| Around the nineteen eighties a new term, extreme | | | | differed from conventional sports in two major areas, |
| sports, evolved to embrace the growing development | | | | they are not a team effort and neither is competition |
| of sporting activities that involved an increased | | | | against another a required element. |
| element of individualism coupled with an element of | | | | It is the rush of adrenalin associated with facing and |
| danger not associated with traditional sports. | | | | overcoming a potentially dangerous, or even life |
| Eagerly taken up by the youth of the day as well as | | | | threatening, obstacle that provides the buzz that |
| adults, activities such as bungee jumping, hang gliding, | | | | modern over protected youth craves for. |
| sky diving, rock climbing, mountaineering and scuba | | | | As an example take a look at skate boarding, is there |
| diving grew in popularity aided by the growth in | | | | any adult out there that has not been amazed by the |
| disposable incomes enjoyed by teenagers and the | | | | dangerous stunts that these kids seem able to |
| twenty pluses. | | | | perform so nonchalantly. |
| During the last twenty-five years, largely due to the | | | | However they have to wear what looks like a quite a |
| recognition by the marketing industry of the potential | | | | large amount of specialized gear to perform in. |
| for profit, extreme sports have undergone a significant | | | | Apart from the skateboard there are elbow and knee |
| demographic change. | | | | protectors, safety helmet and don't forget the trendy |
| Adults still involve themselves in the more established | | | | designer label clothing and footwear. |
| extreme sports but the emphasis has changed to | | | | BMX racing, snowboarding, wind surfing, paragliding and |
| involving youth and promoting activities that, while still | | | | all the other youth orientated extreme sports have one |
| needing high levels of skills and dicing with danger, also | | | | thing in common and that is expensive gear. |
| require specialized gear and clothing. | | | | So parents be warned, encourage your children to |
| If you are a parent you will know the importance of | | | | take up a traditional sport, tennis football, baseball, |
| brand names to the young and the marketing boys | | | | cricket, hockey, athletics or swimming. |
| were quick to exploit this new market. | | | | Oops, sorry, made a mistake as they all need |
| Nowadays the term extreme sports has become | | | | expensive gear and most are just as dangerous as |
| associated with youth culture and the popularity of the | | | | many so called extreme sports. I suppose all we can |
| specialized sporting activities that the younger | | | | do is grin and bear it, pay the bills and pray they stay |
| generation have become involved in. | | | | safe. |
| From the beginning most extreme sports have | | | | |