There’s Something About Wave Walking!

Wave walking, consisting in an invigorating walk in the sea, is a new sport that is easy to fall in love with. We interviewed the people at Alassio Wave Walking, who first introduced this discipline to Italy

Are you looking for a sport that is fun all year round and takes place in a particularly healthy natural environment such as the sea?
If you are, then wave walking is right up your alley. Where? What better place than Liguria, which has so much sea to offer, and Alassio in particular, with its gentle sandy seabed? Indeed, wave walking has become very popular in Alassio.

Alassio Wave Walking

To learn more about wave walking, we went to Alassio, the town where this activity literally ’emerged’ in Italy, and we met Erika Schivo, Anna Nattero, Grazia Lo Manto, Emerson Fortunato and Giancarlo Silvano, all instructors of Alassio Wave Walking

When was this sport born?

“Wave walking was born in 2004 in the north of France as a complement to canoeing. It later developed, from 2015 onwards, in the Côte d’Azur,” says Giancarlo Silvano, while his colleague Emerson Fortunato is in the water busy with some budding athletes. “It was brought to Alassio in 2018 by Lorena Rasolo, Maddalena Canepa, Roberto Gravagno and the Alassio Nautical Club.”

What are its benefits?

“Wave walking strengthens the cardiovascular system without affecting the joints. The primary benefits are to the heart and circulation due to coming into contact with cold water; then there is a general increase in muscle tone. It is also perfect for people with back pain or joint problems because movement takes place in the water, were our weight decreases by 75% due to the buoyancy effect. For this reason, even professional athletes, such as footballers and cyclists, for example, use water rehabilitation as a recovery workout after being injured. Wave walking also affects our psychological and physical balance as a result of being in contact with nature and with such a special environment as here in Alassio, opposite the Island of Gallinara. And, then, there is always the post-workout benefit of going for a bite to eat with friends!”

What should the seabed be like? Whom is this sport particularly suited to?

“Since it involves walking with the water between your navel and your sternum, you need an even seabed, that is neither too sloping nor too stony.  The shallow, sandy seabed of the Alassio coastline makes this an ideal place to practise this sport, which is suitable for everyone. We organise our athletes into three main categories: ‘Zen’ is ideal for those wishing to relax and exercise in company; with ‘Fun’, the effort is a little more intense and the aerobic benefits increased; finally, ‘Tonic power’ is the category devised for athletes preparing for a competition. Because there are also wave walking competitions, with or without a paddle, in which the participants compete in relays, in pairs or in groups. In October there will be the international championships, which will see the participation of France, Italy, San Marino, Germany, Algeria, Morocco and many others—just to say how much this discipline is spreading.”

What is the best time of year to practice it?

“The answer is ‘always’. Here in Alassio, we are particularly lucky. The temperature is always pleasant, and the wave walking sessions cancelled per year (due to bad weather) can be counted on one hand. These are generally connected to weather warnings or coastal storms. We stop for a few days in the summer, but only to make room for bathers.  You must remember that this sport is practised abroad, in cold Baltic countries like Lithuania…”

Do you need any special equipment or a guide?

“In the winter months, we use a simple wetsuit and socks that we keep on site. We are instructors of the Wave Walking Division of Alassio’s nautical club CNAM (Circolo Nautico Al Mare), the 1st Italian Association to be affiliated with FIE (the Italian Federation of Hiking Guides) since 2018.”

Wave Walking Experience in Alassio