Monday 28 April 2008

The Rising Popularity of Windsurfing


As with any extreme sport or sport in general, there is only so much one can do on a surfboard. Enter windsurfing, a popular way to gain speed and air by using a sail attached to the surfboard itself. A windsurf setup consists of a bi-directional surfboard with a sail attached in the middle. Windsurfing is not for just the ocean, this sport can be done on a lake should their be a proper wind to propel the surfer.

As with any sport there has to be two factors present when learning how to windsurf. Wind is the key ingredient to take flight. In order to power up your sail you need to know what the wind conditions are going to be. On an optimal day, depending on the wind conditions the wind can be gusting from 3N to 6N. The wind speed greatly enhances the experience.

There are conditions above 15N when windsurfing can be considered dangerous to the surfer. Should these conditions be too violent for the surfer, they should wait until they can properly handle the board. With the right amount of wind and waves, windsurfers can take flight over waves at a high rate of speed. Depending on your experience level, you may crave to hit the waves at higher conditions to maximize speed and adrenaline.

Often a windsurfer will attack a wave head on depending on the conditions and propel themselves 15 feet or more straight in the air. If you enjoy the thrill of hang-time and flight this sport is for you! Windsurfing ranks high in the world of extreme sports because of its high flying action.

There are professional competitions that rank the windsurfer by style and being able to handle monster waves with ease and grace. These competitions take surfers around the world to tame the toughest waters with only a board and sail to display their style.

A windsurfing setup can cost from $ 500 - $ 2000 depending on what you are looking to purchase. The quality of the sail as well as the fabric used to create it will definitely change the price quickly.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.kitesurfingnow.com. Visit his kitesite for the latest on kitesurfing equipment, kiteboarding lessons, places to surf and much more!

Free Fall with a Skydiving Lesson in Las Vegas

ort. Skydiving is a very popular extreme sport it today's society. The rush of jumping out of a plane and slowly floating to the earth in a peaceful surrounding is an urge many people cannot ignore.Skydiving lessons in Las Vegas aren't difficult to locate.

CalAdventures offers assistance with finding a skydiving lesson in Las Vegas as well as other extreme sports like backpacking, dirt bike and ATV racing and riding, bungee jumping, and cave exploration.

One company offering skydiving lessons in Las Vegas directly is Adrenaline Air Skydiving of Nevada. All of their instructors are fully licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Parachute Association.In addition to traditional skydiving lessons, they also offer tandem jumps, also known as jumping with a partner for people who are new to the sport, a full service training course for certifying jumpers whichincludes static line training, tandem transition or accelerated free fall methods, and solo free fall jumping for certified skydivers. In addition to the jump itself, you can get video and photos to remember the jump.

A skydiving lesson in Las Vegas is great

AdventureCenter Skydiving also offers skydiving lessons in Las Vegas. They advertise offering California's highest tandem jumps. They take first time jumpers up to eighteen thousand feet and allow them to jump strapped to an instructor. Tandem jumping is a great way for novices to experience this extreme sport. First, you take about a half an hour of a skydiving lesson. Then you put all of your gear on including a harness, goggles, and a jumpsuit. After that, it's off to the plane for a fifteen minute ride up. You and your instructor leave the aircraft together for a one minute free fall and a five minute glide to the ground. The skydiving lesson is continued during the free fall as you learn to practice your landing and control your chute.

Another skydiving lesson in Las Vegas can be taken at Air Adventures .They offer accelerated free fall training. In this course, you spend approximately one day learning to jump. During the jump, two instructors stay with you, and yours stay in constant radio communication. You spend about one minute free falling during each jump. The extreme sport of skydiving has erupted with participants and companies willing to help. A skydiving lesson in Las Vegas is easy to locate.

John Ewing contributes adding reciews and articles to http://www.skydiving-parachuting-guide.com . A free online magazine that carries articles on skydiving equipment, and a guide on the best drop zones, including New York or Las Vegas Skydiving Centers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Ewing

Extreme Mountain Biking - Everything You Need To Know

Mountain biking is a sport which many people have heard of. In fact it is the main thing which comes into people's heads when you mentioned the words "mountain biking". Whilst it is not the only form of biking available to try out, it is proving to be steadily growing in popularity as more and more people continue to enjoy the adrenaline rush which comes with it. However, it is more strenuous on the body than ordinary mountain biking and so if you are planning on taking part yourself then you will need to ensure that you are in good shape.

The Things You Need for Extreme Biking

The most obvious things which you will need to take part in extreme mountain biking is equipment. You will need:

• A bike

• A helmet

• Appropriate Clothing

All of the above are important and they will each help to make your experience more enjoyable. Now the bike is the most obvious piece of equipment that you will need, however there are different types of bikes available to choose from. You need to take into consideration how rough the terrain will be that you will be riding over as not all bikes are as strong as the next. So if you do plan on riding over rough terrain then you will need a good, sturdy bike to do so. Remember also that good strong mountain bikes do cost money so you will need to take this into consideration too when you are thinking of taking up the sort.

The right clothing is something which many people do not think about. However, the right clothing really can help to maximize your enjoyment of the sport. After all, you will be riding in all weathers and it is likely that at some point you will become either too hot or too cold. Riding in bad weather can really cause a negative impact on your riding experience. So always take gloves with you. Gloves also help to protect the hands and give you a better grip on the handlebars.

Finally the helmet is obviously an essential piece of equipment which you will need. Even with ordinary mountain biking you will need to wear a helmet because of the potential dangers which come with the sport. You could easily fall off and bump your head on something sharp and with extreme mountain biking you are travelling at high speeds and usually taking part in tricks and jumps too. So the likelihood of you injuring yourself whilst taking part in extreme mountain biking is actually quite high.

Overall extreme mountain biking can really get the adrenaline going. However it can also be a very dangerous sport so you do need to remember that before you take it up.

Alison Addy is a journalist who writes newsletters on extreme mountain biking for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com More articles on specialized stumpjumper and mountain bikes at his web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Addy

Extreme Parachuting and B.A.S.E. Jumping Future Concept

Probably the most dangerous sport known to man is BASE Jumping. We have all seen pictures and videos of these daredevils as they purposely jump off a Bridge, Building, Antenna, Cliff or various pieces of infrastructure and then pop their parachute just prior to splatting on the ground. Hello Earth!

In the last few years extreme parachuting and BASE jumping has become a very popular as there are always plenty of spectators to watch the death defying feats and those who dare to deliver the goods are in for the adrenaline rush of their lives. Unfortunately this is a sport, which claims many lives each year and is even more dangerous than being an astronaut or racing NASCAR.

It is for this reason I propose some safety features for those who are getting started in BASE jumping to help with their training as they attempt the sport of extreme parachuting. I propose using the latest cutting edge and state of the art Holographic Technologies, which are getting closer to becoming reality using 3D and 4D projection.

The BASE Jumper would just prior to the attempt turn on his micro projection unit strapped to his chest and match step for step a previous attempt by an expert world-class jumper. This projection would be played as he jumped and when the image in front of him pulled the rip cord so would he and thus be insured that he did not splat on the rocks, water or concrete below. Think on the use of this technology on your next BASE jump!

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

What BMX is All About

Simply put, BMX riding is one of the most popular extreme sports nowadays. BMX involves specially designed bicycles crafted for the sole purpose of being resistant while simultaneously giving the rider the ability to maneuver them with great ease. Of course, this doesn’t mean that BMX is an easy form of cycling; in fact, it’s one of the hardest extreme sports along with skateboarding and sport bike stunting.

BMX bikes usually come with 2, 20 inch wheels; that is 6 to 7 inches smaller than the size of the wheels found on the more conventional bicycles. The bike’s frame is focused and implemented around achieving maximum stability and resistance rather than keeping the bike as light as possible. Additionally, BMX bikes include extra features such as special systems that allow an unlimited number of 360 degree revolutions of the steering wheel.

The sport of BMX racing includes racing on sandy or hilly tracks (this is called BMX racing) as wells as stunt riding on wooden ramps / street objects / obstacles (this is called BMX freestyle). BMX races have duration of about 25 to 40 seconds. The speeds vary from 15 mph to 35 mph depending on the conditions of the track as well as the abilities of the riders. On the freestyle part of the sport, it is notable that it has grown far more popular than the racing counterpart.

Starting from California (United States) in the late 60’s, BMX was the most popular way for teenagers to imitate motocross champions. The founder of BMX is called Scot Breithaupt while the motorcycle racing documentary “On Any Sunday” is widely accepted and credited for inspiring the whole movement nationally. Although the sport spread very quickly, it wasn’t until the middle of the decade that the bike constructors started producing real BMX – oriented bikes. Another very important person that needs to be mentioned here is Bob Haro; he is the person who merged BMX and skateboarding tricks together and without him the whole scheme wouldn’t have advanced so far.

Although it is considered to be a men’s sport, there have been times when female participation in the sport reached up to 4%! That’s quite a high number if you consider that nowadays the participation has dropped to 1% in the United States.

Finally, being an extreme sport that BMX is, it’s almost impossible to get involved without getting hurt. Although the damages generally tend not to get more serious than bone-breaking, riders need to always be careful and wear their protection equipment.

John Gibb is the owner of BMX Bikes extreme For more information on BMX Biking check out http://www.bmx-guides2k.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Gibb

Sunday 27 April 2008

Diving Fundamentals



Diving has undergone a ‘deep’ change from its original generic meaning. Originally it only meant a headlong plunge into water, and even an athletic competition that involves diving into water. Today, if you jump out of your plane for sport, they call it diving or sky diving.

Diving As a Sport
Diving has been internationally recognized as sport long ago and it is the one of the most coveted part of modern Olympics. The sport involves taking the plunge, from a height or distance, into the water acrobatically.

Diving has 3 disciplines such as 1m, 3m and tower and divers are classified by age and gender. Towers vary in height from 5m to 10m and high level competitions like World Cup and Olympics require diving from 10m only. Spring boards and platforms are terms used in 3 & 5m as well as 10m diving respectively.

Know the Components of Diving?
Your body needs to be every bit a gymnast’s, strong, flexible and kinesthetic. To pursue diving, starting very young is advised as your body will be at its flexible best. There are four components of diving defining the diving positions.
1. Layout position- Body straight like an arrow.
2. Pike position- Body folded only at waist and nowhere else.
3. Tuck position- Body curled into a ball, with knees touching chin and heels your hips.
4. Free position- Relaxed position suitable for twisted diving.

Takeoff, flight and entry into water are the key elements that determine the scoring in diving. Each carries equal weightage of 3 points and 1 for the judges’ discretion. For example a perfect entry splashes little or no water.

Then there are diving positions like forward, backward, inward and reverse depending on how you start and then rotate.

Although deep sea diving and scuba diving are similar sounding and albeit connected to water sport, they are not as popular as pool diving, as we know it. A tip here to aspiring divers; fitness, training and practice apart, what it takes to be a successful diver is dedication as exemplified by the great Greg Louganis. He is the living example of what level you can raise the game to.

Whether it is scuba diving, cliff diving or sky diving, utmost emphasis needs to be given to the physical requirements of the diver, to avert any sort of physiological or psychological hassles while diving. Individuals with physical ailments like bone disorders, diabetes, and high blood pressure are told not to plunge. Before you decide to take the plunge, it is imperative to check with a physician to elude any health problems.

Alan Ross is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Diving Resources, Scuba Diving Tour, and Scuba Diving Resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Ross

Scuba Diving In Thailand

The diving possibilities in Thailand are nearly endless. Thailand is listed as one of the top ten sites for scuba diving and it is not surprising why when one sees the world class scuba diving sites, clean white sandy beaches and crystal clear water. In fact, Thailand is the perfect place for it.

This beautiful country is full of history and culture. The Thais are friendly and hospitable while accommodation possibilities vary from budget to luxurious. There over 50 scuba diving centers located in towns and islands along the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.

Thailand offers a varied diving environment which ranges from deep underwater mountains to sheer rock formations rising above the sea, from coral gardens located in shallow warm waters to undersea formations created by granite boulders; and from limestone walls plunging deep into the sea to numerous dark caverns.

Thailand is blessed with both hard and soft corals. While diving one can often see large pelagic fish, whale sharks, silver tip sharks and manta rays. Thailand's scuba diving sites never fail to impress the most seasoned diver with its variety and species of tropical fish.

Scuba diving in Thailand takes place all year round. However, the best time of the year for diving in Andaman Sea and other diving sites is from October to June. During this period, the sea is calm and one can travel quite far into the sea in boats to enjoy the unique diving experience that Thailand has to offer.

Diving usually takes place in three areas across Thailand. One is Pattaya, which is quite close to Bangkok; the second place is the islands off the Gulf of Thailand. This includes the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Tao. The last place popular with scuba divers is the west coast of Thailand. Here Phuket, Ko Phi Phi and Krabi offer the best experience in the Andaman Sea.

About Author:

Pauline Go is a professional writer for many website. She also writes other great articles like Thailand Travel Information, Thailand Forum and Negotiating Learn To Write Speak Thai.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Go

Scuba Diving

The introduction of scuba gear (an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus), has redefined underwater diving altogether. Through the advances of technology, scuba gear allows people to dive deep below the surface of the water and still be able to breathe. Opening new avenues for exploration, scuba diving offers unlimited opportunities to unravel the mysteries of the underwater world.

The scuba diving system is the outcome of extensive technological research and innovation spanning almost 300 years. It is now the most widely used system for breathing underwater.

Scuba diving offers the divers unlimited freedom of movement under water because they swim with fins, minus any heavy equipment. The scuba gear is comparatively inexpensive and simple to operate and maintain. Scuba diving is currently used for recreational diving, as well as for conducting underwater tasks for military, scientific and commercial purposes.

Apart from the conventional mask and fins, a basic scuba set comprises a cylinder of compressed air attached to a two-stage ""demand regulator."" The purpose of the regulator is to lower the air pressure from the cylinder and allocate it to the diver as needed.

Scuba diving is commonly sub-categorized into two types: open scuba and closed scuba. Open scuba allows the diver to breathe air from a cylinder or canister, and the exhaled air goes into the water and rises to the surface as bubbles. An improvisation of this model, closed scuba allows the diver to reuse the same gas.

Pursued professionally, as well as a hobby, scuba diving has been a blessing for scientists and researchers yearning to explore the underwater world.

Diving provides detailed information on Diving, Scuba Diving, Sky Diving, Cliff Diving and more. Diving is affiliated with Swimming Pool Supplies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Sturo

What Does Grand Cayman Scuba Diving Offer?

There is much to be said when discussing Grand Cayman scuba diving due to the history that is in the oceans there as well as because of the captivating underwater scenery. Grand Cayman scuba diving offers probably one of the best places in the world to experience scuba diving as compared to Seattle with the Starbucks. On every corner in the Grand Cayman, there is a Grand Cayman scuba diving shop that offers up lessons and diving adventures just as every corner in Seattle has a Starbucks coffee shop or a vendor. It is a plentiful and demanding hobby, and for some, it is a career.

Wall and Wreck Grand Cayman Scuba Diving

Grand Cayman scuba diving offers the adventure of a lifetime by going underwater and observing magical and marvelous walls that surround the entire island. The first wall when going Grand Cayman scuba diving is located about sixty feet down and is not a terribly difficult dive and offers the view of many different kinds of underwater foliage as well as sea life from a sting ray to the infamous sea turtle.

Grand Cayman scuba diving also provides a diver with the opportunity to dive into wrecks that are around the island and is a marvelous sight. Ships that have sunk still remain with an abundance of sea life that has made the ships and wreckages a home and they are very nosy when someone comes knocking on the door and are excited when they receive guest from the Grand Cayman scuba diving groups. This can often be seen in photography taken from previous dives, the aqua life really enjoy posing for pictures.

Grand Cayman Scuba Diving: The Choices

Grand Cayman scuba diving offers many sites in which to dive, learn how to dive or fine-tune your current diving skills. It has the most intriguing collection of underwater life including both plant and animal than any dive spot in the world. There are, as mentioned above, beautiful walls that are peppered with an assortment of coral and underwater sponges of all different varieties and colors. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also home of the legendary Stingray City in the North Sound and is a literal hot spot of scuba diving. The safety guideline of scuba diving has also recently been changed to allow a 130-foot depth limit so there is more available to day for Grand Cayman scuba diving then any place in the world.

To learn more about ‘Scuba Diving’ or more specifically ‘Grand Cayman Scuba Diving’, then check out ScubaDivingMadeEasy.com – A comprehensive resource covering every topic about scuba diving. Loads of information including articles, pictures, books and more... Take a look for yourself at http://www.scubadivingmadeeasy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Albinez

SCUBA

SCUBA diving is the term used to describe the use of a 'Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus' to stay underwater for periods of time greater than the average individual can breath-hold. The diver self-propels underwater using fins attached to his/her feet. Some divers also move around with the assistance of a Diver Propulsion Vehicle, commonly referred to as a "scooter", or by using surface-tethered devices called sleds, which are pulled by a boat.

Divers are not limited to the use of scuba equipment in their sojourn underwater. While the 'Aqua-Lung', developed by Emile Gagnan, with assistance from Jacques-Yves Cousteau, is an "open-circuit" unit, rebreathers (both semi-closed circuit and closed circuit) and surface-supplied systems are used depending on the needs of the diver.

Although scuba diving is still evolving, general classifications have grown up to describe the pursuits a diver might follow. These classifications include, but are not limited to: recreational diving, public safety diving, technical diving (aka Techy Divers), military diving and commercial diving. Within recreational diving there are those who are considered professional divers, because they maintain a professional standard of training and skills. Some consider Technical Diving to be a subset of recreational diving, while others separate it out due to the extensively different training equipment and knowledge required to execute technical dives. Public safety diving and military diving might likewise be classified as commercial diving because the practitioners make a living from their pursuit of diving. However, public safety divers (police or rescue) and military divers have a different mission than the typical commercial diver.

The word 'SCUBA' is an acronym for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus", but it is grammatically acceptable to refer to 'scuba equipment' or 'scuba apparatus' in conversation.

You can find out more at http://www.divingpleasures.com


Thursday 24 April 2008

A New Extreme Sport


A new extreme sport is growing rapidly in the UK. Wingsurfing is an exciting new land based sport that combines elements of surfing, skateboardingdsurf and wining. Using the power of the wind in a hand-held wing, the rider of the 2 wheeled “inline” board can reach speeds of up to 40mph; yet he is still capable of turning like a windsurfer and doing tricks and jumps more often seen on water.

Wingsurfing is a fledgling crossover sport that uses equipment made on opposite sides of the world. The Finnish Kitewing is a marvel of wind to power efficiency. Simply by holding it, an experienced rider (or flyer) can convert the power of the wind into enormous amounts of thrust or lift; with surprising little effort.

The Australian Dirtsurfer was originally designed for riding downhill as a summer replacement for snowboarding. Capable of fluid carving like a snowboard, and recording speeds of up to 70mph, the patented design of the Dirtsurfer makes it feel more stable the faster you ride it.

One rider in the UK recently reached 48mph using only a Kitewing and a dirtsurfer. The target is 50mph, and it won't be long!

Mike Wood is at the forefront of wingsurfing in the UK and runs the website http://www.wingsurfer.co.uk committed to providing the best advice and information for Wingsurfers in the UK and across the world, and includes the best collection of videos, photos, hints and tips and a very active forum

Interesting Tidbits to Know About Paintball

Paintball is a very popular and rapidly growing sport. A look at some Paintball info will show its rapid growth and some other interesting data concerning this extreme sport.

The Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Association (SGMA) has released some Paintball tidbits that show the surprising popularity of this extreme sport. Although Paintball participants are vastly outnumbered by bowlers (over 52 million), there are some 10.4 million paint ball players in the United States. The only participation extreme sports to have more players are Inline Skating and Skateboarding.

The sport is generating a lot of income for the Sporting Goods Industry as well. Almost $390 million dollars was spent on Paintball equipment in 2003. Interestingly, an estimated 49% of Paintball players reside in the Southern part of the country. This is obviously out of line with the population figures for the various regions. Also, the sport is not very popular with females. The SGMA started keeping statistics on participation in 1998 and since that time the percentage of female participation has remained unchanged despite a tremendous increase for male players.

The paintball is not actually a paint ball at all. It is described as a spherical gelatin capsule that contains mostly polyethylene gycol, some various non-toxic and water soluble substances, and dye. However, that would hardly be an appropriate or easily mastered name, so paint ball is used instead. The capsule is propelled by a compressed gas "gun" with the object to hit opposing players. The capsule and its dye usually leave little room for controversy over whether a hit has actually taken place.

Despite the bellicose nature of the sport, it is among the safest of all extreme sports. The injury rate is around 0.2% of every 1000 activities. This means that out of every 1000 players, only around 20 sustain any type of injury at all. Even so, the 20 injuries are more often either slight bruising from close hits or sprains from running and falling during the games. The Industry standard for muzzle velocity is 300 feet per second, but the actual Paintball guns fire, at the most, at 280 feet per second. This margin of safety is typical of the sport. Protective equipment use, especially face protection, is virtually always used.

The sport has developed its own variety of various games such as capture the flag. It also has its own slang. Such expressions as over shooting and bonus balling are part of the Paintball lingo. Over shooting and bonus balling refer to the practice of shooting an opponent that has already been hit and is out of play. It is considered rude, but is often done as indoctrination for new players.

Aazdak Alisimo writes about paintball gear for PaintballGearStores.com.

Stylish Performance and Sport Sunglasses

Over the past decade or so extreme sports have become a newfound favorite past time. There are so many extreme activities out there from rock climbing to in line skating. Because of this sun glass manufacturers have been motivated to create sunglasses for sports.

To meet the demands of the consumers needs, these manufacturers have done a ton of research to create several different styles of sunglasses for different activities. Many new components were designed and introduced.

Lenses

The most important part of a pair of sunglasses is of course the lenses. They have now created lenses in many different colors as to enhance your sporting experience.

Polycarbonate lenses have become very popular because of the impact resistant quality. It makes them very handy to have because of your chances of dropping your sunglasses while involved in extreme sports.

Polarized lenses are great for reducing the glare that can come off of water or snow. So if you are into canoeing or skiing theses lenses are your best choice.

Glass lenses are great for more casual sports, such as golfing. They help very much with visualization, but are rarely used for extreme sports because of the chances of shattering the lenses.

What’s good for your sport?

Many sports have their own sunglasses designed just for that one sport. This has increased the sales of sports eyewear because these are being created to fit the need of a specific sport.

Of course if you like a multitude of sports there have been multipurpose sports eyewear created just for that. They come with the option of interchangeable lenses to better fit your needs.

Many professional sportsmen have endorsement deals with different companies. Next time you are watching a sporting event be sure to check for logos to see what brands they are using. If it works for them, it could very well work for you.

http://officialsportsnews.com is a sports and sports news information portal founded by Jakob Culver.

To find out more information about this topic and more visit the website:

http://officialsportsnews.com

Paintball Safety - How Safe is the Sport of Paintball

Let me just start by making what some may consider a bold statement about the sport of paintball. Though it has been categorized as an "extreme" sport, paintball is one the safest sports currently played today.

According to PSP (Paintball Sports Promotions), the world of paintball has a huge injury taboo. This taboo only exists in the minds of general public and not in the statistical data. The industry has hard lined that the rare but highly publicized "eye injury" almost always occurs when the proper protective gear in not worn and on fields that are unsupervised and often illegal.

The latest statistical data shows that only .2 injuries per 1,000 exposures giving Paintball the lowest injury rate of any Extreme Sport. According to Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the average player will suffer an injury about once every 500 years.

Out of all the gear that is involved the sport of Paintball; Goggles are the number one priority. Playing on a regulated field, the sport of Paintball is extremely safe. On legitimate fields, the wearing of goggles is mandatory at all times while on the field. The use of barrel plugs or barrel socks are also employed by field owners to block accidental discharge of paintballs from guns (markers) in staging areas.

Overall, when proper education and use of the gear in the sport, Paintball is safer than most sports out there. This includes soccer, tennis, and even bowling. Might I mention as well that this game is played mostly by girls and guys ages 12 -24. I am 35 and can't tell you how much fun I have when I have the chance to get out there. Age is not so much a factor; it all depends on how active you are. I've seen guys as old as 45 enjoying the game thoroughly.

Where do I get the best protective gear? One of the best places I've found to purchase high-end paintball goggles and barrel plugs or socks is Sniper Productions

Sport ATV

The world of sports has a new addition to it – that is the field of ATV racing. You will find that there are as many people who are interested in ATV racing as there are people interested in grand prix racing or motorcycle racing. To participate in these events all that you really need is the skills and ability to drive and handle any of the sport ATV vehicles that are available.

These sturdy 4 wheelers are designed and built to take the rough and tumble of the sporting arena. The many companies who make ordinary ATVs also make fast sports ATVs. These ATVs are high in speed and performance and they have the ability to take turns and curves at high speeds regardless of the type of terrain that the course is being held upon.

Now providing that you are a proficient driver of ATVs you will find it very thrilling to drive your sport ATV weaving in and out of your competitions way. You can prepare for these sporting events by seeing if your ATV is prepared for the grueling courses that lie in wait. The best way to get ready is to know the terrain that you will be traveling over and for you to try and find ways of test driving your sport ATV in a manner that will be suited for that course terrain.

You can also buy the latest sport ATV magazines and read the various handy hints and tips that these magazines provide. You will also find that many of the latest accessories and items that are used for sport ATVs are thoroughly reviewed. By taking advantage of these helpful items you have the ability to increase your chance of being able to withstand all that the racing event will throw at you.

Besides racing your sport ATV through various racing courses sometimes the sporting event features stunts and extreme ATV driving. Now while you have to be very proficient at this sort of stunt driving, you can admire the way that other ATV drivers seem to become one with their vehicles as they take such extreme driving methods to push the very boundaries of ATV driving.

As you see the field of ATV sports is very diverse and the sport ATV that can handle both the normal ATV racing and the extreme version is very useful for the sportsman who participates in both of these fields. To make sure that you are buying a reliable sport ATV you should look to the well known and reputed ATV dealers to provide you with the latest and best that they have in sport ATV models.

Bowe is the webmaster and content provide for many informational websites. Please visit his ATV site at: http://atv.infoforuonline.com

What Is Extreme Skydiving?

Extreme Skydiving?

For the uninitiated, it may seem that skydiving does not need an adjective such as "extreme." Many people would ask, "Isn't skydiving always extreme?"

The answer from those experienced in parachuting, skydiving and extreme skydiving would be, "No." There is an important difference between skydiving and extreme skydiving, (Some have suggested that in extreme skydiving, the individual would not use a parachute. That would be extreme!) Rest assured, both continue to use parachutes.

What Is Extreme Then?

To put it quite simply, "regular" skydiving involves leaving the airplane, pulling the cord and descending slowly to earth. A short freefall may be involved in this version of the sport. The process of becoming an extreme skydiver passes through the "regular" skydiving phase. Some experienced skydivers have found that, after dozens of jumps, the activity can become a bit routine. While the general public might find it unusual that someone could jump from an airplane several thousand feet in the air and call it routine, it does happen.

For many skydivers, a next step might be to video the jumps, sometimes using two or more cameras to create videos that will be exciting and entertaining. Experienced skydivers have come up with a whole range of things to try during the minute or so of freefall before the parachute is opened. Most of these go far beyond the relative calm of video.

Team skydivers spend quite a bit of time designing patterns and movements that they can try during the freefall. Couples have planned their wedding to take place during this exciting minute. Another man actually had someone tattoo him while he was in freefall. These are just a few of the activities that have combined with skydiving to make the sport more extreme.

Fleafall

In spite of the awful play on words, this activity has become quite popular with skydiving dog lovers. According to the record books, a dachshund going by the name of Brutus holds the record for making the highest skydiving jump for a dog. He was securely strapped to his owner, who coined the term "fleafall." According to his owner and other witnesses, Brutus shows no sign of anxiety during the session. The canine has more than 100 jumps to his credit.

While extreme skydiving is not on the Olympic card yet (even as exhibition) it is popular worldwide. Apparently the powers that be have not seen enough to convince them that extreme skydiving is a world-class sport. But perhaps the time is coming.

Andrew Caxton is the editor of many articles on extreme skydiving published at http://www.skydiving-parachuting-guide.com - More articles on Iowa skydiving and extreme sports at his web.

Skatesailing - The Ice Age

As with any extreme sport, some people enjoy the warmth of surfing and others prefer the cold weather and would rather skate instead of surf. With this, another popular extreme sport has been created Skatesailing. Skatesailors like to take to the ice and zip around the lake on their two skates. The cost of this sport is relatively low and very seasonal.

Most people who enjoy skatesailing do so with the simple pair of skates and a sail that is held and steered by skater. As the wind velocity increases the skater moves into the wind and picks up speed across the ice. The skater can reach speeds up to 40 mph and above. The downside to this sport is that you are landing on a hard surface should you fall. Extreme skaters love this sport; they live for the challenge to tame high winds.

As with most skating sports they take place on a lake. Most of the time, lakes can create great wind gusts that can help increase the speed of the skater. It can be dangerous to be skatesailing on thin ice, so you should always practice caution and heed signs about ice conditions. Since the skater needs a basic pair of skates they can also purchase their sail. A setup can cost up to $500 depending on which type of sail they have purchased. Some sails are held like a boom while other sails drape across the shoulder bladed.

If you are new to the sport you may want to exercise with caution, there are some schools that will teach you the art of skatesailing. You will need a good pair of ice skates as well as the sail. Pay close attention to the instructor, they will teach you the art of turning, navigating, speeding up and slowing down. Once you have mastered the basics you can then begin to speed up and learn other tricks that can increase your speed. You can also learn how to skatesail on skis, although there needs to be more wind to push you and the skies.

Although skatesailing has become popular, it is a seasonal sport. Most people who enjoy skating will take to it with passion.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.kitesurfingnow.com. Visit his kitesite for the latest on kitesurfing equipment, kiteboarding lessons, places to surf and much more!

Wednesday 23 April 2008

Reasons for Extreme Sports


Extreme sports are frequently linked with a variety of youth subcultures. Extreme sports are no more considered "extreme". Now-a-days, they seem to be more or less similar to the conventional activities that are played at a high level.

A few sweeping statements can be given about extreme sports. They are approximately always an individual not a team activity. They often spotlight on performing tricks or stunts.

Some people who enjoy extreme sports disclaim the conventional "adrenaline junkie" label.

There are many reasons for the popularity of extreme sports among people. The practitioners would assert that they enjoy developing their physical or mental abilities.

They seek excellence in unwelcoming situations, and look to get away from the regular rigors of day-to-day existence.

They just love the rough country atmosphere in which lots of these sports take place.

Bob Drury, a paraglide pilot tells, "We do these things not to escape life, but to prevent life escaping us."

However, accidents in these sports could be deadly. Contestants cannot think anything except extreme sports.

To the most zealous purists, the sport tag does not fit as they are not competing to win anything.

Worse, the extreme tag has regularly been blamed for typecasting participants as stupid, irresponsible, and even suicidal.

Eric Brymer, PhD (2005), discovered that the potential of extraordinary experiences was a significant part of the extreme sport experience.

Some of these sports have survived for decades. Some of the generations are continuing to become well known personalities.

Rock climbing and ice climbing have given fame to people like Edmund Hillary, Chris Bonington, and Wolfgang Gullich. Lately, we had a new name in this field. It is none other than Joe Simpson. Another similar instance is surfing.

Thus, extreme sports are played for no specific reasons as such. It is the personal interest of a person that drives him into these sports! In short, extreme sports are played because they involve adventure, risk, and an unmatched thrilling experience.


Extreme Action Sports for Those Who Are Daring Enough

If you are bored with indoor games and outdoor sports like baseball, then you should be taking up extreme action sports to bring the wildest side of you! Today there are many kinds of extreme sports to make your hear pump like never before. Extreme sports can be played in water, snow, air and on earth. If you love water and the sound that it makes, then water sports are just for you. You can try White Water Kayaking which is the most adventurous water sports played by many people. If you enjoy the deep blue oceans and have no fear for sharks, then Shark Cage Diving is the right sport to get your thrills! There is nothing as thrilling like this, as you get a chance to look sharks at the most closest range. Other water extreme sports include Sea Kayaking and Kite Surfing.

If you are a lover of Snow and love to play in snow, then you have an array of extreme action snow sports. They include Alpine Skiing which is a great hobby and fun sport to be enjoyed with your family. North America and Europe are the two most famous places for Alpine Skiing. You can also try other sports like Cross Country Skiing, Down Hill Skiing, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding. Driving action sports is another great outdoor activity for those who don't prefer water and heights. You can try Off Road Go Karts in deserts, Monster Truck Experience, Military Vehicles; which is always a dream for every one of us! And sports like Quad Biking and Motocross is sure to kick through your adrenaline. The 4X4 Driving is also an exciting sport to be enjoyed.

Air sports are for those who love heights and have strong hearts. The first activity that you can try is the Bungee Jumping, which is the most famous air extreme sport. Followed by this Hot Air Ballooning is also an enjoyable sport. Other air sports include Cliff Diving, Paragliding, Power Paragliding, Skydiving and Top Gun Flying. If you are new to extreme air sports, then Indoor Skydiving is the first activity that you need to try. If you are not satisfied with any of these, then try the earth sports, there is no water, snow or heights. Paintball is a famous earth sport which can be played by people of all age groups; the game is safe and fun. The first Paintball was played in 1981 at New Hampshire. Sand Boarding is another fun and adventurous earth sport.

Ron Victor is an Expert author for Boys summer camps. He written many articles like Children summer camps, Music summer camps, Horseback riding camp, youth summer camps and Adventure camp California.

For more information visit our site, and contact him at ron.seocopywriter@gmail.com

Las Vegas Skydiving and Other Extreme Sports

The number of extreme sports in Las Vegas, including skydiving has exploded in recent years. While they offer all of the standard extreme sports, skateboarding, BMX biking, and things like skydiving, they also have a chance to offer great sports like rock climbing, too, because of the nature of the area.

One extreme sport in Las Vegas is skateboarding. There are many skate parks in the area for enthusiasts of the sport to enjoy. Some of the parks are even open to other sports like roller blading and BMX biking. Moreover, several parks offer lessons to novice skateboarders that will help students to learn the sport effectively and be safe while playing.

Another way to experience extreme sports in Las Vegas is cycling in their canyons. Several companies offer a Red Rock Canyon bike tour that takes cyclists through one of the most beautiful locations in the United States. Most of the companies include all of the equipment necessary for the trip like the bike, safety gear, and water. While the trails are very, very rough, the ride is exhilarating.

Extreme sports in Las Vegas also includes some awesome rock climbing trips. The canyons in the area are incredible. Thirty minutes from the insanity of the strip with all of its overburdening society features are rock climbing areas that are unimaginably beautiful. Climbers can experience simply nature hikes or rough and tumble climbs that are difficult for even experienced climbers.

If climbing in the heat of the desert is not for you, you might also try the extreme sport of indoor rock climbing. There are several places in the city that offer rock walls. It's a great way to try rock climbing before you get to more difficult stuff like the canyons outside the city.

Another version of extreme sports in Las Vegas is skydiving. There are many companies in the city that offer serious lessons and one day deals like tandem jumping. This gives people at all levels a chance to experience this extreme sport while in city of lights. You can also experience indoor skydiving with the help of one of several wind tunnels in the city. Nevada is an excellent place for a number of different activities. Las Vegas skydiving is becoming one of the most popular among other extreme sports.

John Ewing contributes adding articles and reviews to http://www.skydiving-parachuting-guide.com. A free online magazine that carries articles on skydiving equipment, and a guide on the best drop zones, including New York and Las Vegas Skydiving Centers among others.

4 Great Skydiving Tips For You

Hold on for your life! There's no thrill greater than jumping from an aircraft with a parachute attached to your back and free falling at unbelievable speeds to the on-coming ground below. When the chute opens, your world transforms from extreme to divine as you float through the silent sky. Discover the best way to get started and prepare yourself for a true extreme sport that sends you hurtling through the air!

It's a so great feeling the one you have when your parachute opens that makes me tell all my friends and colegues to at least try this great extreme sport called sjydiving. I will outline in this article some great tips to help you get started right in practicing this sport.

1. Make sure you really want to practice skydiving. If you really want it then you will be able to learn all the things you need to in order to make is an enjoilable sport but in the same time a very safe one. You have to decide this right now.

2. Finding a good skydiving school might be a great first step for your experience. You should first investigate very well the school you want to atend to, for your own peace of mind. A great thing about skydiving schools is that most of them offer first jump opportunities so go for it.

3. Before you will atend the classes you will have to understand all the eforts your mind and body will have to support. You can visit your own physician and tell him what you want to do, he will be able to lead you in the right direction.

4. Skydiving is great when you connect with more and more skydivers, you can get connected with other skydivers that are already experienced. You can also lead your friends to try this extreme sport, they will love the idea of living on the edge.

In conclusion, skydiving isn't an very hard extreme sport to practice, but, still, you need a lot of commitment and a little touch of insanity but the feeling really worths it.

For more tips for your skydiving experience visit our skydiving site. Also, don't forget visit our skydiving equipment page.

Do You Know What Extreme Paintball Is?

If you are looking for a competitive team sport, then you will be hard pressed to find one more competitive than extreme paintball. Participants are broken into teams and put on a paintball field to act out combat scenarios and eliminate their opponents in order to win the game.

This sport is now being played in over 40 countries world wide and gaining more popularity at a very quick pace. Whether you are new to the sport or are a longtime player, this outdoor activity has something to offer almost everyone.

While there are injuries in most every sport, extreme paintball is actually one of the safest sports played today. With over 10 million participants, this sport has fewer injuries than the sports of bowling or golf. While the game is virtually safe and it is easy to maintain this safety, participants must follow paintball safety rules closely.

One of the main rules of safety in this sport is to have the proper safety gear. This means wearing goggles or a face mask anytime you are on or near the paintball field. Another safety rule to follow is to only use approved paintball gear and never participate in illegal practices like freezing your paintballs. While some participants do freeze their balls of paint for personal play, it is illegal in both field play and tournament play.

If you are one of the many players in the fast paced game of extreme paintball, then you are probably already aware of all that you can gain from this sport. This sport has a lot to offer in the way of teamwork, strategic thinking and of course, exercise.

More and more individuals are taking part in this game and exhibiting their competitive spirit and love for this primarily outdoor sport. If the rules of safety and fair play are followed while participating in this action sport, then all of those involved will enjoy the game and all of the fun it has to offer.

No matter where in the world you are competing in paintball sports, make sure to follow the rules, practice paintball safety and by all means, have fun.

Browse to Mike Selvon portal to find out more about extreme paintball. We greatly appreciate your feedback at our paintball fields blog.

How Do You Decide That A Particular Sport Is An Extreme Sport?

What are the determining factors in naming a sport extreme? There are many sports considered to be extreme sports today but how did they become to be known as such? Some came from seemingly benign beginnings and have evolved to more dangerous sports. The addiction to these sports it seems comes from the associated adrenaline rush that comes from the participation in them. Let's look at some examples of extreme sports.

Skateboarding is considered the best known of extreme sports and was actually started in the sixties by bored surfers looking for a way to get exercise and cross train when the surf wasn't up. The sport took on a life of its own and soon national competitions were being held bringing the cult sport into mainstream America. From its humble beginnings the sport has now garnered worldwide attention.

The cold weather sister to skateboarding is snow boarding which takes the same movements and more onto the snow. This extreme sport has really caught fire today and in the last winter Olympics the snowboarding events were among the most popular. As its popularity has grown many resorts have added specialized snowboard trails and trick spots.

The sport that takes biking to the extreme is BMX biking. There are a couple of different versions of this sport with one being like traditional racing with dirt jumps and obstacles. Freestyle BMX is more closely related to skateboarding as they use the same courses as the skateboarders use and perform tricks on their bikes.

Have you seen the skiers that do all the crazy tricks and flips coming off of ramps on the slopes? This is freestyle skiing and is one of the most popular of the winter extreme sports. Like snowboarding, this sport has its own tricks and its own language.

An extreme sport mainly for the more mature of participants has recently evolved to be called sport climbing. With sport climbing there are preset handgrips and a designated course to climb with the goal to prove one's strength and athletic ability.

Ever felt the urge to jump out of an airplane? Most people don't, but still this has become a very popular sport that gives an enormous adrenaline rush from the initial jump. Parachuting teams work together to form shapes and perform choreographed aerial maneuvers while freefalling.

There is no doubt that as our culture seeks new ways to create excitement there will be new extreme sports introduced that may prove to be just as popular as the ones we see now.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Performance Underwear at http://www.performanceunderwearplus.com

Basic Requirements For Extreme Mountain Biking

The name Extreme mountain biking itself defines the intensity of this sport, although similar to mountain biking it is a complete new adventure sport. Equipments required are basically the same but a few additions are made owing to the risk involved. The Right attitude towards this sport and a fit body can help you master this sport with ease.

The Extreme Mountain Biking Guide

The one adventure that is gaining popularity recently is Extreme Mountain Biking. It is basically a little tougher version of our regular mountain biking. In extreme mountain biking the riders are subjected to more tougher terrains and steeper slopes. The extreme nature of this sport makes it necessary for the riders to be in good physical shape.

The must haves for Extreme Mountain biking

Like all other adventure sports, extreme mountain biking requires you to have certain necessary equipments before venturing out to try this sport. Undoubtedly, the most important among these things is the bike itself. Selection of the bike mainly depends on the type of terrain and the cost. These bikes are definitely expensive so you have to be ready to shell out that extra amount, until and unless you don’t mind using a second hand bike, which is definitely not advisable.

The risk involved in Extreme mountain biking is comparatively higher than regular mountain biking. So for the rider’s personal safety, it is a must for him to wear a strong helmet. The rider’s helmet is the only protection for his head in case of a fall, even the most experienced riders never venture out with out wearing one and will advise you to do the same.

The clothing used for extreme mountain biking is specifically designed to provide more comfort to the rider. Unlike regular mountain biking clothes, which are usually body hugging, these outfits are very much different, they are basically loose and are made from thin fabric.

Getting Prepared

Just having all the necessary equipment and other gears is not enough to take up such a challenging sport. Extreme mountain biking is basically a very physically demanding sport, therefore it is extremely important to be in absolutely good physical condition. Undergo rigorous training and doing proper workout with proper diet will definitely help to build up the required strength and stamina.

Although, extreme mountain biking is a very extreme and dangerous sport, it can be great fun, and also a good form of exercise for the whole body. Extreme Mountain biking can definitely prove to a lifetime experience, if all the safety precautions and guidelines are properly adhered to.

Andrew Caxton is a journalist who writes newsletters on cycling instructions for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . A focused website that offers the best articles on nishiki bike and sport quality.

Saturday 19 April 2008

Diving Technical Schools



Diving technical schools are highly specialized institutions that offer technical diving instruction. There are a number of diving technical schools located nationwide. These schools provide training courses for beginners, advanced, and technical divers. Most of the top diving technical schools feature highly experienced and active instructors. Advanced training, wide experience, and specialized equipment are some of the requisites to become technical divers.
Open water diver and open water nitrox are two training programs for the beginners. Of which, open water courses are ideal for those wishing to become scuba divers. Advanced open water diver, EANx nitrox diver, deep air diver, dive master, and recreational trimix are some of the advanced courses offered by diving technical schools. You will also be taught some of the scuba skills including night diving, drift diving, underwater naturalist, overhead environment, underwater navigation, underwater photography, deep diving, wreck diving, multilevel diving, spear fishing, and many more.
For technical divers, courses such as EANx gas blender, trimix gas blender, advanced EANx nitrox diver, normoxic trimix diver are offered. Most of the training courses give instruction on marine life. Online diving technical programs are also provided in some of the schools. Practitioners pursuing an online course do not get direct supervision from the diving instructors. In this case, multimedia lessons and reference manuals are offered through internet.
Course fees and the duration may vary depending on the course features and schedules. Courses are scheduled during evening or on weekends to meet your needs. Almost every diving technical schools offer accommodation facilities, books, training materials, and other equipments.
After completing the training program, students are awarded a diving certificate that is recognized all over the world. SSI (Scuba Schools International), SDI (Scuba Divers International), PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), TDI (Technical Divers International) and YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) are some of the internationally known training agencies.
Technical Schools provides detailed information on Technical Schools, Vocational Technical Schools, Automotive Technical Schools, Diving Technical Schools and more. Technical Schools is affiliated with Vocational Technical Schools.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Seth_Miller