Costa Del Whoa!

It may be the playground of the rich and famous, but Marbella in souther n Spain is also where adrenalin junkies should be heading this summer, says Matt War nock

Serene calm washes over me, I breathe in the air of a perfect Andalusian morning, and I am at one with nature. Then the calm is gone and I am hurtling down a hillside at 30mph inside a giant beach ball. Whoaaaah!

I have come to Marbella, world-renowned playground of the rich and famous. But, unlike the majority of beach, boat and bar-lounging jetsetters who spend their summers on the “Costa del Golf ” – the region has 50-plus courses – I am not here to merely soak up the sun. No, I need my sangria served with a slice of adrenalin. And, believe it or not, underneath the Swarovski-encrusted blanket of glitz and glamour, the Costa del Sol has plenty of action to offer. Hence the activity of hill-rolling – also known as “zorbing” or “sphereing” – at the beautiful La Quinta Golf and Country club 10 minutes from downtown Marbella.

“Don’t look so anxious, it has a 100% safety record,” Hedley Smith, the brains behind Spheremania España, assures me as my longsuffering girlfriend and I climb inside. Basically, the spheres are 4mhigh balls that contain an inner shell where “rollers” sit or stand, while the outer ball is fully inflated.

Hedley, together with his team’s professionalism and enthusiasm, quickly assuages any nervousness. “I’ve worked in the leisure industry for over 15 years,” he says in a singsong Geordie lilt. “I’ve run everything from paintballing to quadding, but hill-rolling really caught my imagination because it’s so unique. It’s completely eco-friendly, fresh and makes use of the natural landscape.”

First off, we do an “aqua sphere”. This involves sitting side-by-side in the ball and having a few litres of water chucked in with us. “Kids and families love this one, as you can go down up to three at a time,” says Hedley. “The water acts as a lubricant, so you remain sitting at the bottom all the way down.” At least, that’s the theory. The reality is something closer to being inside a giant washing machine. Water sprays everywhere, as we slip and slide around, limbs flailing, and hardly able to breathe through our laughter. Soaked through, we’re given a lift back up to the top and then it’s time for the more serious matter of harness-sphereing.

As the name suggests, we’re strapped up and attached securely to opposite sides of the ball, facing each other. A quick shove and we race down the hill. Whereas aqua-sphereing is like a cool water ride at a theme park, harness-sphereing is a more extreme experience. The ball travels much faster and, although unlike anything I’ve ever done before, it perhaps compares to bungee jumping in terms of its hardcore appeal. And it’s addictive. I’d happily spend the rest of the day doing this, but more action awaits me five minutes’ drive along the coast in the town of San Pedro de Alcántara.

Even in Spain, Andalusians are often perceived as laid back to the point of lethargy – this is the birthplace of the “mañana” attitude after all. However, Cable Ski Marbella proves otherwise. Here on a large natural lake, it’s all about the action. The centre is a great place to practise aquatic acrobatics, with no boats necessary – thanks to the installation of an incredible cable system that pulls water-skiers and boarders steadily around the lake.

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