Extreme Sports Essays - Outdoor Recreation, Bungee Jumping

Extreme Sports Have you ever done something so extreme, that you've actually risked your life for it maybe? If so, why did you do it? Maybe to prove a point, but to who? Many people actually feel like they must make that impact in the world and prove a point to everyone else about being able to accomplish something maybe no one else could. It seems like a way to get attention possibly. Or maybe this just proves what people will actually do for money if it in fact was involved. It's actually said some people with personal experience to be more of a mental and spiritual thing to do, as opposed to a physical challenge, but there's no denying that you do work your legs, lung and ligaments. Everyday, daring people all over the world are participating in extreme sports like adventure racing, bull-fighting, in-line skating, bungee jumping, snow boarding and skateboarding. All of these sports involve a serious risk, and that's why they are called Extreme Sports. Starting with one of the most vigorous and growing sport in North America, adventure racing in 1999 will see up to 80 competitions for the sport alone. This means that tens of thousands of people will be participating, while many millions will be watching it on their very own televisions at home. Adventure racing includes completing extreme activities before other teams including mountain climbing, bike riding, and even canoeing. A type of adventure racing that is fueling up is the solo competitions. This type of racing is safe, but it simply means that you do not have teammates to look out for you anymore. You must also push it to your best, and be a quick and fast. To keep the racing environment safe as possible, an association was formed called the Adventure Racing Association. The first meeting was in Australia on August 22nd, 1997. About 50 people of different nations gathered to discuss the highly important topics of safety in the racing environment. It is also a place for these people to learn more about the events, and discuss the sport. A man named Dugard wrote during his initial experience in the Raid in 1992: "What I really wanted to do was quit. I've had enough of this foolishness - this suffering. The temperature is 120 degrees. I've hiked, rafted, canoed and climbed over 350 miles. I have definitely lived the promise that race organizer and founder Gerard Fusil made when I implored him to let me compete. 'You will suffer." Rock climbing is an International sport that many people do for fun. They chose a site to basically "climb", and that's exactly what they do! Climbing is a very dangerous and risking sport, and is very similar to something you'd do in Adventure Racing. Only, usually rock climbers and mountain climbers do it mainly for fun, and it's usually not a race when it's on its own. It can even be for a family vacation to go rock climbing! For people who rock climb often, it is essential that you buy your own equipment for your journeys. "What equipment would that be?" you ask? Well, you need climbing shoes. "Can these be regular tennis shoes?" is a popular asked question. The answer is, No, they must be special tightly fitting around your foot with a sticky rubber sole that provides the friction that you need for climbing. The laces of the shoes usually extend all of the way to the toe, and all the way to the top of the shoe making them very adjustable. The lace shoe also has a sole that wraps around the heel and up the sides of the shoe. Another type of shoe that is used is the slipper. Experienced climbers only use the slipper however though, because it doesn't provide as much grip as the laced up ones. Another important thing that you'll need is chalk. Surprising enough, the chalk is needed to put on your hands when they get very sweaty. This makes them, so that they aren't as sweaty, and you have a better grip. Obviously the last most important thing you'll need is a rope. How would you plan on climbing that huge rock without a rope?! Yet another extreme sport that is enjoyed by many people worldwide is Bungee jumping. Bungee jumping was started in England by Oxford Dangerous Sports club. They were the ones who named it Bungee. There are two different types of bungee jumping. Those two types are spelled a little differently. This