68
—
GW
M A L L O R C A
below, allowing them to better
analyse their strokes. World
champion Daniel Unger, two-
time Hawaii IronMan winner
Normann Stadler and European
champion Andreas Raelert all
hone their swimming
techniques for triathlon here.
Outdoor types will love
Mallorca’s idyllic hiking trails.
Qualified mountain guides
David Casajuana and Salvador
Suau from theMallorca
Muntanya teamhave been
leading hikes through the
Tramuntana Mountains – a
UnescoWorld Heritage site – for
over 10 years.
They’ve devised some new
routes for 2013, gaining exclusive
right of way through partially
private land, which isn’t
normally open to the public.
‘
We’re local guides with
special right of way, and we take
holidaymakers through
wonderful landscapes that they
wouldn’t normally be able to
access,’ they say.
If you’re an experienced
climber, the Muntanya team
recommend a hike up the
Massanella, Mallorca’s highest
climbable mountain, and a tour
of the impressive Torrente de
Pareis gorge.
The island is also
synonymous with tennis.
Mallorcan Rafael Nadal
practised his serves as a small
boy at his local club inManacor,
and stars such as Boris Becker,
Charly Steeb, Tommy Haas and
SteffiGraf have trained on the
sandy courts of the Tennis
AcademyMallorca (TAM) in
Paguera. The Academy, 30 years
old next year, boasts 15 outdoor
courts, which are open
throughout the year.
International teams regularly
prepare for the off-season under
the tutorship of former Davis
Cup player Ali Yenilmez.
‘
TAM is the most popular
tennis school on the island. We
welcome guests from all over the
world. They hail fromVancouver
to New Zealand and Kuwait to
Finland. We offer quality
training, a great location – 20
minutes fromPalma and three
minutes’ walk to the beach – and
a friendly international
atmosphere,’ says manageress
Valerie Yenilmez.
In 2011, around 160,00 golfers
teed offon the greens of
Mallorca’s 19 courses. The clubs
all comewith driving ranges, and
golfing professionals are on hand
to offer expert advice. The
fairways are perfect all year
round, thanks to themild climate.
Alcanada is considered one of
Europe’s most beautiful golf
links – its greens and fairways lie
right next to the sea. Golf de
Andratx is one of the most
attractive courses on the island,
and at the Vall D’Or golf club,
pine, almond and olive trees
grow from the hillocks
overlooking the sea. This winter,
the exclusive Son Gual course
will host intensive golf camps
led by golfing pro TimHolroyd.
Golfers are invited to improve
their technique and golf fitness,
and do some mental training.
The courses are a great way to
get ready for the tournament
season back home.
The Fun4u racing arena is a
favourite with motorcycle road
racers, like three-time world
champion and Mallorcan
native Jorge Lorenzo, who
trains there.
‘
Visitors can do some circuits
of our 3.2km racetrack in an AC
Cobra [a vintage sports car]. We
also offer safety training and a
great go-kart track,’ says
manager Peter Unterberg.
Or you can combine some
four-wheeled action with
outdoor adventure on a quad
combination tour. The itinerary
includes power snorkelling in
summer and hiking or mountain
biking in winter. DarkWirtz and
Quad TeamMallorca have been
taking holidaymakers and locals
on combination tours of the
island since 2004.
‘
Fit with Franco’ is local
celebrity fitness guru Frank
Wierig’s slogan. He can’t think of
better place to get into shape
thanMallorca.
‘
First and foremost, we want
our clients to have fun and
rediscover their passion for
sport,’ says the personal trainer.
And for daredevil visitors,
there’s paragliding. Gliders
launch themselves into the air at
Puig de Sant Marti, and from
there swoop over the bay of
Alcudia and the Port de Pollença
harbour.
TOP TEN CONTACTS
1.
SAILING
2.
CYCLING
3.
TRIATHLON
4.
HIKING
5.
TENNIS
6.
GOLF
7.
MOTORSPORT
8.
QUAD
9.
PERSONAL TRAINING
10.
PARAGLIDING
Unterwegs mit dem Quad Team Mallorca
Quad Team Mallorca in action
