Extreme Sports

4 Pages 987 Words

Life is Full of Choices, Why Not Go EXTREME?
“Extreme sports have boomed since the early '90s” (Petrecca 16). It is hard to believe that such activities as sky diving, snowboarding, bungee jumping, and the up and coming razor scooter have been labeled as so-called “extreme sports”. What characteristics must a sport have to labeled extreme? Perhaps it is the lack of safety, or the inability to create specific rules for these sports. Maybe it is the fact that these sports are just recently becoming mainstream so there is no other classification other than extreme sports. In any case, these activities are definitely something new and interesting to sprawl out in the mainstream of sports, which will do nothing except become larger and more popular.
“Man, I shouldn’t be here” (McClearn 165). Looking down at the earth from 1,200 meters up, through an open airplane’s door, anyone will probably feel the same way. The thrill and the risk of jumping out of a plane sends shivers down some person’s backs, however there are also those who it makes want to live even more. “Some are drawn to the sphincter-wrenching terror of free fall” (McClearn 165). The excitement of jumping out of plane may be enjoyable for the person, but not for the wallet. For the first year of sky diving, a person can expect to pay up to $7000; however the price does decrease as more equipment and experienced is accumulated. The price, although expensive, is worth it, “And the feeling of cheating death is simply priceless” (McClearn 165).
Snowboarding is another activity labeled as an extreme sport. Unlike skydiving, snowboarding is not an individual sport. “White-water rafting, snowboarding and skiing are sports that represent our culture and help us learn how to overcome challenges by working together” (Gurevich 50). It allows you to become closer to people you barely know; spending a day on a mountain with people can be a b...