Extreme Sports Info - Part B - by Anne Shier (a.k.a. "Annie")

http://extremefreestyle.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/list-of-extreme-sports/

http://www.outdoor-sport-leisure.net/extreme-sports.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_sport

Marketing:

Some contend that the distinction between an extreme sport and a conventional one has as much to do with marketing as with the level of danger involved or the adrenaline generated. For example, rugby union is both dangerous and adrenaline-inducing but is not considered an extreme sport due to its traditional image, and because it does not involve high speed or an intention to perform stunts (the aesthetic criteria mentioned above) and also it does not have changing environmental variables for the athletes. Demolition derby racing, predominantly an adult sport, is not thought of as 'extreme' while BMX racing, a youth sport, is.

One common aspect of an extreme sport is a counter-cultural aura — a rejection of authority and of the status quo by disaffected youth. Some youth of Generation Y have seized upon activities which they can claim as their own, and have begun rejecting more traditional sports in increasing numbers.

Motivation:

A feature of such activities in the view of some is their alleged capacity to induce an adrenaline rush in participants.  However, the medical view is that the rush or high associated with the activity is not due to adrenaline being released as a response to fear, but due to increased levels of dopamine, endorphins and serotonin because of the high level of physical exertion.  Furthermore, a recent study suggests that the link to adrenaline and 'true' extreme sports is tentative.  The study defined 'true' extreme sports as a leisure or recreational activity where the most likely outcome of a mismanaged accident or mistake was death. This definition was designed to separate the marketing hype from the activity.

Eric Brymer also found that the potential of various extraordinary human experiences, many of which parallel those found in activities such as meditation, was an important part of the extreme sport experience.  Those experiences put the participants outside their comfort zone and are often done in conjunction with adventure travel.

Some of the sports have existed for decades and their proponents span generations, some going on to become well known personalities. Rock climbing and ice climbing have spawned publicly recognizable names such as Edmund Hillary, Chris Bonington, Wolfgang Güllich and more recently Joe Simpson. Another example is surfing, invented centuries ago by the inhabitants of Hawaii.

Mortality:

Extreme sports by their nature can be extremely dangerous, conducive to fatalities, near-fatalities and other serious injuries, and sometimes consist of treading along the brink of death. This imminent and inherent danger in these sports has been considered a somewhat unnecessary part of its appeal, which is partially a result of pressure for athletes to make more money and provide maximum entertainment.

Extreme sports and the disabled community:

Many persons with various physical disabilities participate in extreme sports. Non-profit organizations such as Adaptive Action Sports seek to increase awareness of the participation in action sports by members of the disabled community, as well as increase access to the adaptive technologies that make participation possible and to competitions such as The X Games.

Copyright 2014, Anne Shier.  All rights reserved.