Extreme Sports And Risk Sports

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Extreme Sports And Risk Sports
Extreme Sports And Risk Sports

Video: Extreme Sports And Risk Sports

Video: Extreme Sports And Risk Sports
Video: Top 10 Extreme Sports 2024, March
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Extreme sports and risk sports

Solo climbing, base jumping, slacklining, ultra triathlons: people who practice extreme or risk sports are admired but also viewed critically. Why do some people go to the limits of their capabilities and consciously expose themselves to dangers? How do the athletes achieve their goals? And can others learn something from it too?

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  • Sport and Risk
  • What extreme sports are there?
  • How dangerous is extreme or risk sports?
  • Why do people practice extreme sports?
  • Moving personal boundaries
  • What can we learn from it?
  • Risk sports in clubs

We speak of risk when we ask ourselves: How likely is it that an action will fail and that this could have negative consequences? Even children learn to know their own abilities, to assess risks and to “dare to do something”. In most “normal” sports, the athlete has to take a certain risk, for example during training, in order to improve and achieve success.

Sport and Risk

A look at the leisure accident statistics shows that most accidents and injuries occur in common sports such as soccer, skiing or snowboarding. Badly trained amateur athletes who overwhelm themselves are particularly at risk. Men injure themselves more often than women. Although the motive “health and fitness” is very important for both sexes, men are usually more performance and competition-oriented than women in sport.

Note Healthy exercise begins in very small doses. Incorrect training with excessive stimuli and overload can damage the body and lead to injuries.

What extreme sports are there?

Faster, higher, further: There are many ways to do "extreme" sports. Where “normal” sport ends and extreme or risk sport begins is not precisely defined scientifically. Often “normal” sports develop into various “extreme” varieties. These include:

  • Risk sports: Sports with a potentially high risk, eg solo free climbing, slacklining at great heights, steep descents on a mountain bike, base jumping etc. In typical risk sports, mistakes can quickly lead to serious or even fatal injuries.
  • Extreme sports: Sports with the goal of a very high endurance performance, e.g. long distance competitions in running, cycling, swimming, ultra-marathons under extreme conditions, etc.
  • So-called "fun sports" such as bungee jumping convey special experiences with a high level of technical effort. In most cases, no special training is required for this.

How dangerous is extreme or risk sports?

Professional extreme or risk athletes are aware of the dangers to health and life. Getting involved in risky situations does not mean showing reckless behavior. Targeted, intensive training, precise preparation and more or less expensive equipment are essential prerequisites for extreme or risk sports - not only to achieve the sporting goals, but also to keep the risks low. High-risk athletes usually do not seek the danger itself, but try to master it in order to achieve a higher goal.

Why do people practice extreme sports?

So what drives a person to exercise in extreme ways? Sports psychological studies have shown that not only the search for intense stimuli - the "kick" - is a motive for some. The conscious confrontation with fear and its control, the increase in self-esteem and the sense of identity also play a role in personal motives. Likewise, the desire to break out of an over-civilized life and experience something extraordinary can be a motivation. The point is to regain the competence, to develop experiences according to your own abilities - and not to get them communicated in the media or via advertising messages.

How sport is lived out also depends on the characteristics of a personality, e.g. willingness to take risks. Some personalities like to explore new things or are always looking for intense experiences - sports psychology speaks of "sensation seeking". In contrast, other people tend to stick to familiar things, avoid new experiences and prefer to move on safe ground. Traumatic experiences or life challenges that have not been met can also be psychological causes for extreme sports.

Moving personal boundaries

Extreme and high-risk athletes voluntarily put themselves in danger and leave their protective framework, their “comfort zone”. By successfully mastering challenges, the person gains further confidence in their own skills and competencies. These experiences allow the athlete to push personal boundaries further. As long as the threat does not become too great and the person does not lose control, concentration increases, especially in dangerous situations.

Extreme and risk sports can also lead to emotional “flow” experiences - immersion in an activity in which there is a balance between challenge and skill. The activity has such a positive experience value that one repeatedly finds oneself in situations that lead to similar feelings and experiences. Some can develop a kind of sports addiction from this.

What can we learn from it?

Those who practice extreme sports in a risk-conscious and goal-oriented manner develop skills that can also enrich life in everyday life. These include, for example, determination, the ability to work in a team, strength of motivation, but also tolerance to frustration and humility. The characteristics can also be strengthened with consistent and conscious participation in "normal" sports or other activities. You can find more information under Sport: What can we learn for life?

Risk sports in clubs

Alpine clubs have discovered the conscious preoccupation with risk behavior when working with young people. On the one hand, certain high-risk sports are particularly attractive for young people because they affect their attitude towards life. With risk behavior, young people can explore their world, transform insecurity into security, push their own limits and gain self-worth. Clubs impart the necessary skills to be able to practice the sport safely and with controlled risk. Dealing with social pressure in the group in risky situations is also an issue. Adults can also train their physical abilities and learn the necessary know-how in alpine or sports clubs or with professional trainers.

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