Is it really worth it????? (Xtreme Sports in General)

Member Name: Alcoholic Robot

Product:	Xtreme Sports in General
Date:	13/02/02 (211 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ecstasy, Lots of variety

Disadvantages: Gambling with life, Can't do most extreme sports in UK

It is worth all the money, all the endurance, all the pain for a few minutes of adrenalin? I can quite safely say a definite……………… ..YES!!!!!!! Myself, I am no pro when it comes to xtreme sports, but I have my fair share of the experiences when it comes to the gritty decisions of should I-shouldn’t I.


My view when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of it is the build-up of the occasion which makes it more exhilarating than other sports. For example, sky diving is so special because you have the take-off, and flight to the jump scene to contemplate what you are about to do. You think over it thousands of times in your head: Is everything ready, am I ready? Am I ready to gamble with my life (I agree, a bit over the top!!) just for half a minute of pure bliss? It is these moments which make xtreme sports what they are. It is similar for bungee-jumping. The lift up, the walk along, the long look down, and the moment of doubt which runs through your head as you make the leap for joy. But this fear is replaced with……..love, joy, ecstasy, rapture, satisfaction.


I have talked long enough about of me for the moment, so here is a quick summary of extreme sports. Some of the most popular sports that can have extreme elements are skiing, rock climbing, snowboarding, mountain biking, in-line skating, and white-water kayaking (canoeing). In thee activities, athletes exceed safety limitations (generally not a good idea, but not in this case!!) to create new disciplines in the sport. For example, people who engage in extreme skiing make dangerous runs down mountains over uncharted pistes (my favourite, its got to be said)!! The enhanced danger posed by cliffs and extremely steep slopes elevates traditional snow skiing to an extreme level.


Some extreme sports combine the techniques and physical skills of two or more sports, often mainstream sports that were once considered extreme. One of
the best examples of this sort of transition is found in skysurfing. This, as I am sure you can tell is a combination of snowboarding and skydiving.


BASE jumping is thought to be one of the most dangerous and most exhilarating xtreme sports there is. What happens is parachutists jump from artificial and natural structures at heights between 90 and 1,100 m. (BASE refers to the four launching points for jumpers—buildings, antennas, spans [bridges], and earth [cliffs and waterfalls]). Because the launch heights are low compared to those in traditional skydiving, the parachutes used in BASE jumping are specially designed to open quickly. As I said earlier, it is the most xtreme of the sports, and some of the dangers include jumpers’ parachutes not opening quickly enough and excessive gusts of wind that can easily blow a jumper into a rock face (nice!!!). In many places BASE jumping is prohibited, but even where the activity is legal, only competent skydivers should attempt jumps (supposedly).


Slightly more accessible (only just), but by no means easier to do is street luge. Street luge is a ground-based extreme sport similar to traditional luge (which is held on an ice-covered course). Street lugers race on paved roads, reaching speeds of more than 110 km/h. Street lugers lie in a face up posture that maximizes aerodynamic efficiency (that’s the idea, anyway!!). The rail has no braking system or steering mechanism (not a good idea), so riders direct it using slight shifts of weight or pressure from the feet. Lugers race against the clock to complete a course in the fastest possible time. Extreme speeds make street luge dangerous, and the risks increase because only a helmet and abrasion–resistant clothing protect the racer in a crash. As there are no permanent racecourses, street luge is often practised on the open road, where traffic can also pose a threat.


So, as you can see, xtreme sports are not for
the faint hearted. They are dangerous, and you will be lucky to not get injured if you are a TRUE xtreme sportsman. But I would recommend any of the mentioned (the extreme sports, above).


Do you know what my motto is? Didn't think so. It is live life to the full, it is the greatest gift we can get. I agree that what I am saying is quite controversial, bearing in mind when I refer to xtreme sports, I am, in essence, gambling with my life. But what I am trying to say is don't hold back, have a laugh, and if adrealin gives you that urge, that feeling, then try new things. Try XTREME Sports!!!!!!

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