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