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What Makes a Sport Extreme?

July 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We’ve all heard of “extreme” sports. After all, it’s hard to turn on and see www.direct.tv during a Saturday afternoon and not see one of the many sports that fall into that category. Some of those sports might look normal, but they’re not. Extreme sports have developed into a culture all their own.

So what get the “extreme” label when it comes to sports?

Basically, any sport that’s outside of the ones we consider to be “normal,” such as basketball and football. Extreme sports include things such as base jumping, which is a free-fall from an inanimate object (wearing a parachute of course). Participants in this sport have been seen jumping off cliffs and even towering office buildings.Sky surfing, street luge, and Motocross are just a few other sports that fall into the “extreme” category.

The world of extreme sports generally has more youthful participants than any other sport. The age demographic ranges from 16-30, but there have been older participants in some events. The X-Games are a great showcase of many extreme sports, as they have skateboarding, motocross, and BMX, just to name a few.

Extreme sports are known well for the intensity they possess. Speed, physical stamina/exertion, stunts/tricks, and, of course, danger, are what fans have come to expect from those who participate in these sporting events. Many of the extreme sports participatns also participate in “reagular” sports. A great example is Shaun White, who snowboards and skateboards in both regular and extreme events.

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Seeking Adrenaline: The Rise of Extreme Sports and Base Jumping

April 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment
BASE Jump from an Antenna 

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The term “sports” is all-embracing, including various forms of activities and pastimes that often entail physical competition.  Extreme sports, on the other hand, move beyond basic athletic or mental challenge and into the scope of precarious and sometimes impractical pursuits, such as the ever-growing base jumping. The goal of extreme sports is to accomplish new corporeal feats and trigger surges of adrenaline in the participants. Extreme sports have also become incredibly popular as spectator sports.
The immense following that extreme sports has gained has prompted the creation of the X Games—a yearly event that has been held since 1995 in both the summer and the winter. However, extreme sports enjoy a following outside of the ESPN-hosted X Games events.  Worldwide thrill seekers amuse themselves with extreme sports, some they have even invented themselves, and some that are illegal.  Base jumping has become trendy in the world of extreme sports; base is an abbreviation of “building, antenna, span, earth”—listing the sites from which participants may jump.  When base jumping, athletes leap from secure articles, such as the roofs of tall buildings, bridges, or cliffs, and use skydiving equipment to soar to the ground.
Like many other extreme sports, base jumping was initially met with opposition, skepticism, and fear.  Although it has become more popular and even able to be judged, base jumping is still illegal in many locations, namely America’s National Parks, which have been the site of innumerable unlawful base jumps.  Extreme athletes hope that as the sport expands, it will gain more recognition and restrictions on extreme sports will be alleviated.

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Playing it Safe with Extreme Sports

April 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
MATAMATA, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 16: In this h... 

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Come summer and all extreme sports enthusiasts head out for some action. But since it’s always after a break, a bit of training or warm up would be a good idea. This is necessary simply because extreme sports can be dangerous and you need to be prepared. You are susceptible to several extreme sports injuries.

In order to protect yourself when you are headed out for some extreme sports, there are a few basics you need to follow. For one, depending on the kind of sport, wear a helmet or any protective gear you need. Some sports require that you use padding. Include knee, elbow as well as wrist pads to protect yourself. Before you actually indulge in the sport, make sure you warm up well. This prevents your muscles from cramping or giving out on you in the middle of an act.

Wearing appropriate clothing is also a good idea. Besides keeping you comfortable, they can prevent you from facing embarrassing situations. If you do happen to get injured or are nursing an old injury, ideally take the rest recommended by the doctor, or else you will not be able to indulge in the sport for much longer.

While some people think they know it all when it comes to a particular sport, in some cases it would be a good idea to take refresher courses so that you are reminded of all that is necessary. Always partner up with somebody on extreme sports. This means that both of you are always there for each other should something go wrong.

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Introducing Your Child To Sports

February 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Sport in childhood. Association football, show...

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There are various ways to get your children interested in sports. One way to do so would be to enrol them in sports related activities at an early age. This can include anything from gymnastics, soccer, basketball or hockey. Not only does it keep them healthy and fit, it also allows them to interact with other children and learn how to work as part of a team. This is one of the best lessons that they can be taught, and is something that they will need to know throughout their whole adult life. You may already have a child that is interested in sports, and the thing to help them would just be to find out which sports will be better suited for him or her. Sometimes your child will already know what sports they would like to play.

If your child is not use to any type of strenuous activity, then you might need to sit down with him or her and talk about your plans to enrol them into sports.  A shy quiet child might need more convincing and reassurance, but as a parent you can reassure them that they should at least try something new and that you will be there to support and encourage them for their games or tournaments. This can be another benefit for a sports related activity. Numerous children who were previously shy or quiet have grown out of their shell after they got involved in sports or joined a tea,. Therefore, as a mom or dad you might be hesitant about letting your child play a sport, this is just a form or healthy and natural fun for them to experience.

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Components of Effective Training

February 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A public demonstration of aerobic exercises

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If you have found a physical activity you want to get more involved in then more than likely you are thinking about how to start training. Whether its one of the well known sports like basketball or football, or some other sport that may be less well known, one needs a plan on how to get in shape to do be effective at learning the sport. Here are a few major components to a good training routine.

  1. The most important start to an effective training routine is healthy eating habits. It is not necessary to become a member of some fad diet in order to eat healthy, but it is important to be aware of what you are eating and what it is doing to your body. Focus your eating habits on eating whole foods. Whole foods are foods that are not likely to be packaged and are found in the produce section of the supermarket or at the meat counter. Produce your own foods so you know what is in them and start to experience a flavor in your diet other than salt and sugar. Healthy eating starts with learning how to cook your own food. Packaged meals may be easy and fast but cooking whole foods yourself will be far more tasty and healthy for your body. Don’t over eat and watch your calorie intake.
  2. Aerobic exercise: finding an aerobic exercise that you like is as important as building muscle. So, figure out what you like, walking, running, swimming, biking, choose one or try them all.  Learn a way to enjoy an exercise that will build your stamina or endurance.
  3. Training: When it comes to training with weights it is best to consult a trainer and get some advice on the best methods for you and what you are trying to accomplish. Be safe and consult your doctor for any medical advice.
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