Extreme Sports – Dilution or Evolution

(Relentless Boardmasters Festival Footage)

It was once the case that the term extreme sports related only to a select few activities. Among those worthy of the accolade included sports such as surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, motocross, base jumping and a few others. Of course everyone always new that the ‘extreme’ level varied quite radically even within these sports. No one could argue that riding a BMX around a bit was as extreme as throwing yourself off a huge building with only a thin bit of fabric to slow you down before you hit the ground.

Nowadays however the range of sports that fall under the ‘Extreme Sports’ umbrella is quite frankly staggering. There is everything from the visually entertaining parkour to the quite ridiculous ropeboarding. In some cases it is no longer impressive enough to turn up to the beach with your surfboards, you now need to be involved in kitesurfing, land yachting, skim boarding and loads of other sports that people have dreamt up whilst presumably under the influence.

Some people think this is a bad thing and that the term ‘Extreme Sports’ should only be reserved for those sports either around from the beginning or that contain an element of danger so great that only those will a bit of screw loose are willing to give them a go. What they don’t realise however is that extreme sport is not just about the sport, it’s a way of life. It’s about getting out there and trying something new. Maybe falling over a few times and picking up some cuts and bruises, but succeeding the long run. It’s about picking up some second hand kayaks on a whim and taking them out on the river for a quick blast, and feeling alive when you make it to the still-water in once piece. So the term ‘extreme sports’ has boundaries that are meant to be pushed and that change over time, which is not a bad thing, it’s just evolution.