Adventure Tribes

Philip Schilling asked:


Skydiving is an exhilarating experience. Few things can generate more adrenaline and bring greater thrills than jumping out of a plane. Falling at high speeds through the air before opening a parachute is as extreme as it gets, so you really have to know what you are doing to avoid injury or death. People who are interested in skydiving have three options in terms of training. Each method has various advantages and disadvantages. Some methods may be more expensive, while others are more difficult and more intensive. Most programs costs anywhere from seventy dollars to three hundred or more, so it is worth it to look around for a good deal. In any case, they are designed to get you ready to dive into one of the most extreme sports on the planet. Take a moment to read about each and decide which is right for you.

The most popular skydiving training method is probably the tandem jump. This is perfect for first timers who want to experience the thrill of skydiving without all the stress and danger of more intensive training methods. You jump with an instructor who is certified to train you. He or she will have extra parachutes and equipment to help you both safely land after your freefall. Most droopiness will let you take a one time jump if you like. This only takes an hour or so, and it is that fastest way to skydive for beginners who just want to try it out. You can also take a tandem progression course that will let you spend more time learning and jumping over the course of a few hours.

Static line training is another method for learning skydiving. Students are trained for a few hours on the ground and then go up in the plane. Upon jumping out, the diver will fall away from the plane while the canopy is deployed by a static line attached to the aircraft. The student practices pulling a dummy ripcord each time. After a few jumps, they will be ready to do a real freefall on your own. As you get more experience, you can go to higher altitudes and freefall for longer periods of time.

Finally, there is the accelerated free fall skydiving method. You get extensive ground training before taking a high altitude jump with a fifty second freefall on your very first jump. Instructors will jump along with the students but separately. They are just there to assist with a stable fall while monitoring the altitude until it is time to pull the ripcord for the parachute. This is definitely a more intense way to learn to skydive.

About Pivian Extreme – The Extreme Sport & Fun Sports Online Forum Community:

Pivian Extreme is the one-stop Online Forum Community for extreme sports enthusiasts. With more than 30 specialized forums, it covers popular disciplines like snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing including more extreme activities like skysurfing, bungee jumping or snowkiting. Pivian Extreme is available on www.pivianextreme.com.

Pivian Extreme covers the following extreme sports and fun sport disciplines: Basejumping, BMX, Bodysurfing, Cliffjumping, Downhillskating, Freeskiing, Hanggliding, Heliskiing, Inlineskating, Kayaking, Kitesurfing, Landsailing, Motocross, Motorbiking, Mountainbiking, Paintball, Paragliding, Parasailing, Rafting, Sandboarding, Scuba Diving, Skateboarding, Skydiving, Skysurfing, Snowboarding, Snowkiting, Speedflying, Surfing, Wakeboarding.

Seomul Evans asked:


Extreme sports are those which are characteristically thrilling, owing to the high level of risk involved. They often include extremes of physical exertion or speed, or height. Danger is always present, and this adds to the thrills experienced. Many people enjoy watching extreme sports, rather than participating themselves. The popularity of extreme sports has increased in recent years, especially amongst young people.

One reason behind the evolution of extreme sports is the technological development which has made them possible. Most people do not experience much risk in everyday life, and this too adds to their attraction. People seek the thrill, and enjoy the attention it receives as well.

The Ten Most Popular Extreme Sports

Surfing

The surfer uses a board to glide along on a breaking wave. There are now two classifications of surfing, based on the design of the board and riding style. These are short and long boarding. Surfing is said to have been developed long ago in Polynesia, and came to the rest of the world when Europeans first observed it.

Windsurfing

This sport uses a surfboard with a sail, by means of which the rider can skim across the surface of the water. Thus it combines elements of surfing and sailing. The sport developed in the latter part of the twentieth century.

Hot Air Ballooning

This technology was the first form of human air transport. The balloon contains a bag which holds the hot air, and the passengers are carried in a wicker basket which hangs underneath. Hot air ballooning is now a sport, and modern structure includes fire resistant materials for the mouth of the balloon.

Mountain Biking

In this sport the bike rider rides over rough ground on a mountain bike or hybrid road bike. There are four classifications in mountain biking: street riding, downhill, freeride and cross country. Mountain biking has now developed as an extreme sport, and there is now a hall of fame to celebrate the achievements of early mountain bikers.

Hang Gliding

A hang glider is an aircraft which you can launch yourself, and which you then guide in the air by means of shifting your weight. You can also steer them by means of aircraft control technology. Modern hang gliders can perform aerobatic stunts and can fly long distances and at significant height.

Paragliding

The techniques of flying and launching a paraglider are similar to those in hang gliding. There are no solid supports in a paraglider. The paraglider pilot needs to possess understanding of relevant engineering technology and aircraft design, as well as weather conditions. Rough weather can cause a high degree of risk in this sport.

Skydiving

Skydiving, or parachuting, is when a person falls (on purpose) from a height, supported by a parachute. Early jumps were from hot air balloons in the eighteenth century, and it became an international sport in the mid twentieth century. It is now popular both as a recreation and as a sport.

Mountaineering

This sport is enjoyed as a recreational activity as well as a sport, and combines elements of hiking, trekking and walking. The original intention was to reach high places, where no one had trekked previously. It then developed into a physically demanding sport. Some people enjoy mountaineering in the snow, others prefer rocky climbs.

Ice Climbing

This sport means climbing up icefalls and ice covered rock faces. There are two variations, water ice climbing (on cliffs or under waterfalls), and alpine ice climbing (in the mountains). The equipment used varies according to things such as the type of slope and ice texture.

Bungee Jumping

This extreme sport involves jumping from a height, whilst attached from above by a long elastic cord. The jumper usually jumps from a structure such as a crane, bridge or high building. The jumper falls free until caught and bounced up and down by the cord, and this provides lots of thrill.

Thomas Cutler asked:


In a national survey commissioned by the American Kite Surfing Association (AKSA), kite surfing, a relatively new sport in North America, is ranked as the top Extreme Sport. Among the sixteen hundred athletes participating in the study, 71% listed kite surfing as the most exciting and dynamic extreme sport. Only a third had actually attempted the sport yet nearly all indicated that intended to “give it a try” before the end the year. Participants were between the ages of 18 – 35 and all were self-identified sports enthusiast. The margin of error in this research is +/- 2%. Other extreme activities were far distance in ranking including skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, inline skating, BMX, MotoX.

This dramatic interest in the athletically demanding sport has given AKSA founders encouragement about the value of their newly founded organization. Logan Long, co-founder of the association was not surprised by the results; “It’s just simply the biggest adrenaline rush available. The combination of air, water, land, wind power, physical strength and balance the force of nature are the qualities that attract Kite Surfers.”

American Kite Surfing Association is the leading organization for kite surfers in North America. Founded in 2006 by two extreme sport enthusiasts, membership is anticipated to exceed 30,000 before the end of the year. The purpose of the enterprise is to bring heightened awareness to this fast-growing, dynamic, and fun sport. A vast array of information, products, and techniques are available to the visitors of the AKSA website, www.kite-surfingusa.com. After more than a decade of popularity through Europe and Australia, active North American extreme sport athletes are recognizing the maximum adrenaline rush through kite surfing. According to Cathi Long, co-founder of AKSA, “The exhilaration of hang time in kite surfing is unbeatable…kite surfers are simply the sexiest athletes.” AKSA will select 50 leading industry product manufacturers to highlight and profile throughout an extensive national media outreach campaign.

Among the sixteen hundred athletes participating in the study, 71% listed kite surfing as the most exciting and dynamic extreme sport. Only a third had actually attempted the sport yet nearly all indicated that intended to “give it a try” before the end the year. Participants were between the ages of 18 – 35 and all were self-identified sports enthusiast.

In a national survey commissioned by the American Kite Surfing Association (AKSA), Filipino brides, a relatively new sport in North America is ranked as the top Extreme Sport. The margin of error in this research is +/- 2%. Other extreme activities were far distance in ranking including skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, inline skating, BMX, MotoX.

This dramatic interest in the athletically demanding sport has given AKSA founders encouragement about the value of their newly founded organization. Logan Long, co-founder of the association was not surprised by the results; “It’s just simply the biggest adrenaline rush available. The combination of air, water, land, wind power, physical strength and balance the force of nature are the qualities that attract Kite Surfers.”

American Thai Brides Kite Surfing Association is the leading organization for kite surfers in North America. Founded in 2006 by two extreme sport enthusiasts, membership is anticipated to exceed 30,000 before the end of the year. The purpose of the enterprise is to bring heightened awareness to this fast-growing, dynamic, and fun sport. A vast array of information, products, and techniques are available to the visitors of the AKSA website, www.kite-surfingusa.com. After more than a decade of popularity through Europe and Australia, active North American extreme sport athletes are recognizing the maximum adrenaline rush through kite surfing. According to Cathi Long, co-founder of AKSA, “The exhilaration of hang time in kite surfing is unbeatable…kite surfers are simply the sexiest athletes.” AKSA will select 50 leading industry product manufacturers to highlight and profile throughout an extensive national media outreach campaign.

Gray Rollins asked:


Extreme sports like street luging, skateboarding on rails and ramps, and snow boarding off nearly impossible jumps are hotter today than they have ever been before. The athletes who pursue these challenging activities often become as dedicated as Olympians and spend hours every day practicing and improving their technique in order to be able to enjoy the thrill that only making the perfect ollie or dropping a hill on a buttboard can bring. Extreme athletes often refer to the adrenaline rush of competing as being “amped,” and many say that there is no other feeling in the world that is as satisfying. For most of these rough and tumble athletes, part of the appeal of extreme sports is the danger.

Unlike sports that are regulated by official certified judges and require the athletes to wear protective gear and perform with ship shape equipment, extreme sports competitions sometimes include relatively unprotected athletes competing on somewhat ramshackle paraphernalia, like luge boards made out of skateboards with plywood additions. These conditions lead to greater thrills for many of the participants, because the more dangerous a situation is the more adrenaline the body produces, leading to the feeling of being “amped.” However, the long term damage that results from the kinds of injuries that many extreme athletes endure often leaves these enthusiastic men and women feeling less than thrilled. Whether or not the excitement of extreme sports is worth the danger is something that nobody can decide but the athlete who is putting his or her body on the line. However, if you or somebody in your life is thinking about joining the hardcore world of extreme sports, it is a good idea to do some research into what common injuries are, and how they can be prevented.

Often, wearing a helmet or certain kinds of padding can make the difference between ending up in the hospital after a wipe-out and walking away with a few pesky bruises. The hazards of every sport are unique, so the kinds of kneepads that a skateboarder favors might not be very much help to a street luger. The only protective gear that will really help an athlete is the gear that is specifically appropriate to his or her sport, so before you put any money into protective gear, read as much as you can about the hazards you are likely to face, and try to get some firsthand advice from experienced athletes in the field you want to be a part of. Many extreme athletes don’t bother with the kind of protective gear that they should be wearing, in part because they worry that kneepads or elbow pads will decrease their cool factor. However, taking care of your body is as important for an extreme athlete as it is for any athlete, if not more so. Even if chucking bales might not seem as exciting with a helmet as it is without one, if you protect yourself you can always be sure that you will have the chance to take another crack at your favorite extreme challenge.

Extreme Sports are the latest craze in our culture and kids as young as four and five years old are fascinated with it. As a parent of a 16 year old who has been skateboarding and surfing since he was seven, I can tell you that it does make you nervous when they do the crazy tricks. Some people hate extreme sports and some people think they are a blessing, let’s take a closer look.

The positive side of kids being involved in extreme sports in that they are out getting exercise and the television in your living room is starting to collect dust, plus your electric bill is lower. You have probably been hoping for this to happen for awhile but you aren’t sure about the choice of sports. Although skateboarding is probably the first of the extreme sports adventure, it is only the beginning. Some of the others that kids are really getting into these days include BMX biking and trickblading.

BMX bikes are like a regular bike on steroids, they are built heavy and tough to be able to take the punishment of all the jumps and tricks, plus they have special pegs for the feet and padding to protect the biker where they are most likely to come in contact with the bike. These bikes are designed mainly for tricks and racing and are mostly used on dirt tracks and courses.

Trickbladers use the same parks as skateboarders and wear specially designed roller blades with smaller thicker wheels and have an added feature called a grind plate to help them do tricks like sliding down rails. I know, it makes my skin crawl just thinking about it! The idea is to be able to do a lot of the same tricks performed by skateboarders.

Skateboarding is thought of as the original extreme sport beginning in the 1960s when surfers put wheels on short boards to give them a way to cross train when the surf wasn’t up. These early skateboarders are probably amazed at the way the sport has developed with the huge half pipes and long rails that you see skateboarders riding today. It just makes me cringe to watch as they slide down a handrail while standing on a skateboard but incredibly my son has done it for over nine years and never broken a bone.

If you are like me, the first time that you watch your child go sailing through the air on a jump or paddling out in eight foot surf you will feel like your heart is going to pound out of your chest and you will be cringing every time they fall but as long as they have the right safety gear and are always with a buddy they will be fine, injuries are far more common in traditional sports. Encourage your kids, these days it’s hard to get them to like anything.

Kumari Patel asked:


Colorado is closely associated with river rafting from the very beginning. In fact, the river rafting sport was invented in Colorado only. Therefore, the term Colorado River rafting emphasizes the importance of river rafting Colorado. Undoubtedly, river rafting is one of the most popular pastimes of the people in Colorado and across the world. One can experience ultimate River Rafting in some of the greatest rivers of Colorado like Arkansas River, the Colorado River, and the Dolores River.

These rivers consist of several beautiful and famous sites including Royal Gorge and Big Horn Sheep Canyon. One of the most wonderful spot for Colorado River rafting is the Dolores River. This river is a 250-miles long tributary of the Colorado River. Running through the states of Colorado and Utah, Dolores River has Ponderosa Gorge that offers great rafting options. Dolores River is also known to be the most scenic parts of the country.

If we talk about the Colorado River then river rafting in about 1500 miles river is indeed a wonderful experience. Colorado River is known to be one of the most beautiful rivers of the world. Some of the wonderful sites present at the Colorado River include Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam. One can see indefinite river rafting tours on the Colorado River.

People who have done river rafting on the Colorado River never forget their experience and remember it for the lifetime. There are many companies in Colorado and elsewhere which host Colorado River rafting tours, for the beginners or for professionals. In case you do not have any prior experience in river rafting then Colorado River rafting tour can provide you guidance regarding the rafting techniques and skills. However if you have good experience as a river rafter then you can also enhance your rafting adventure by taking a tour in Colorado. Colorado River rafting tours are generally of half-day or full-day trips, and one can find extended river rafting trips in Colorado. Some adventures last for even five days.

People love to try Colorado River rafting as this place is considered the hub of rafting sports. Every individual has his own reason behind going for river rafting.

Many people have misconceptions about river rafting that it is a difficult sport to get into. However, provided good training and guidance this sport can make you enjoy and thrilled with fun.  There are many companies that provide important and relevant information about Colorado River Rafting including www.realadventures.com.

Kris Koonar asked:


Despite living in California for years, many people here have never visited Chico. Chico is surrounded on three sides by farmland and situated at the Sierra foothills 90 miles north of Sacramento, off the main thoroughfares. Unless you are going up Highway 32 to Lake Almanor or Lassen National Park, or your destination is Chico, there would be little reason for anyone to go there. Hence, this charming and genial university town, with its rich outdoor opportunities and local attractions, are missed by many.

Chico has the third largest community park in the nation. It also has an active city center, a pulsating and flourishing campus, porch-profuse older localities, and an enthusiastic population of cyclists, runners and outdoor buffs bustling through the city.

Chico Bidwell Park: Bidwell Park, which now spans 3,750 acres, starts as a streamside forest close to the city center, with playgrounds and swimming areas, and runs 12 miles northeast into the center of a wild and deep canyon.

There are two parts to Bidwell Park: one is Upper Bidwell and the other, Lower Bidwell. Upper Bidwell has many rocky paths for mountain biking and tracks with marvelous views and rocky swimming holes. Lower Bidwell has smooth bike paths and wood-chip running tracks under the shade of oak and sycamore trees.

Chico, famous for being a Two-Wheeled Town: Chico is well known as the two-wheeled capital for cycling. With innumerable bike lanes within the town, miles of neighboring farm roads, extensive climbs up the foothills for hikers, and plenty of dirt tracks in Upper Bidwell for mountain biking, Chico has plenty on offer for two-wheeled fans of every kind. Chico was selected as the Most Bicycle Friendly City in the nation by Bicycle magazine in 1997.

According to fat-tire explorer Chuck Bodfish Elliot, who planned the first off-road bike race event in 1976, the Bidwell Bump, which was a bone-jarring one over rutted terrain strewn with lava rock, Chico was the location of the first off-road bike race.

Chico offers adventure sports enthusiasts more fun with Water, Snow and Rock: Apart from the cycling, outdoor enthusiasts can find much more on offer in Chico. The Sacramento River, which flows down the valley only five miles west of the city, is an ideal place for kayakers and canoeists. The Butte Creek, which is close by, offers beginner whitewater kayakers a picturesque six-mile run in seasons like spring and early summer.

Take a Hike: Feather Falls, which is at 640 feet, and is the sixth highest waterfall in the U.S., is one of the main attractions of Butte County. The trail, which is a seven-mile roundtrip, starts from Lumpkin Road, which is above Lake Oroville.

Adventure trails for Rock Climbers: Rock climbers will come across an abundance of remarkable granite in the Feather River canyon. Backpackers can make a trip into the Ishi Wilderness, Lassen Park, or the Trinity Alps. For backcountry skiers, some of the best and deepest snow in the state can be found at Mt. Lassen, which is just an hour and a half from Chico.

Brooke Hayles asked:


Water sports have always been among man’s favorite and most challenging sports. Whether it is on the water, in the water or under the water, water sports have always fascinated the adventurer and sports lover. What is it that distinguishes these types of sports from other sports? What are their advantages? In addition, what are the different kinds of water sports? Read on as we tell you more…

Advantages of Water Sports:

Why are they so special? “The sheer fun of being in water,” says 28-year-old Natalie, a water sports lover. According to her, some of the major benefits include:

*They set the stage for excellent fitness exercises that stretch your muscles and build strength in unique ways. *Unlike other sports, you aren’t sweating as you do them, so even though you’re working hard, your body temp stays cool. *Since they are so different from other sports, competing in the water, an element we were not built for is a fantastic challenge. *Especially for those sports, which require holding one’s breath, the athlete must develop larger lungs, capable of holding more air, thus staying beneath the surface for a longer period of time. The natural benefit of larger lungs and the ability to breath in more air is a healthier body. Like water, the more oxygen we can get into our bodies, the more efficiently our bodies work.

There are a large number of sports that involve water. They can be classified into these categories: In the water, under the water, and on the water.

In the Water:

The most popular is, of course, swimming. The human race mastered this skill long ago. Swimming forms an interesting component of several other major sports or activities that include:

*The Triathlon: This is a combination of swimming, cycling, and running. *Modern Pentathlon: It includes epee fencing, pistol shooting, swimming, show-horse jumping, and cross country running. *Rescue Swimming: Swimming with a mission to rescue other swimmers. As a water sport, it helps develop a variety of key attributes. Strength, Leadership, and staying calm in high-pressure situations are necessary abilities, which are also great life skills to possess. *Snorkeling is a very popular water activity. It is the practice of swimming on the surface of the water equipped with a mask and short tube known as a snorkel.

There are several group sports that are played in water. These include:

*Water Basketball: A team, ball, basket, water. It’s very similar to basketball in water. *Water Polo: A physical team sport that requires strength for hard throwing, endurance, and extremely fast reflexes for defense. *Synchronized Swimming: A hybrid of swimming, gymnastics, and ballet. Endurance, Awareness, and Flexibility are the hallmarks of this sport. *Surf Lifesaving is a competitive sport that evolved from the training activities of lifeguards at surf beaches.

Underwater Sports:

These include various forms of diving. Among the most popular underwater sports are:

*Scuba Diving is an adventure unto itself. Each person is required to take professional lessons to learn it after which the person becomes a Certified Diver. With mask, wet suit (body suit) fins for the feet, and a Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA)- you’re ready to enter a world you never knew existed beneath the surface. *Free Diving: The aim of the diver is to dive in and swim down to the maximum depth without a breathing apparatus. Necessary tools are great lungs, and the ability to equalize the water pressure, which builds on the ears as one travels deeper.

Underwater group sports include:

*Underwater Rugby that is played with a ball that is naturally buoyant. Here breathing is done through a snorkel and tackling is only allowed if you have the ball or are tackling the one holding it. *Underwater Hockey is played under water with short wooden curved sticks and a heavy puck. In this game, players wear diving masks, snorkels, and fins and must surface to breathe while teammates continue the game on the pool bottom.

Water sports that take place ON the surface are a special breed. They’re usually extremely fast-past, requiring the participant to be fully aware at all times, and can be some of the more dangerous sports.

Surface Sports Include:

*Boating: Races are held every year in different parts of the world. Like car racing, the boats are sometimes made from extremely light, fragile material and the danger level rises with the speeds. *Canoe polo: Playing polo using a canoe *Body boarding: This sport is similar to surfing. However, the board is smaller and the person lies on the board. *Surface Skimming: These types of sports include traditional surfing, water skiing, kneeboarding, and wake boarding. They require great footwork, and excellent balance.

There are excellent water sports associations that offer training, organized expeditions, and adventure sports in thrilling destinations all over the world. The Internet, as always, has the most up-to-date information on how you can get involved. Keep checking regularly, and in the meantime pick your favorite sport and dive in!

Summary:

There are a large number of sports that involve water. They can be classified into these categories: In the water, under the water, and on the water.