Extreme Sports

Extreme sports is the name given to a range of sporting activities in which there is a chance that the participants can be seriously injured or even killed. They require that the participants wear specialized equipment and often it means traveling at high speeds. Along with competing against opponents, in extreme sports, one also competes against variety of obstacles, most of which are natural parts of the environment. The variables cannot be controlled, such as the elements of weather.

Examples of extreme sports include:

Bungee jumping – jumping from a very tall structure, such as a bridge, with no other equipment than a long cord which is long enough to almost touch the ground.
Skydiving – jumping out of a plane at a predetermined height and using a parachute to reach the ground safely.
Scuba diving – diving to the depths of the ocean to explore shipwrecks and caves. For the most part scuba diving is not dangerous when done close to the surface.
Surfing – riding the crest of a high wave using a surfboard.
Rock Climbing – climbing across natural rock formations. The participants are connected by ropes so that if one person falls, the others can pull him/her to safety. This does not include the indoor rock climbing adventures which a re not as dangerous.
Snow skiing – this refers to skiing down high mountains and in areas where both the terrain and the snow conditions present a threat.
Water skiing – following along behind a speed boat traveling at a high speed by holding the handle of a rope attached to the boat. The participant’s feet are strapped into skis designed for skimming across the top of the water.
Snowboarding – the participant stands on a board and has his/her feet strapped in. The person then proceeds to weave his/her way down a mountain slope while standing on the board.
Mountain biking – riding a special type of bike over rough terrain at high speeds.
Mountaineering – this sport refers to climbing mountain peaks and enduring all kinds of hardships, of which the weather is only one. High altitudes and the cold often cause the participants to become ill and there is the danger of falling off steep cliffs or into deep gorges or canyons.
Storm Chasing – this is the practice of chasing storms such as tornadoes to get pictures of the eye of the storm.
Hang Gliding – this refers to flying a type of aircraft that does not have a motor but is propelled by the wind.

People engage in extreme sports for various reasons. They do provide one with an adrenalin rush. Engaging in these sports does require a high level of physical fitness and for many people it is a challenge that they want to conquer. For some people whose age is creeping up on them taking part in these activities helps them feel that they are still young.