The Evolution of Extreme Sports
Only a handful of activities were really classed as ‘extreme sports’ when the term was first coined. Among those worthy of the accolade included sports such as BMX, base jumping, surfing, white water rafting and a few more. Even in the early days however, it was clear to see that some of the sports (and people) were are little more extreme than others. No one could argue that riding a BMX around a bit was as extreme as throwing yourself off a huge building with only a thin bit of fabric to slow you down before you hit the ground.
Nowadays however the range of sports that fall under the ‘Extreme Sports’ umbrella is quite frankly staggering. You can find everything from the fast-paced power-boating to the absolutely crazy ‘bocking’. In some cases it is no longer impressive enough to turn up to the beach with your surfboards, you now need to be involved in kitesurfing, land yachting, skim boarding and loads of other sports that people have dreamt up whilst presumably under the influence.
Some people think this is a bad thing and that the term ‘Extreme Sports’ should only be reserved for those sports either around from the beginning or that contain an element of danger so great that only those will a bit of screw loose are willing to give them a go. What they don’t realise however is that extreme sport is not just about the sport, it’s a way of life. It’s about getting out there and trying something new. You might not ‘get it’ right away, and you might have to nurse a few injuries in the mean time, but it’s worth it for the sense of achievement in the end. It’s about picking up some second hand kayaks on a whim and taking them out on the river for a quick blast, and feeling alive when you make it to the still-water in once piece. Extreme sports doesn’t always have to mean laying your life on the line each and every day, it can instead be about giving yourself a bit of an adrenaline rush or bucking convention every now and again, which means that the term ‘extreme sports’ is really immortal.
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Tags: activities, adrenaline, extreme sports, kayaking, surfing
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