| Extreme sports have traditionally been the preserve | | | | ironing. Skateboarding and snowboarding, or 'snurfing' |
| of only the maddest, baddest and most dangerous | | | | as it was originally called, have been popular since |
| to know, and of course rebellious teenagers keen to | | | | their inception in the 1950s and 60s, while kite surfing |
| worry their mums. However, as with any trend | | | | can trace its origins back to thirteenth-century China |
| worth its salt, the history and variety of 'extreme' | | | | when kites were used, just like sails on boats, to |
| activities - also known as action, adventure or | | | | harness the power of the wind and allow streamlined, |
| dangerous sports - are more interesting than many | | | | one-man canoes to go much faster for practical |
| people realise, and there are well-established | | | | reasons, not just fun! |
| organisations which can help make delving into their | | | | With so much choice and interest in these previously |
| adrenaline-pumping world almost as safe as any other | | | | niche activities, it's unsurprising that an industry is |
| hobby. | | | | springing up around extreme sports instruction and |
| The phrase 'extreme sports' only came into use in | | | | adventure holidays, where novices can learn the |
| the 1990s, probably thanks to the first television | | | | basics of a sport and then let loose their adventurous |
| coverage of organised events like the X Games. | | | | spirits in a supervised environment. These |
| Many enthusiasts actually dislike the term, arguing | | | | experiences could be the ideal gift for the 'person |
| that most typical activities such as bungee jumping, | | | | who has everything'; don't you know someone who'd |
| hang gliding and ice climbing are not 'sports' in the | | | | rather spend their honeymoon in a cage in the Indian |
| sense of competing against others to win something, | | | | Ocean baiting great white sharks, than admiring their |
| and the 'extreme' tag just smacks of mid-90s | | | | new toaster? Don't we all?! How about bouncing |
| advertising hype. | | | | down a hill in a three-metre, transparent PVC ball, |
| Whatever you prefer to call it, extreme sports is a | | | | with or without the optional water, and other people, |
| loose and ill-defined category which can include fairly | | | | inside it? It's called zorbing, and it's seriously taking off |
| mainstream pastimes like inline skating, BMX biking | | | | as the latest way to spend a fun weekend, from |
| and snowboarding, (activities which can all involve | | | | New Zealand to Bournemouth. |
| elaborate spins, stunts and tricks) as well as more | | | | Bear in mind that some activities should not be |
| 'out-there' pursuits such as BASE jumping, freediving, | | | | attempted by absolute beginners; the BASE jumping |
| zorbing, swooping, kite landboarding, volcano gliding, | | | | academy will only admit 'students' who have |
| shark diving, octopus wrestling, nude parasailing, | | | | completed 200 skydives, and swooping, or 'extreme |
| mafioso cuckolding (alright, that one's not real). | | | | skydiving', is similar. As long as you're clued up about |
| Just as some of these fall out of fashion - for | | | | such regulations, got any necessary equipment, and |
| instance, octopus wrestling is now considered cruel - | | | | perhaps made sure your life insurance is up to date, |
| new sports and clubs are growing up all the time, | | | | though, why not explore a new activity today - the |
| although several are tongue-in-cheek parodies such as | | | | sky really is the limit! |
| extreme wheelbarrow and the celebrated extreme | | | | |