The History and Evolution of Extreme Sports

From barrier breaking auto-racing to the calm andto make it more thrilling for them and exciting for the
peaceful game of golf, the world of games andaudience.
sports has always been exciting. While the massesSkateboarding, which is a common and popular
enjoy commonly watched sports such as tennis andactivity around the neighborhoods of America, was
soccer, there are many people who are involved intaken to extremes by performing extraordinary
sports that do not have much fan following. Yet,maneuvers at unimaginable heights and dangerous
even those sports are enough to fascinate theterrains. Similarly, extreme enthusiasts took the
athletes and audience alike. For instance, kayaking istypical bike and BMX ride and turned the activity into
not a very common sport yet you can find a lot ofextreme sports such as dirt biking and extreme BMX.
shops with Kayak accessories and kayak hardware.The scope of going extreme in a sport is not limited
There is one kind of sport that is although veryto being land but also in the sky and water. Sky
popular but only few people are courageous enoughdiving, paragliding and bungee jumping are some of
to be a part of it as a professional athlete - thethe most favorite sports of this kind. Plus, hiking is
extreme sports. The true definition of extremealso taken to the next level by climbing the most
sports is hard to find, yet it can simply beimpossible places such as glaciers and high mountains.
categorized as a sports or activities that areWater gliding, surfing and paragliding are only few of
associated with the adrenaline rush that is felt by thethe sports that take the participants to the
athletes and the audience as well.extremes of their physical and mental endurance.
Extreme sports are also referred to as action sportsOther water extreme sports include canoeing and
or adventure sports because they mostly fulfill therafting against speedy raging rivers.
thirst for thrill and adventure. These sports can takeAs apparent in most sports of this kind, these sports
participants to the edge of their physical anddo not need any special ground or conditions. Rather,
psychological extreme. Also, these sports involve athey are played in a natural environment with virtually
very high risk of fatal injury. However, every sportno or very less safety gear and equipment. Today,
that involves a high risk of injury might not bethere is a new breed of extreme sports that relies
extreme.totally on human physical capabilities and the ability to
The term extreme sports is said to be coined by thetransform the body into an extreme machine. A
highly publicized TV event, The X games. However,popular example of these activities is free running in
the origin of such games links back to simple gameswhich participants jump and run with nearly
and sports. The extreme enthusiasts usually add newsuper-human skills.
and risky techniques and maneuvers in existing sports