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