovering some rather unusual activities and sports. It was an unforgettable experience, for them as much as for us. The media also played an important role, as the Lotto Young Adventurers expeditions were covered by Studio Brussel and Radio Contact.

The island of Mallorca

Mallorca is a little corner of paradise, an ideal destination for adventure and sport, and one of my favourites in Europe. The weather is generally mild, plane tickets and the cost of living there are very affordable, and the Spanish are truly welcoming.
I'd like to share with you a few tips and some of our slightly secret local know-how…

4 unusual sports to try on the island

1. Deep water soloing

Deep water soloing is climbing without a rope above the water, with the sea as your only net!

My friend Miquel Riera coined the term "psicobloc" towards the end of the 1970s. At the time he was tired of repeating the same routes on the cliffs near his village and went out to sea to see what he could find there. With a few friends, they opened up hundreds of new spots, and today he is recognised worldwide as a living legend of this sport. Miquel agreed to guide the Lotto Young Adventurers on an introductory day of deep water soloing. This isn't something to improvise. I'd advise you to get in touch with him if you want to give it a try.

Here are a few tips already:

• Never go out alone. Ideally you should be accompanied by a guide with a boat. The spots are often only accessible by sea.
• Check the state of the sea. It can be dangerous if there's a swell, as the waves crash forcefully against the rocks. It's best to choose a calm, windless day. The site www.windguru.cz is fairly accurate for forecasting the weather in the region.
• Bring a mask with you and check the depth of the water beneath the rocks you're going to climb (favour the spots listed by locals).
• Check that there are no jellyfish or sea urchins around (it's quite painful…) and avoid touching or damaging the coral.
• Set off well equipped, ideally with climbing shoes made of synthetic material (leather shrinks when wet), with some chalk and some eco-friendly sun cream.
• Favour easy routes to start with and don't go too high too quickly. Wearing a lycra top offers some protection against falls and any painful "belly flops" on the water…

It's a stressful game but really enjoyable.

You can feel free to contact Miquel on my behalf via his blog: http://miquelriera-psicobloc.blogspot.com.es/p/home.html.

2. Caving in the Cuevas del Drach

The island of Mallorca is full of caves and hiding places underground. History tells us that some of these caves were used by pirates, such as the famous Redbeard, to hide loot stolen from villages along the Mediterranean coast. Today, most of the caves are known and more or less accessible. The Cuevas del Drach are among the most visited by the public and are completely safe. http://www.cuevasdeldrach.com/fr/

For the more adventurous among you, it's worth setting off to discover a less common cave, but always accompanied by a local guide.

To awaken the explorer within you, I recommend discovering the Cueva des Coloms next to Cala Vasques. To reach the entrance of the cave you have to swim 200 metres and then squeeze through a fairly narrow tunnel. Just wide enough to get through. The inside is superb and the walls are covered with stalactites. There are several possible routes, it's a huge labyrinth… Those of you reading this who aren't claustrophobic will really enjoy it!

A few tips to make sure your exploration goes as smoothly as possible:

• Take a guide! The Skualo team is great, friendly and very professional. They have more than 20 years of experience in the field… https://www.skualowatersports.com/adrenaline-activities/the-sea-cave/
• It's essential to check the state of the sea before heading there. A significant swell could trap you inside.
• It's compulsory to wear a helmet and carry a torch (having first made sure the batteries are fully charged).
• I'd recommend wearing a neoprene wetsuit (even a shorty) and shoes, as the water is quite cold inside. The guide will be able to provide you with the necessary equipment.
• Bring a waterproof bag to protect cameras, phones and a good stash of biscuits… ;)

3. Mountain biking in the Serra de Tramuntana

Mallorca is quite well known among keen cyclists. Seasoned athletes come from all over Europe to ride the island's trails, especially in autumn and winter, when the weather is much milder than back home in the North.

In the past, tarmac roads were rare and locals mostly travelled on foot or by horse. The stony trails are still intact and today are a delight for hikers and cyclists. We spent an incredible day between sea and mountain, hurtling down the remote paths of the Serra de Tramuntana. Our guide, Adria, knew the hidden corners better than anyone and provided us with top-notch equipment. For the less sporty among you, it's even possible to rent electric mountain bikes, which makes the effort required much easier. It's really a lovely way to discover the island. You can contact Adria on my behalf via his email address: nabicor@gmail.com

• When you rent a mountain bike, you'll be given a helmet. Make sure to wear it and check that it's properly adjusted. Personally I also like to wear gloves, a lightweight long-sleeved jacket and trousers. A bad fall can happen quickly.
• Bring enough water, as the effort combined with the heat will quickly dehydrate you.
• Bring a map or a good GPS to avoid getting lost.

4. Paragliding on Mount Alfabia

As you know, I never go anywhere without my wing and I love sharing my passion… So we took the Lotto Young Adventurers for a paragliding flight. Mallorca is a mountainous island and therefore a prime location for this beautiful air sport. There are a few recognised sites and even a small school based in Soller.
My friend Cesar Canudas is an internationally renowned pilot who knows his island inside out. He can safely take you on a tandem flight of about thirty minutes from the summit of Alfabia, landing in the meadows of the magnificent Ca N'Ai hotel. (I'd recommend having lunch there, the food is excellent!). Here are his details: Cesar Canudas: +34 672 690 375. Tell him you're a friend of mine, he'll make the flight last a little longer than usual… ;)

• Bring a light jumper and gloves, as it can get quite cool up in the air.
• Wear trainers or even high boots to protect your ankles on landing. It's forbidden to fly in sandals or open shoes.
• Wear sunglasses and put on some sun cream!

Read about Tom de Dorlodot's adventures in the "Travel and adventure" series and follow him on his website.