Getting fit in the great Ibiza outdoors never felt so good: fitness classes, hiking including meditation and riders exploring the wild Ibiza. Check them!
1. REWILD: THE OUTDOOR, BOUTIQUE FITNESS CLASS
“I was a commodities broker in the oil business for 17 years earning a lot of money but with no life outside the office. I then had the classic burnout experience and visited a psychologist who tried to give me anti-depressants. This was the wake-up call I needed and I began going to the gym every day where the endorphins thankfully took over – there is no better medicine than feeling fit and healthy.”
Today Danny Plant runs Rewild in the Santa Gertrudis countryside, a beautiful outdoor space featuring constantly varied classes with the focus on performance at high density. With places for metcon workouts, cardio machines, rig sessions and even a strong man area, it is proving the perfect place to start your day. “I get a lot of music industry people at Rewild and a lot of former party goers who are looking to make new corrections to their lives. I like to look at my sessions as ‘semi-private PT sessions where a small group has the full attention of the coach, but also the motivation of the class. Where else can you sweat, swing, lift and pump all in the beautiful Ibiza open air?”.
2. IBIZA HIKE STATION: THE HIKE EXPERIENCES CREATOR
What does it take for a man to leave behind the world of CEO and Vice-Presidency at some of the biggest brands in the world including Pronovias, Swarovski and Chopard? The energy and beauty of Ibiza, that’s what. Meet Manuel Ehrensperger, the Swiss born gentleman who can take you from A to B in Ibiza in the most extraordinary way. “I decided there was more to corporate life and so I walked the 800km Camino de Santiago in complete silence thinking of what to do next…and somehow I ended up in Ibiza. Everything though was about nightclubs and beach life and although I asked people about nature, nobody was interested. So I started to hike and eventually by word of mouth, I began to get clients.”
But Manuel is no ordinary hiker. He takes you along old fishermen’s trails that are 200m above sea level, secret swimming pools hidden from view whilst also including meditation en route. “I have all the licenses which allows me to go to private zones, I take the hiker out of their comfort zone and give people a complete 3D experience. Hiking is the complete work out; an 8km hike is enough for the brain to disconnect, it is great cardio for the heart, amazing for the lungs with no pollution, brilliant for agility and flexibility climbing rocks, it revitalizes the senses with beauty all around you and it gives you quality time with your friends and family. As I always say, nature is the new luxury – breathe, calm your mind and live the moment.”
3. CARUB RIDERS: RIDERS OF THE STORM
On an island where promotion and marketing are everything, it is so refreshing to discover a group of people living their lives to the max and totally happy in their own adrenalin bubble. Meet the Carub Riders, a group of Ibicenco friends who have been exploring, racing and conquering the wild Ibiza countryside on two wheels since 2008. “There are many single tracks in Ibiza, but to ride the best endurance or downhill, our own Carub site near Jesus is the best” smiles Adrian Martinez. “We took a lot of time and thought designing it with jump lines, berms and drops – and here it is private so we are left alone to ride freely.”
Anyone can go along and spend the day riding and learning from these BMX superstars, but it isn’t a chap sport with bikes costing between €5,000 to €8,000 and clothing up to €700. The guys have travelled all over the world racing bike parks from as far afield as the UK and Canada, but it is here in Ibiza where they excel. “We love welcoming in new people to the sport and we love the fact that BMX is growing so quickly. Bicycle brands such as Specialized Spain and some local stores on the island have been great supporters for our events as have the town halls. There is a real positive energy behind the sport now, it is a great time to be alive.”
