Icharus failed unpowered fligt but Paragliders Succeed in Soaring

Fables recount how Icharus wanted to soar like an eagle but alas fashioned his wings from wax, which softened in the hot sun and no doubt body heat as well. Good intentions, bad technology. The Icharus types today utilize a harness suitably fastened to a fabric wing with key vent holes along the front edge to inflate the wing, providing the aerodynamic lift to mimic that soaring eagle.
Launching is always into the wind as in powered aircraft with techniques as simple as the pilot running forward to more complex techniques known as slope soaring or powered towing. Each launch technique depends on wind speed, terrain and pilot skill in utilizing thermals to their soaring advantage. Landing requires the skills of manipulating the wing for still or slight running landings avoiding the harmful crashes that many novices experience.

In flight Wing Deflation at low Altitude a Serious Hazard
Turbulent air can produce wing deflation at any time. At higher altitudes the airfoil (wing ) has sufficient time for the wing to redeploy to normal flight status. At lower altitudes the recovery time is crucial. If recovery is not happening a reserve parachute is carried but most be deployed above 200 feet for the parachute to do its job. Crashes from non recovery have resulted in serious injury and death. The combination of adrenalin surge and soaring is a unique experience peculiar only to  paragliding. In addition a pilot in congested air space must be familiar with all the rules and regs that apply to that situation.
Cross country flying is possible when Paraglide pilots learn to recognize the land formations that produce thermals, masses of rising hot air lifts the glider to higher altitudes perpetuating the flight as the pilot flys from thermal to thermal. Cross country distances then require the pilot to have a radio and gps instrument so location is known and communication is a must.

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Mountaineering, the Follow on Sport After the Conquest of Everest

Sir Edmund Hillary conquered mount Everest after many previous attempts failed to climb the highest mountain in the world. So, what was left to climb simply because its there? Nothing of the sort of course but the knowledge and techniques for scaling peaks remained to become the source of a burgeoning mountain climbing extreme outdoor sport dubbed mountaineering. The sport has developed three basic paths according to the desired type of climb over snow, ice or rock. The challenges range from a walk up Pikes Peak to the 14,000 foot summit with an overnight lodge about half way up to some of the most rugged and dangerous climbs existing world wide.
The Inherent Hazards of Mountaineering
The experience gained from mountain climbing to the summits has taught man how to best deal with the hazards that demand the strength, sound  climb strategy and full knowledge of climb equipment to cope with expected and unexpected hazards almost certain to turn up in the extreme outdoor sport of mouintaineering. Hard snow can cover over gaps in glacier ice known as crevasses. Teams of five or more climbers tied together by equal lengths of rope can pull a fall through victim back up to safety. There are general hazards like storms that materialize almost instantly, avalanches that can bury one in suffocating snow and falling rocks. Many locations have permanent base camps and shelter huts along the traversable routes. Other hazards include thin air, intense solar radiation and volcanic activity. The thrill of adrenalin surges overwhelms these many risks as mountaineering grows apace with other high risk endeavors.
So whatever climb style one chooses-expedition type climbs in the Himalayas with a large contingent of support people or Alpanism where the climber carries all necessary equipment with them the motivation is the same. Your chosen route has been climbed before but you have not personally climbed it and its there for you to personally conquer it.

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An Optional road to Superior Health via Mountain Biking

The city of Colorado Springs is approximately an hour’s drive from the mountain city of Cripple Creek, famed for the gold strike of the late 19th entury. That 50 mile distance masks the reality of the change in elevation between the two cities.Starting at Colorado Springs at elevation 6300 feet, up Ute pass to Woodland park at elevation 7400 feet. Then another up leg to a crest of 10,000 feet before descending into Cripple Creek at elevation 9500 feet. Traversing this high route is a snap for the auto but- in the warm seasons- the stream of mountain bikers pedaling their way to an adrenalin high on high is truly amazing. One can’t help reflect on the superb conditioning required to develop the stamina and endurance to accomplish this physical feat. This leads to curiosity of how it all got started and where does it lead ?
The Buffalo Black Soldiers, Pioneers of Mountain Biking
Mountain biking traces back to a group of black soldiers known as the 25th infantry buffalo soldiers based in Missoula, Montana in the 1890′s. this group modified bikes for long distance cycling such that, when fully provisioned, they weighed 70 to 120 pounds. This group-with single speed bikes-  achieved two notable and documented feats. First a round trip of 800 miles from Missoula to Yellowstone. Then a one way trip of 1900 miles to St. Louis, Missouri. They set a lofty standard for endurance to be emulated by today’s crop of mountain bikers. The modern era  began with a group of mountain bikers in Morin County, California in the 1970′s. They are largely resposible  for the flat handlebars, fat tire and multiple gear features of today’s mountain bikes. Perhaps even a fraction of the conditioning necessary for mountain biking would be a boost for better health as well as the adrenalin highs.

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Outdoor Sports of the Extreme Nature

Action sports or adventure sports with a great degree of inherent danger are termed as the extreme sports which mostly form part of outdoor sports. They all have one thing in common-that is the adrenaline rush that they generate in the adventure seeking sportsmen. The out of the world experience that such sports provide are their USP and this phenomenon of taking sports to the limit of human endurance and fear has now taken the form of cult following in many parts of the world. The various types of these outdoor sports which have taken extreme forms are BASE jumping, Bungee jumping, Hang Gliding, Para Gliding, Ski jumping, Sky Diving, Sky Jumping, Sky Surfing, Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Mountain Snow Boarding, Mountain Bike Racing, Snow Mobiling, Mountaineering, Cliff hanging, Free Fall Cliff Jumping, Free Diving, Jet Skiing, Powerboat Racing, White Water Kayaking, Surfing and many more countless variants. As is evident from the above list, these outdoor sports can be done on land, water or in air and even under water, in fact wherever there is a possibility if of a challenge and danger. The motivation behind engaging is such types of sports, which some may term as sheer madness is the motivation to push beyond the normal and achieve the extraordinary. The human spirit’s desire to seek out unknown thrills is probably what creates these extreme sports and human body’s ability to endure beyond expectations is what makes them popular. While the joy of these sports is unlimited, care should be taken to get the desired training and achieve the requisite proficiency before trying out stunts. Adequate training, protective gear and all safety precautions must be in place to ensure that while undertaking these activities there always remains a window of safe escape. So this inscribes the Outdoor Sports of the Extreme Nature.

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The Challenge of White Water River Rafting

World famous whitewater rafting in the Valley.
Image via Wikipedia

White water river rafting is one of the most challenging outdoor sports. The thrill of negotiating rough and turbulent waters on an inflatable boat is amazing and the sheer scale of the uncertainty that accompanies this sport is the key to the excitement that it creates. This particular outdoor sport is quite dangerous from the very out look and some consider it in the category of extreme sports. Started in the seventies this sport has been steadily gaining popularity ever since all over the world. The more fanatic players travel all over the globe in search of the roughest water with the most difficult terrain to get that maximum thrill which is the hallmark of this sport. The inflatable boat is made of multilayered rubberized poly vinyl that is strong enough to take the vagaries of a wild river. The boat normally has multiple air chambers to cater for leak in one of them. Steering is effected by the oars in the hands of the crew who also are suitably dressed in protective gear. The white water is even graded depending on the roughness and currents a scale of 6 wherein 6 is the most dangerous state of the water to be doing rafting in. The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon and the Jalcomulco River in Mexico are some of the most difficult rivers to be rafting in and have been the cause of many fatal accidents. Though this adventurous outdoor sport is ultimate to get you that adrenaline rush it can be quite tricky for the uninitiated. Despite the inherent dangers associated with white water rafting, you will always find rafts being carried on top of vehicles to higher heights wherever there are turbulent rivers gushing. This form of outdoor sports has now become well known and accepted in most of the countries.

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Outdoor sports for a healthy life

In the fast paced world of modern life where time is at premium what often gets neglected is the physical fitness which then leads to multiple complications of obesity and other related ailments. There is growing tendency to stay indoors while at work as well as when at home. The only way out to maintain a good physical activity regime that is enjoyable is to pick and follow outdoor sports. Sports of any kind are a stimulus to the body’s metabolism and helps in reducing many illnesses that accompany inactivity. Outdoor sports especially get one to move out of the confines of the home and office to spend refreshing moments doing an activity that not only works out the body but also rejuvenates the mind. A simple game of football or baseball for an hour or so is sufficient workout for a day in case of average people. Additionally this also gives an opportunity to meet people, build teams and interact to help reduce the stress levels that keeping building up in the hectic schedules that are prevalent all around. The best part about playing outdoor sports is that it keeps one in touch with nature and lets your body experience the benefits of fresh air and open skies which is progressively becoming a rarity in contemporary life styles. Even playing outside your home with the kids can have its own benefits of usefully spending time with doing physical activity. Moreover the kids will love you for being with them. This will also inculcate the good habit of playing outdoor sports among them. Outdoor sports are a great means to off load any work related tensions and stress in an environment filled with careless abandon and satisfying physical effort. There is absolutely nothing to beat a good game with friends and family.

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A Guide to Jet Skiing

If you are looking to try a new outdoor sport, why not get out and about on a jet ski? This unique and exciting form of sport can be just the thing if you are looking to spruce up your outdoor sporting activities. Here are a few things to bear in mind as you are getting started.Jet Skiing

The first step is to attach the automatic engine shut up tag to your body. Each jet ski comes with a tag that turns off the engine if it is removed from the jet ski. The idea is that if this is clipped to you and you fall into the water, the jet ski will stop and you will be able to get back on easily, without having to swim after one that is still moving!

The throttle is located on the handlebars, and to increase your speed you gently squeeze the throttle to make the engine more powerful. While you are still in the dock, be sure to keep your speed to a minimum. It may also be a good idea to go slowly in the open water as fell if you are on your first jet skiing trip. Practice making turns whilst going at a slow speed so that you can learn the basics of maneuvering the machine. Once you get the hang of the controls, you can start to open the machine up a little and go faster.

It is also important to keep an eye on the surrounding area, especially if you are jet skiing on the open ocean. It can be easy to get carried away and drift off into areas that may not be safe, such as rocky or shallow stretches of water. By being vigilant at all times, you can ensure that your jet skiing trip is an enjoyable one, without any unforeseen difficulties.

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Jet skiing is the most thrilling of all outdoor sports

jet ski
Image via Wikipedia

Jet Ski, the brand name of a personal watercraft from the Yamaha group, has caught on the imagination of a whole generation of adventurous young people and has acquired the status of new outdoor sports in itself. Developed in the seventies, these personal water crafts by Yamaha have become extremely sophisticated in their present day versions and therefore are being used to take them to the limits of human endurance and skills in these new forms of outdoor sports. There are stand up versions as well as sit down designs with single or multiple passenger facility. The engines are very powerful enabling the rider to accelerate quickly to great speeds. Some have been aerodynamically designed for cutting smoothly through the water and making sharp turns. There are certain versions exclusively meant for those stunning aerial jumps. The basic form of this sport is freestyle which refers to pure racing in terms of speed and does not include aerial stunts as part of the sport. There are some closed circuits for racing where the latest engines are revved to get that acceleration on water which is the hall mark of these kinds of outdoor sports. However, the prize for the extreme versions goes to Free Riding Jet Skiing. In this variant of the sport the riders take aid of rising waves using it like a plank to get an aerial jump where they display aerobatics on the Jet Ski. This is a rather dangerous form of the sport and is attempted only by those who have mastered riding the waves on their Jet Ski. These outdoor sports have gained world wide popularity and there are many international events and meets being organized round the year for the Jet Ski enthusiasts who gather from all corners of the globe to participate whole heartily.

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Must Haves For a Day on the Bike Trail

Mountain biking is a great sport. It can be exciting, challenging, and a great workout, all at the same time. A day on the bike trails is fun, but you should be sure to bring along a few items. You will need supplies, food and water, and tools, but you should try to keep your carry-along items to a minimum.

Food and water are likely the most important things to bring with you. There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a trail and finding out that you have no energy left to get back to your car! You need to fuel your body to have energy, and without food your focus lags, which can cause you to get into an accident. Of course, water will keep you hydrated and maximize your performance on the trail.

You should also make sure to have a couple of basic tools with you. You should have a set of Allen wrenches, since Allen bolts are the most commonly used on mountain bikes. With all the bumping on mountain trails, bolts can become loose, so it is a good idea to carry a couple of replacements along with your wrench set. A chain tool can also be useful. Of course, your tools may wind up useless if you don’t have the emergency supplies you need. Have an extra tube for your tires, a mini-pump, and a patch kit in case you get a flat.

Finally, since you have likely left your car at the base of the trail, make sure you have good classic car insurance, and take your insurance papers with you. That way, if anything happens while you are on the trail, you will have everything you need to file a claim when you get home.  It’s usually a good idea to bring a cell phone for emergencies, too!

Filed Under: Extreme Sports, Outdoor Sports

Top Four Extreme Sports

MATAMATA, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 16: In this h...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Sports are never dull. Sometimes, not being dull isn’t enough. Every sport has a limit. When you stretch it, you take it to a whole new dimension, and you get ‘extreme sport’. It does not matter that many sporting activities like rollerblading, skydiving, scuba diving, and bungee jumping are adrenaline pumping already. Sports enthusiasts want to stretch the limits of these sports and test man’s endurance. Here are some of the most dangerous sporting activities people do for fun.

Base jumping: In one word: suicide. In this sport, you have to jump from a tall building  or antennae, bridge or cliff to establish yourself as a base jumper. The risk is higher in this extreme sport because the jumping is done from a very low height, sometimes as low as 150m, in which the jumper may have only five seconds to open his parachute and land.

Aggressive rollerblading: Jump, grind, slide, and flip. Easy? Not if you are on skates and doing these moves on edges, rails, stairs, walls, ditches and defying gravity in every possible way. Aggressive skating professionals look ‘cool’ in all respect, wearing their rollerblades like regular footwear. One would be tempted to think that footwear like this is now high fashion, if not for the hazard associated with it.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): These guys take extreme to the extreme. It’s a mishmash of all martial arts combined with plenty of old-fashioned wrestling and boxing. So elbows touching chins, and jaws smacking knees are very common and so is blood splattering all around. It’s  definitely not a sport for the faint-hearted, even if just for watching.

Free diving: Someone once forgot to take his or her breathing equipment while deep sea diving, and now suddenly it has become an extreme sport. Here, divers dive without breathing equipment to see how far they can go down in a single breath.

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