| The world of extreme sports,
| |
| | Part of the problem, observers say, is
|
| traditionally a man's world, is slowly
| |
| | that extreme sports are driven by big
|
| opening up to women. In Texas, and the
| |
| | business, the point being that if the
|
| cities of Houston, Dallas and Austin,
| |
| | industry doesn't expect a large enough
|
| women are becoming increasingly
| |
| | audience - - consumers ready and willing
|
| interested in three of the six X-Game
| |
| | to buy the products -- they don't think
|
| categories: speed climbing, wakeboarding
| |
| | its worth supporting the athletes. Others
|
| and in-line skating. A group of women was
| |
| | say the world of extreme sports has its
|
| also invited to demonstrate their talent
| |
| | share of sexism, with judging seemingly
|
| in freestyle motocross and both vertical
| |
| | based on how women look rather than on
|
| (or "vert") and street skateboarding.
| |
| | their athletic ability.
|
| Although the women showed they were
| |
| | Some women say they feel uncomfortable
|
| capable of creating excitement in the
| |
| | about the way skate magazines and images
|
| audience with their feats, the money
| |
| | on the skate decks portray women.
|
| available to female competitors is still
| |
| | Advertising can also be an issue for
|
| an issue in championship events.
| |
| | some; clothing companies are known to
|
| At a recent Xbox World Championship of
| |
| | hire models to wear the clothes in ads
|
| Skateboarding, for example, the top three
| |
| | rather than the female athletes - -
|
| male street skaters took home a total of
| |
| | something observers say would not occur
|
| $34,000, while the top three females took
| |
| | with men's sporting apparel. That can
|
| home $3,600.
| |
| | create a problem when it comes to young
|
| While young women have participated in
| |
| | girls choosing female athletes as role
|
| alternative and extreme sports from the
| |
| | models: if they pick up a magazine, the
|
| very beginning, they have not been given
| |
| | only females they see are models skimpily
|
| the same recognition as their male
| |
| | dressed or in fashion photography, not
|
| colleagues, although many are doing their
| |
| | competing.
|
| part to break through.
| |
| | Other women have taken the initiative,
|
| The category "alternative sports" may
| |
| | one being the founder of Chickabiddy, a
|
| have been around for decades but only
| |
| | surfing and snowboarding clothing company
|
| recently has it been called "extreme."
| |
| | geared to women. Along with a line of
|
| Publicity around the word "extreme"
| |
| | women's clothing, Chickabiddy sells a
|
| extends into the world of marketing, with
| |
| | rash guard, a top worn during surfing to
|
| the "extreme flavor" of a brand of chips
| |
| | help prevent chaffing, and made
|
| or a drink being given "extreme taste."
| |
| | especially for women's bodies.
|
| For the industry, an extreme sport is
| |
| | Chickabiddy sponsors eight girls in both
|
| defined as a "non-traditional sport that
| |
| | snowboarding and surfing, and also has a
|
| focuses on extreme and varying
| |
| | website for the "female action sports
|
| conditions, and challenges both the
| |
| | enthusiast."
|
| mental and physical abilities of its
| |
| | There are other people with the aims of
|
| participants."
| |
| | Chickadiddy founders on the web, making
|
| While most extreme athletes average in
| |
| | the Internet one place where women
|
| their early 20s, some involved are much
| |
| | interested in extreme sports can start
|
| younger, even in their early teens.
| |
| | changing their world. One place is
|
| It's not necessarily the money that
| |
| | Mxgirls-dot-com, which focuses on the
|
| drives young women to compete. Another
| |
| | world of women in motocross, its founder
|
| motivation is to break the stereotypes
| |
| | having created the site due to a lack of
|
| about men being the only ones out to get
| |
| | Internet exposure.
|
| a rush of adrenaline. Despite having a
| |
| | Women are slowly breaking into the world
|
| love of extreme sports, young women
| |
| | of extreme sports, a world where men have
|
| competing in extreme sports seem to have
| |
| | long dominated. The more of an audience
|
| accepted the fact that the money is not
| |
| | they build, the more likely it will be
|
| (yet) there for them. Sponsors now may
| |
| | that interest continues to build. If
|
| pay entry fees, travel expenses and
| |
| | you're a young woman looking to "push the
|
| equipment, but the big money is still
| |
| | limits" maybe you should check to make
|
| reserved for male competitors who often
| |
| | sure you're ready in every part of your
|
| get paid by sponsors.
| |
| | life, including health insurance.
|