What Makes People Do Extreme Sports

Let me take you back to the moment where I was experiencing my biggest adrenaline rush as I stood before a small twelve-seater airplane, which was about to take me to an altitude of 12000 feet. I put on the blue jump suit and my instructor Dave fastened my parachute belt, then there was the reserve parachute - "Just in case the first one fails you!" he said casually. My heart was racing faster by this time. Then I put the altimeter "12000 feet" I revised in my mind.

I put on my protective eye gear and trying to recollect all the bits and pieces of my training sessions, I stepped into the aircraft. By now I could hear my heart thumping loudly, my palms were sweaty as my fingers remained tightly clasped onto my shoulder belt... "You can do it," I kept telling myself... Within a matter of five to ten minutes we reached the desired altitude. All I could hear was the boisterous winds that entered the aircraft. I got up, I was now standing at the door of the aircraft, the wind pressure gushing at my face, waiting to embrace me... "Jump", Dave almost yelled.

This was it, my mind went blank, and casting off all my fears and apprehensions I jumped out of the aircraft! The feeling of being suspended freely in the atmosphere was nerve wrecking. I screamed at first, only to open my eyes and grasp the fleeting visions of the sky that raced past me in fractions of a second! I spread my arms and enjoyed the free-fall; it felt like I was being sucked into the callous winds and the azure skies! I looked at my altimeter - it read 6000 feet now. I knew that it was time to stop the free-fall and begin my canopy ride. I pulled out my parachute.

Suddenly the momentum of the free fall was broken with a jerk. Air filled up the parachute and I was now on an altitude enough for me to enjoy the bounty of nature that spread beneath the verdant stretches of grass, the minuscule concrete structures that stood on the land and the tiny people moving around. I was soaking in every little detail. Soon the distant lands seemed near. My feet landed on the grass and I was back on the earth. Back with newfound respect for life, back with the exhilaration for having taken the risk and completed the challenge! Yes this was my first-ever skydiving experience!

I was one of those people who always wondered what makes people do extreme sports, until I tried it myself! Although there are no specific reasons, which apply to all the lovers of extreme sports, there are some common factors, which drive people to do the outrageous. Extreme sports are adventurous yet dangerous activities. Skydiving, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, backcountry snowboarding, mountaineering, downhill skiing, skateboarding, paragliding and so many other extreme sports are popular with adventure lovers and extreme sports enthusiasts.

Why Do People Take Part in Extreme Sports?

The first and the foremost reason why a majority of people enjoy extreme sports is the adrenaline rush that it gives. An adrenaline rush refers to the phenomenon of stimulation of the adrenal gland resulting due to an activity that causes stress on the body. The extreme sports definitely fall into the category of activities that can cause stress. A large number of extreme sports enthusiasts seek this adrenaline rush! In addition to the adrenaline rush, there are certain kinds of people who are motivated by challenges. Such people think of an extreme sport as a challenge that lies ahead of them and are willing to see how far they can stretch their abilities to excel in these adventure sports.

And then there are people like me, who want to try to break their vanilla image and embark upon an adventurous task for once! Many people thus, try their hand at adventure sports for a feeling of rejuvenation and excitement! Every now and then we need different types of recreational activities to provide us the much-needed break from our mundane routines! I believe that an adventurous stint at an extreme sport is worth a shot once in a lifetime! Having said that, I must tell you that you need to be perfectly healthy and fit before trying out the extreme sports. Also, extreme sports is not about risking your life, it is about following the safety guidelines and being aware of the risk you are about to take, and overcome the challenge with persistence, determination and courage.