Speed Biking
Pleasure biking burns 294 calories per hour, but if you take it into extremes where you add speed in it, you could burn 441 calories/hr when you bump up the speed to 10 – 11.9mph, 588 calories/hr with 12 – 13.9 mph, 735 calories/hr with 14-15.9 mph, 882 calories/hr with 16-19 mph, and a whooping 1,176 calories/hr with 20 mph or more. For those who are inclined with BMX or mountain biking, they could burn as much as 595 calories/hr because of the high physical exertion when biking in elevated and steep terrains.

Scuba Diving
In General, scuba diving burns 490 calories/hr however for “Frogman” scuba diving (Navy Seals) they burn 840 calories/hr. Unlike the usual scuba diving, Frogman scuba diving requires a more in- depth training because a person is required to dive or swim in a military capacity that includes combat swimming.

Skiing
Freestyle skiing is one of the most awaited events in Winter Olympics; do you know that you get to burn 490 calories/hr through this? This type of skiing is divided into branches, the “old school” which encompasses the aerials and the moguls and the “new school” that is composed of big air, halfpipe, slopestyle, and the free-skiing. Though freestyle skiing burns a great amount of calories, speed skiing can burn more calories. Cross country skiing with 4.0 – 4.9 mph burns 560 calories/hr and an increased speed of 5.0 – 5.9 mph can burn as much as 630 calories/hr.

Ski Jumping
Ski jumping is predominantly a winter sport that is part of the Winter Olympics Games; this sport is played by taking off a ramp, jump and attempt to land the farthest down on the hill with style. This winter sport burns 490 calories/hr and an extreme version of this which is ski flying with a K-spot of at least185 meters (607 ft) burns as much as 580 calories/hr.

Snowboarding
Snowboarding is another Winter Olympic Sport that involves going down a snow covered slope while equipped with a snowboard and snowboard specific boots. This sport is physically demanding as it requires proper stance and good balance; good upper body control for pivot and steering, hip, knees, and ankle control to keep the body balanced on the edge of the board, flexing and extending body to control speed, and good body timing and coordination to perform any kinds of turns. Because of the amount of physical exertion this sport requires, a snowboarder burns 367 calories/hr for light snowboarding, 441 calories/hr for moderate snowboarding, and 588 calories/hr for vigorous snowboarding.

You may notice that the extreme sports which burn high number of calories are those that involves resistance. This is because, the more resistance there is, the more your body will need to exert physically, thus the more calories are burned to produce energy. Extreme air sports like hang gliding and sky diving burn 245 calories/hr, which are obviously way less than the land and water sports. Extreme sports performed in air burn less calories because it is the gravity that does much of the work. Also, activities that are performed in a cold temperature burn more calories because your body needs to work harder to keep its warmth.

Author BIO: Chris writes about sports and fitness subjects. He believes that engaging in extreme sports along with a balanced diet is a great way to lose weight by burning calories while having fun at the same time.

BASE is an acronym that stands for Buildings, Antennae, Spans (or bridges), and Earth (or cliffs), clearly detailing which structures are used for this extreme sport.  While many people use the term BASE jumping to loosely describe any number of activities that entail leaping from tall natural or man-made structures, the sport actually calls for the use of a parachute (one that is pre-packed and then either affixed to a base so that the shoot opens as the participant jumps from the structure, or opened at low altitude).  This gives you a decent idea of how tall the structure must be in order that your chute will stop you from hitting the ground with too much impact.  Of course, most jumpers will never reach terminal velocity, but because of the significant reduction in fall-time (as opposed to say, skydiving), participants must open their shoots pretty quickly after jumping.  And yet, despite the fringe nature of such a dangerous sport, it has attracted the interest of extreme sports enthusiasts across the globe.  Here are just a few awesome locations that have been used for jumps.

1. El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California, USA. Not only can you marvel at the natural beauty of the landscape and wildlife spread across the valley below, you can also take a leap from the BASE-jumping site that is purported to have started the craze back in the ‘70s.

2.Christ the Redeemer Statue, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue, in and of itself, is not really tall enough for a BASE jump (coming in at only 130 feet tall).  Luckily, it’s built atop Corcovado Mountain, a peak of approximately 2,300 feet overlooking the city and white sand beaches below.  However, because the mountain doesn’t necessarily have a sheer cliff face, jumpers may want to opt for a paragliding chute to veer away and avoid hitting the mountainside on descent.

3. The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France. While the famous landmark of Paris was initially used by Franz Reichelt in 1912 to test his parachute coat (which looked something like a modern-day squirrel suit) only to die tragically upon the failure of his invention, it doesn’t make the towering structure any less awesome in terms of a BASE jump location.  Of course, you may not be able to get permission to leap off the spindly upper levels and into the bright lights of the city below, but since when has that stopped a BASE jumper?

4. Mount Asgard, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.  Named for the Norse realm of the Gods (basically their version of Mount Olympus), this twin peak is over a mile high.  It was famously featured in the opening sequence of the 1976 film The Spy Who Loved Me when James Bond went over the edge on skis, introducing BASE jumping to a worldwide audience.  In truth, the only way to reach the summit is with some hefty climbing gear, but the panoramic vista is well worth the effort.

5. Angel Falls, Bolivar State, Venezuela. This, the highest waterfall in the world, offers a drop of over 3,000 feet into the churning waters below.  Although much of the water evaporates into mist before it hits the rocks at the base, the rapids of the Kerep River absorb whatever meager amount of water makes it down the cliffside.

Guest Post BIO: Jessica Carlton is a writer for Nursing School where you can find jobs, scholarships, and nursing career descriptions.

It doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch for the world’s most popular energy drink to endorse extreme sports.  Even their slogan, “It gives you wings”, is in keeping with the adrenaline rush an individual feels when taking part in activities that test both endurance and mettle.  And considering that Red Bull claims its products can improve performance, concentration, and reaction speed, it’s no wonder they appeal to sports enthusiasts worldwide.  While Red Bull has certainly used the marketing opportunities presented by sporting events to their benefit (nothing gets your brand name out there like naming a team after your product and slapping the logo on equipment and structures), they have also sponsored a number of sports, teams, and individuals in an effort to help them reach the limits of extreme sporting.  Here are just a few of the activities they have been linked to.

1. Football.  Red Bull garnered a lot of attention state-side when they attached their name and logo to the New York football (soccer) team (formerly the MetroStars) in 2006.  This not only led to increasing awareness of their brand and nation-wide sales of their energy drink, it also proved a clever merchandising ploy as consumers snapped up team jerseys, caps, and other paraphernalia.  Red Bull also has teams in Brazil, Germany, and Austria.

2. Motocross. When Red Bull teamed up with AMA National Motocross and Supercross’s all-time winning-est brand to form Honda Red Bull Racing, they not only got to paint a giant, bucking bull on the side of the bus, they also entered into an arena of extreme sports that is both color- and gender-blind.  In 2008, the team welcomed Women’s Motocross Champion Ashley Fiolek into the fold, a milestone move in Honda’s storied history and a signal to everyone that the Red Bull brand is all about expansion and diversification.

3. Racing. Whether it’s England-based Formula 1 Red Bull Racing zipping around the track, America’s Team Red Bull competing in NASCAR, or Red Bull Off-Road Barlow Motorsport trucks kicking up dust, there’s no doubt that the drink that makes people go loves to sponsor the automobiles that go the fastest.

4. Hockey.  Austrian team EC Red Bull Salzburg looks lean and mean in their shockingly red jerseys out on the ice.  And while they narrowly lost the championship last year, they’re no doubt snorting in the pen, slurping down some sweet energy drinks, and perfecting their slap shots and hip checks in order to once again become the reigning champions of the ice.

5. Crazy. This may not be a recognized sport, but when you see people engaged in activities like leaping from the statue of Christ the Redeemer and narrowly escaping authorities to parasail over the city or Rio de Janeiro, or jumping a dirt bike 278 feet (85 meters) over the Corinth Gap to break a record, or plummeting through the atmosphere in an attempt to go supersonic (with nothing but their body), you can’t really call it anything but pure, unadulterated, straight-up crazy (as sponsored by Red Bull).

BIO: Lisa Kendricks writes for Medical Assistant Schools. You can look for a medical assistant job description that’s right for you.

1. Other sports enthusiasts.  Of course, some of the most exciting shots come from other sports enthusiasts who are willing and able to follow their friends around the world and strap on a camera to catch the action.  Their videos might not be up to snuff when compared to professional photography, but there is something to be said for the fact that they are right there in the gritty action, catching every moment from a unique and terrifying vantage.

2. Action cameras.  These sturdy cameras are both useful and prevalent in capturing the most extreme moments in sporting because they are not manned.  They are often attached to surfboards, snowboards, wakeboards, kayaks, motorcycles, and basically any kind of sporting equipment or machinery that will bear them to get front or rear shots of the action up close and personal.

3. Helmet cams.  An offshoot of action cameras, these tend to be smaller so that they can be attached to helmets or straps in order to capture the point of view of the individual engaged in the sport, although they can sometimes be maneuvered to take footage of the person’s face (for reaction shots).  A remote wristband can be worn by the participant (or anyone within range) to control what the camera captures.

4. A good zoom lens.  Professional cinematographers may not be willing to risk their necks in the pursuit of actions footage, but luckily, they have technology on their side.  A good zoom lens will often allow them to get close to the action without actually taking part in it (usually by following in some sort of vehicle…helicopter, jeep, whatever is handy), while still capturing the all of the excellent footage they need.

5. Action photographers.  Nobody will get a better shot than an action photographer (not even very enthusiastic friends).  They have an eye for framing and the expertise to act quickly to capitalize when they recognize a great shot.  All of the professional equipment and planning in the world can’t match up to the finesse of a great action photographer in the execution of his craft.

Shirley Simpson is a writer for Medical Coding where you can brose medical coding schools and industry jobs.

Coordinated strength training is a great way to work out your body and improve your balance, coordination, and reflexes for any extreme sport.  As opposed to isolated strength training, coordinated strength training places the athlete in an unstable environment in which he/she must follow through with the primary strength move while maintaining stability.

For example, try assuming the supine bridge position while stabilizing yourself on a balance ball.  Then, using one dumbbell, so a single arm chest press while still assuming that bridged position.  This works the core while forcing the athlete to increase the quickness of his/her reflexes in order to maintain stability and balance on the ball.  The key concept to having the athlete perform this multi layered work out is to challenge his/her ability to work on the stability, coordination, and reflexes of several different parts of the body while working that single exercise.

Special balance boards are typically used by skateboarders, snowboarders, or wakeboarders to work on and improve their balance and reflexes.  These boards resemble skateboards, however, they have no wheels and are balanced on a roller on the bottom of the board, which makes the athlete training on the board have to utilize more skills to balance more dynamically then statically.  This adjusts the extreme sports athlete to the form and coordination it takes to maintain balance while working on bettering the athlete’s reflexes and response time to the moving of the board.

Static balance training, when incorporated with weight lifting and training, can also be a beneficial training tool to improve coordination, balance, and reflex response time.  Like the single-arm chest press on the balance ball, lifting weights while balancing on a static balance board challenges the athlete to utilize and react with all parts of his or her body and forces the athlete to use each part of his or her body together as one in order to maintain balance and stability.

Power training with medicine balls and plyometrics also challenges the extreme sports athlete’s reflexes and strength.  Upper body ball exercises, like the chest pass or overhead slam, work with the athlete’s ability to adjust different parts of their body to the shifts in weight and angles of throwing.  Plyometrics is the best way to increase the athlete’s quickness and speed, but should only be done once or twice a week with a maximum beginning number of jumps starting at fifty to eighty contacts, for it is quite intensive on the body and with too much force and not enough preparation, can easily result in injury.

Carol Montrose is a writer for MBA Online where you can browse top online MBA programs.

1.) What is your personal goal? Are you looking for a little jolt to take you out of your daily routine or do you want the full-on adrenaline rush of a near-death experience?  Or maybe you’re looking for something that will allow you to show your mad skills on the river.  Whether you’re interested in navigating rapids or playboating, you’re going to need to find the kayak that fits your needs.

2.) How do you know what you like? If you’re just starting out, you probably have no idea what will appeal to you, and you’re not alone.  Because so many people are approaching the sport as newbies, many shops that sell kayaks will offer demo days to get you in the boat and out on the water with a professional instructor, so you can see what it’s all about and decide which type of thrill you’re seeking.

3.) How much do you want to spend? As with any extreme sport, the equipment can get pretty expensive.  You don’t want to drop a load of cash only to realize that going over the falls is not as much fun as freestyling in the middle of the waterway.  And of course, other factors like size and brand could determine the price of your kayak.  So do some research and figure out a price range you’re comfortable with before you head to the sporting goods store.

4.) Does brand matter? If you’re not a professional, you may not need to be as concerned with the brand.  Certainly there are more expensive brands out there that offer better quality and more bells and whistles.  But if you’re just starting and you’re not quite sure where your interests lie, you may want to hold off on purchasing the pricey brands (since you will undoubtedly want to trade up once you have a better idea of what you’re doing).

5.)Does one size fit all? Absolutely not!  Regardless of your intent, it is very important to find a boat that fits like a glove.  You don’t want to be uncomfortable or find yourself in the river at the first bend.  So get some help from a sales associate to ensure that you’re neither too cramped nor lost in space when you climb in the kayak.  This, more than anything, will help to ensure you have a safe and fun trip through the rapids.

Daniel Lawrence is a writer for Yard Sale Search. Check out the site to find garage sales in your neck of the woods.

1.) Verzasca Dam, Ticino, Switzerland.  At over 600 feet, this is the world’s highest permanent bungee site (without guide ropes), ensuring an unencumbered freefall adventure towards the menacing rocks at the base.  It is probably most famous for its inclusion in the 1996 film GoldenEye (in which James Bond famously takes the plunge).  But it also offers breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps and the Verzasca River.

2.) Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.  This waterfall is known by natives as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or the Smoke that Thunders, and it’s not hard to see why since it is claimed to be the largest waterfall in the world (although it is neither the highest nor the widest).  A jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge will not only offer a spectacular view of Second Gorge, it will also allow jumpers to gaze upon two countries simultaneously (Zambia and Zimbabwe).  You may even see a few items that have gone over the waterfall (like a hippo or crocodile) since they tend to wash up near the bridge.

3.) Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Slurp down a margarita and then take the 120-foot plunge from a permanent structure (that looks like a grass hut on an extender arm) over the Pacific Ocean.  The clear cerulean waters below may give even the most stalwart bungee-buffs pause, but their commitment to safety is so strong that they literally guarantee you will not be harmed.  As a bonus, the bay is also a breeding and birthing ground for humpback whales, so if you come at the right time of year, you might get a better view than you bargained for.

4.) Morrison Quarry “The Rock”, Wakefield, Quebec, Canada.  Touted as “the best bungee jump in Canada”, this attraction offers the opportunity to literally jump off a cliff (despite your parents’ firm assertion that you should never follow a friend who does such a thing).  You will leap from a platform that seems precariously suspended (although it has been holding strong for 17 years) almost 200 feet over stunningly clear water (best known for scuba diving), and yes, you will get wet.  The upside of this site?  While others can be pretty pricey, Canada offers jumps for under $100.

5.) Macau Tower, Macau.  This manmade structure, coming in at a whopping height of over 1,100 feet, beat out the Bloukrans River Bridge in South Africa to become the world’s highest commercial bungee jumping site.  It may not offer the spectacular vistas to be found at other locations, but a jump from the free-standing tower will earn you some pretty big bragging rights.

Derwood Talbot is a writer for the popular book review website, Written Word. Browse the site to find information on the latest book gadgets and information on your favorite authors.

The idea of attaching a kite to a vehicle as a means of movement is nothing new.  In the 19^th century a man named George Pocock tried kite propelled carts to avoid using horses and paying the dreaded Horse Tax.  Much later, in the 1970s, people were attaching kites to everything from skis to roller skates, and eventually to surfboards.  It was this kitesurfing (or kiteboarding as it’s called in the States), that took off, starting with German Dieter Strasilla’s engineering and the artistry of French brothers Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux, designing new kites, harnesses, and boards specifically for the purpose of combining them into one activity.  Then Bill Roeseler, a Boeing aerodynamicist in the States, created his own kite system for use with skis in the mid-90s, and his work and the ingenuity of New Zealander Peter Lynn’s kite-buggies were married with the previous kitesurfing inventions, creating something very different from simply using a big kite to tow a person on a surfboard.

This does not a sport make, however.  At this point all they had was a pastime for a small group of adventurers or maybe a cute activity to sell to tourists visiting coastal communities. Until it’s legitimized in the eyes of the athletic world, it’s still just a fad.  That’s when surfing legend Laird Hamilton came in, demonstrating kitesurfing off the coast of Maui.  If Laird’s doing it, it must be cool.  And when athletes are involved, what starts out as something cool to try in their spare time soon becomes competitive, and things took off from there.

With people working everyday to improve equipment and take kitesurfing to higher and higher places, the sport will only continue to grow and stake its own claim in the world of athletics, no longer content to be simply considered a derivative of surfing or windsurfing.  It has definitely come a long way from just a bunch of dudes trying to add a kite to any vehicle they could find.  The expense of the equipment involved and the need for specific climatic conditions will probably keep kitesurfing a fringe sport, but that shouldn’t do anything to diminish its evolution.  This is no longer something crazy people do, like shin kicking or wife carrying.

Guest post by Leah Thompson a writer for Futon Covers Online. Browse the internet’s largest selection of futon covers including waterproof futon covers at the lowest prices.

1. Shop for size.  Like skis, you’ll want to match your snowboard to your size (height, weight, etc.) to ensure that you don’t end up with a piece of equipment that’s too big or heavy for you to handle.  Most sporting goods stores can help you to size a board, but you can also check out online snowboard sizing guides that will use your input not only to calculate the proper length and width of your ideal board, but will also make product recommendations based on your gender, ability level, and preferred board style.

2. Don’t overdo it.  If you’re a beginner, you don’t want to jump onto a black diamond run with a pro board, so don’t let someone up-sell you a board you can’t handle.  Be honest about your abilities so that you get a board that won’t dump you off a cliff on your first run.

3. Differentiate styles.  There are a few different types of snowboards, and they are generally categorized by the terrain they’re intended for.  All-mountain is the most popular variety because it is designed to run on almost any terrain, making it extremely versatile, whereas freestyle boards are better suited for doing tricks on the pipe (flexible and made to maneuver turns and jumps) and freeride boards are designed for parks (fairly stiff and designed for downhill riding).  But within each style, there are many variations, such as directional orientation (one end wider for increased speed and handling) vs. twin style (if you’re switching directions on tricks), or camber (a concave underside for better handling) vs. rocker (convex bottom for better “float” on powder).  While choosing the correct style can be difficult, a little research and some well-intentioned advice from other riders can help you choose the one that’s right for you.

4. Set a budget and know your brands.  Obviously, you don’t want to shell out the big bucks on your first board (when you really aren’t sure what will suit you).  But you don’t want to go super cheap, either.  The best overall big-name brand seems to be Burton (although you will find that experienced riders all have a favorite), but for the beginner who needs a quality board on a budget, Palmer seems to be a good alternative.

5. Take it for a test run.  If you’re really not sure about what might work for you, try out some renters to see what feels good (you can find them at most ski resorts).  Renting a board before you buy is probably the best way to ensure that you don’t end up spending a lot of money on something you don’t want.

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It’s funny to think that riding a motorcycle at almost 200 miles an hour isn’t considered an extreme sport. It sure looks extreme when the bike is bucking like a bronco in a 100-mile an hour tank-slapper or when the rider low-sides it and grinds his flesh off on the asphalt. But the most common of all motorcycle injuries is caused by high-siding the bike and having it toss the rider to the ground, snapping his collarbone – and there’s no cast for that.

Sportclimbers – those guys hanging hanging by their fingertips from rocks thousands of feet in the air – suffer lots of sprained, strained and broken fingers, as you might well imagine. Those are the good ones; the bad ones suffer lots of knee and ankle injuries from falling. No surprise there. What is a surprise is the number of armpit injuries – no, not from shaving too close but from when they fall and grab onto a rope, it slips up underneath their armpit and burns them as they slide down it. Ouch.

Motorcross riders suffer from all the same gravity-induced injuries of their track-racing brethren, they simply take it a step further – or couple hundred steps further. When you see a motorcrosser hanging on for dear life from his back fender 50 feet up in the air, it isn’t hard to imagine that every once in a while they’re not going to stick the landing. On the contrary, it’s more like they pogo-stick the landing when they come up a couple of feet short. Simply falling from that height can cause an incredible amount of damage, but these guys aren’t just falling to the ground – they’re flying into it at speed. Just one bad landing and you’ll know why they call it “extreme”.

But the trophy for the most common and agonizing extreme sport injury has got to go to the skateboarders. It doesn’t matter whether they’re wearing baggy shorts and floppy shoes or all the safety gear they can strap on, nothing – and I mean nothing – can protect them from the dreaded nard-crushing hand rail. Male or female, it doesn’t matter, you cringe when you see it on TV and you laugh your butt off when you see in person. There are no words to describe the pain of a testicular impact of that magnitude, you just have to curl up into a fetal position and wait for the nausea to subside and the feeling to return to your legs. It’s a tough price to pay for rippin’ the perfect rail, but dammit – somebody has to do it.

Guest post by Leah Gallin of Medical Assistant Schools where you can browse a medical assistant job description guide to find the right position for you.

Being involved in extreme sports can empower women with a sense of independence and self-confidence. Unlike team sports, extreme sports are individual and self-directed. When you’re successful, the rewards are all yours. You can take pride that it was only you that accomplished the goal. Think of the joy you get when you make it down to the bottom of a hard ski run in record time. Or how capable and empowered you feel when you climb a 100-foot rock face.

In addition, women now have plenty of role models. Young girls can look up to women like Anne-Caroline Chausson, the first ever Olympic gold medal winner in BMX racing. The sport made its debut at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and since the Women’s Final Event Medal Round was staged before the Men’s, she became the very first person to win a medal in that sport. How cool is that?

Of course there are lots of other role models such as Lisa Anderson in surfing or Shannon Dunn in snowboarding. The media is covering extreme sports more widely which exposes young girls to all kinds of possibilities. In fact, these sports, which were first referred to as extreme, are often now referred to as “alternative sports.”

Many women are attracted to extreme sports because of the camaraderie. Some women don’t like team sports because of its competitive nature. But extreme sports can help build friendships. Since you’re only competing against yourself, you can enjoy hanging out with friends who are working toward the same goal. This allows you to support, encourage, and learn from each other without worrying about competing against each other.

Some like the intense physicality of the sport. Despite the potential hazards and expense, women enjoy the chance to be outdoors and extreme sports require that you pay constant attention to your surroundings. It’s also a chance to push your body’s limits and decompress from all the daily stresses of life.

Another motivation is the chance to prove women can be as strong and as determined as any of their male counterparts. Many women feel like it’s time to break the stereotypes that men are the only ones who like to get a rush of adrenaline.

Finally, women earn more money and that has led them to wanting to make their own decisions. They often want to try something new and exciting and now they have the funds to do so.

Guest post by Martin Longreen, a fitness buff and writer for the popular self defense techniques website Hertao.

1. Don’t fall!  This is the number-one best trick any snowboarder can pull, so keep your feet under you if you want to look cool (instead of ice-cold at the bottom of the pipe).
2. Air.  Maybe the best move for beginners, catching air is also one of the easiest maneuvers since all it requires you to do is get your board into the air (riding forwards) and land back on the pipe in virtually the same position.
3. Alley oop.  Same as getting air, but with a 180-degree turn that lets you land facing forward.  Come to think of it, this may actually be an easier first trick to try (since you’re facing forward the whole time) if you can avoid over-steering.
4. Grab.  There are many types of grabs and they can get pretty complex if done in tandem with other tricks, but the basic move involves grabbing either side of your board with one hand.
5. Front handplant.  In this move, the rider plants their forward hand on the lip of the pipe as they go into a 180, releasing as they land and continue down into the pipe.  It looks cool and requires some upper body strength.

And now that we’ve listed some for the newbies, here are a few moves for the experienced rider!

1. Gay twist.  This move is a combo which includes a cab (Caballerial) and a grab.  The cab is a 360-degree turn that starts with the rider fakie (riding backwards) and ends with a forward landing.
2. Rewind.  If you thought starting a trick was hard, just try stopping and reversing it in the middle.  That is precisely what this trick entails, so beginners should probably learn the actual move before trying to rewind it.
3. Rock and roll.  A crowd-pleaser, this move is similar to one seen in skate parks aplenty and it requires a decent amount of balance to complete effectively.  The rider basically pops their snowboard up onto the lip of the pipe, slides along the edge for a distance, and then drops back in with one smooth motion.
4. Seatbelt.  This is a seriously difficult grab unless you’re pretty flexible.  While in the air, the rider must reach across their body with the forward hand to grab the back of the board (with the forward leg boned, or stretched out for style and effect).
5. 900.  The mother of all turns, this requires the snowboarder to ride forward, rotate 900 degrees in air (that’s two full rotations plus a half) before landing fakie.

Julia Hammond is a writer for the popular health website Nutritionist World where you can find a degree in nutrition or browse career listings in the health and fitness industry.

1.) Know the risks.  To begin with, motorcycles can be difficult to control.  Even dirt bikes, while smaller than some street bikes, are heavy and cumbersome.  They can behave like an extension of your body and your will or they can act as a lead weight and a liability.  Besides that, you will be moving at high speeds, more or less unprotected.  And in motocross in particular, you are careening around the course with several other riders, any of whom could foul up the party at any time.  But as long as you are aware of the risks, you can take precautions to avoid accident and injury.

2.) Use proper safety gear.  This one is not too hard to figure out.  There are many resources available online and in bike shops to help you select the proper suiting, booting, elbow and knee guards, helmets, gloves, goggles and various other protective pieces to ensure that you’re outfitted for the utmost safety.

3.) Maintain your equipment. Your bike is a machine that requires regular inspection and maintenance, especially if you’re entrusting it with your life.  So be diligent about keeping it clean and in good working order, make an effort to learn how it works and how to care for it, and don’t ignore warning signs that could herald problems, such as cracks, leaks, excessive wear, or strange noises.

4.) Practice. Unfortunately, practice does not make perfect in a sport where so many outside factors can affect your performance, but it certainly minimizes the risks involved.  So know the ins and outs of riding your bike, be aware of any hiccups (or try to work them out), run a new bike through the paces before you take it on the track, and take your time in practice runs to learn the course like the back of your hand.  Run it on the inside, the outside, and through the middle.  If you know that bump is coming, you can brace for it instead of being caught off guard and slipping or going down.

5.) Don’t take unnecessary risks. Sure you want to win, otherwise you wouldn’t be competing.  But don’t push yourself into unnecessarily risky situations that could spell trouble for you or other riders in pursuit of that brass ring.  If you want to go on to race another day, always practice safety first.

Guest Post: Michael Devonshire writes for Medical Billing and Coding Certification where you can find more information about a career and training.

Most of these sports started in backyards all around the world. They grew to popularity because they were both fun and challenging. Some extreme sports have never really caught on with the masses though. It could be that they are too dangerous, or difficult, or it might be because they are just too bizarre for your average person to try.

Here is a list of the top 6 weirdest extreme sports:

Chess Boxing

Here is the concept of this new hybrid sport:

“The basic idea of chess boxing is to combine the number one thinking sport with the number one fighting sport into a hybrid that demands the most its competitors – both mentally and physically.”

The chess portion might not fit into the category of extreme sports but those are real punches that leave real black eyes.

Wingsuit Base Jumping

This is the definition of extreme sports.

It’s also the definition of fear for anyone that is even slightly afraid of heights. These guys are literally flying down a mountain at 100 miles an hour. They are so close to the rock face that they could reach out and touch it. Wikipidia has a some great information about the history of wingsuit flying.

Catfish Grabblin’

This is about a redneck as you get.

Catfish Grabblin’ is the art of catching fish using only your hands. In the Southern US, the catfish move to shallower waters in the spring in order to lay their eggs. That means that you can grab the slippery ol’ fish.

I don’t think the fish enjoy this sport as much as the competitors but being “grabbled” probably feels better than getting a hook in the mouth.

Ladder Racing

The speed at which a ladder-racing competitor climbs up their ladder is pretty impressive. You have to watch some of the videos on YouTube to fully appreciate their climbing ability.

Wife Carrying

This sport is pretty self-explanatory. The man must carry his female teammate through a tricky obstacle course in the fastest time. It was first introduce in Sonkajärvi, Finland.

The best part of this sport is the fact that the prize for winning the competition is the woman’s total weight in beer!

Zorb

Zorbing (also known as globe-riding, sphereing, or orbing) is basically the idea that you ride down a hill inside a glorified Bubble Boy suit.

It was in 1994 that Andrew Akers and Dwane van der Sluis first conceived the idea for a type of sphere in Auckland, New Zealand. They called it the Zorb and have since set to work commercializing sphereing.

New sports are born almost every single day. Some will become popular, some will be enjoyed by a very small group of loyal enthusiasts, and some will fade away but it doesn’t really matter as long as people are having fun doing them.

For many people, holidays are about a whole lot more than taking time off; what extreme sports fans want is time on! With busy working lives it’s not easy to indulge your love of adventure sports. So, with a week or two to spare, people are packing up their gear and searching out the best adventures around.

Now, thanks to cheap air travel the world is an increasingly small oyster. And for the price of a ticket and accommodation, you really can get ‘out there’ and to the finest sporting spots in only a few hours.

Added to this is the rise of Extreme Sports – it seems as if everyone is talking about it nowadays. Parkour has grabbed the imagination of millions of young people, the big brands are pushing less conventional sports and even the Olympics has opened its door to snowboarding.

All this has helped develop the Adventure Travel market. So, instead of booking your standard package trip there’s zip-lining, surfing holidays, overland trekking holidays and dogsledding weeks: you name it, it can be done.

Competing with regular activities, we have a whole new generation of hybrid sports. There’s kitesurfing, wakeboarding, skibiking, jetbiking, the list goes on. And what these all have in common is they need natural spaces. Now, unless you are lucky enough to live in a climate that helps support such adventure sports, you have to travel for your fun.

Extreme Sports Travel has a further, educational spin-off: it supports society’s newfound respect for nature. Once you’ve surfed with the winds, climbed the planet’s mountains and dived its seas, you soon realize you have a new responsibility: to protect our natural playground.

So do your bit, get your kit, and get out there and explore; there really is a sport for everyone

Guest Post By: Mark Pawlak, Media Manager, Adventure Sports Holidays

Injuries can occur in any type of athletic training, but participating in extreme sports can really up the ante.  At the very least, people who engage in these dangerous activities are inevitably going to encounter some aches and pains that they just can’t shake, and at the worst, they may incur injuries that trouble them for their entire lives.  And once a doctor prescribes pain killers like Vicodin and Percocet, it doesn’t take a leap in logic to figure out how people get hooked on them.  They are terribly addictive, make the user feel great, and will almost certainly cause harsh withdrawal following extended use.  Even worse, they’re readily available.  It sometimes seems like doctors are handing them out like candy.  And to those who face constant bodily aches from their sports (even aside from outright injuries), prescription medication can become a crutch, and eventually, a necessity.

But doctors are not entirely responsible for what people do with the pills they prescribe.  And they certainly aren’t to blame for those who abuse their prescription medication.  By the same token, they are not the ones who will have to suffer from the inevitable struggle of breaking an addiction.  So like athletes in any other sport, those who practice extreme sporting must be wary of taking any prescription drug as a result of injuries sustained in the course of their activities or even in concord with their sport.  Performance-enhancing drugs can have just as much allure to those who paddle over a waterfall as for those who swing a bat.  Finding a way to be stronger and faster can sound like a great idea when your life could depend on how your body performs.  But even herbal supplements, which can be obtained legally (but are often not FDA approved) can have unanticipated side effects.  It’s probably better to avoid them, no matter what they promise, and simply know your body’s limitations.

While extreme sports have largely escaped the scrutiny applied to major sports like football, baseball, and basketball, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the people who practice them are any more immune to the challenges and temptations that other athletes face.  However, if they take their goals seriously, and strive to reach the heights of their sport and see what they are personally capable of, it is not hard to stay away from prescription medications and avoid both the stigma attached to taking them and the inevitable damage they can cause (for both body and reputation).

Guest Post: This post was written by Alicia Witt of Abusing Adderall. Browse the website to find out more about Adderall dependence and what symptoms to look for.

Here’s how it works. Two teams of four players (plus one goalie, sadly relegated to the ranks of the un-motorized) mount up their motorcycles and face off in a large (generally open) arena and attempt to ‘push’ a 16-inch ball into the goal at the other end. This involves some amount of skill in terms of balance and coordination if you don’t want to end up eating dirt (or ice – leave it to Russia to make this crazy sport even more astounding). The ball is handled with the feet, as in kicked around the ring, and bikes are not allowed within 5.5 meters of the goal. There are four periods lasting twenty minutes each (with 10-minute breaks in between), with the possibility of two 10-minute overtime periods (separated by a 5-minute break) for a tie-breaker. Other than that, it’s pretty much just soccer on motorbikes. I know it sounds like a gimmick, but let me tell you what’s really great about this game.

For one thing, there’s the noise. The bikes used in game-play can vary, but they tend to be dirt bikes (lower weight, better traction and handling) of various sizes. This lends itself to an absolute smorgasbord of sound once the players get moving, and the audience revs up right along with their engines (although organized European leagues do require silencers to keep the noise level under 100dB…). Also, there are serious accidents. You might see a hockey player take a puck to the face or watch a quarterback fall under half a ton of offensive linemen, but imagine those sports with the addition of motorcycles and you begin to imagine the scope of utter mayhem that can occur. Now, I like a good spectacle as much as the next person, but I’m glad to note that any team found to have caused a long delay in the form of an accident will be forced to reimburse the expenses of the match. That’s enough to make most teams avoid possibly-fatal cheap shots. Aside from that, it’s just a tire-spinning, dirt-flying, skidding, sliding, kicking good time.

And why, I ask, has this extreme sport stayed overseas? It seems like the perfect mix of athletics and machinery, right up America’s alley, but for some reason, no one here ever heard of it! If I could, I’d blame the Cold War, but I think the fault lies more in the marketing. For one thing, it’s touted as a soccer spin-off, so already you’ve lost interest. Beyond that, there’s no push to organize a U.S. League. Too bad, really. If anyone had the impetus to coordinate this sport stateside, it would probably sell like hotcakes (just look at the success of motocross).

Guest Post by Sarah Davis of www.discountvouchers.org where you can find Apple discount codes

Thankfully, help is at hand on the wonderful internet.  A century ago it might have been the case that people were  too cautious to buy expensive equipment on the net, or didn’t trust the authority of the website on a given sport. However, the net has evolved rapidly and is now without doubt the best place to buy quality equipment and accessories, that are amazingly good value for money.

Not only are there now some very large and well respected websites selling all manner of new equipment, but there are also some very good sites dedicated to selling more niche products, and are considered experts in their fields.  Also, the issue of knowing which equipment is best has largely been solved by the vast amount of user reviews and tests that can be found on the net. Once upon a time you used to have to go to shop and test all the equipment yourself before you even thought about making a choice. But these days, if you wanted to buy a snowboard for example, you could check out some snowboarding forums for advice, read up on snowboarding blogs, watch user testing videos on YouTube or even ask your mates on Twitter what they think.

Buying equipment online really is the future for extreme sports, and all other sports for that matter. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for or it’s too expensive to buy new, then Extreme Sports Trader is here to help with that.

Extreme sports enthusiasts are never happy with doing things the normal way. They are masters of innovation and if something can be done differently, chances are someone will attempt it. In extreme sports terms, snowboarding and surfing are two sports that are very well established, but perhaps a little old hat for some people now. Is it any wonder then that some bright spark decided to see what would happen if they took the fin off their shortboard and tried carving down a snowy mountain on it?

The sport of snow surfing is thought to have first been conceived in New Zealand when a visiting Australian surfer decided to see if he could ride his board on the white stuff.  Since then, crazy folk all over the world have been talking up this new sport. Enthusiasts say that it requires a huge amount of skill and confidence. Unlike snowboards, riders do not have any bindings to attach themselves to the board, but instead rely on aggressive carving and the use of the hands to ensure that the board stays under their feet.  Stopping has also proved something of a challenge due to the lack of sharp ‘edges’ on a surfboard, but most runs incorporate a run-off area where riders can slow down.

As with all emerging extreme sports, sponsors and industry brands have been paying close attention to see if it is worth their while getting involved.  Apparently both Rip Curl and Burton have shown interest in the sport and have been following the most promising individuals. However, as the sport is still so new, it is likely to be a little while before formal events start taking place and stars are given the publicity that some of the more mainstream sport professionals receive. That said, given the early growth of the sport, you might soon be seeing some snow surfers at a resort new you.

A selection of amateur and pro racers lined up last week for the 8th race in the Florida State Championship Series in Tallahassee.  Some of those involved take part just for a bit of fun, for charity or as a team building event, whilst others are seriously competitive and pull out all the stops to win.

As you imagine this makes for quite an entertaining race, and the last battle that took place at Tom Brown Park proved to be exactly this. Most people chose to ride mountain bikes, but there were some on racing bikes and hybrids. The mountain bikes dominated as the course was largely off-road, but the faster racing bikes caught up on the flats. Needless to say there were plenty of crashes and falls, although thankfully no one was hurt.

Ryan Woodhall is leading the serious and hopes to claim back the title after winning the championship in 2007. However, in a major upset he picked up a flat whilst crossing a stream and lost 15 minutes repairing the tire.  Edsall, another favorite, had a small crash which put him out of the running and left the door wide open for Shawn Smith (Gator Cycle/Trek) to claim the victory.

The summer here may be drawing to close, but it seems some are a little keener to hit the slopes than others and have been riding their hearts out at the opening round of the British Artificial Snowboard and Freeski Championships in Kent. The first event took place last weekend and saw some great action and tight races, which is all the more exciting (in a sadistic way) due to the fact falling over on the fake stuff is a lot more painful planting into real snow (as anyone who has experienced both will testify to!)

The weekend included the Snowboard Big Air Event, Freeski Slopestyle and a nail biting Snowboardcross event. This was then followed up on the Sunday with the Skiercross, Snowboard Slopestyle and Freeski Big Air. And if none of these terms means anything to you, basically lots of crazy people went very fast down a fake snow slope and some of them jumped pretty high on occasions.

Here are the results of the first weekend:

Results:

Trespass Snowboardcross Championship Results

Men

1st – Wayne Taylor – Halifax

2nd – Edward Castle-Henry – Hertfordshire

3rd – Jordan Southgate – Norwich

4th – Tom Moriarty – Norfolk

Women

1st – Gemma Marshall – Sheffield

2nd – Vicky Pullin – Gloucestershire

3rd – Alice Blake – Hertfordshire

British Snowboard Big Air Championship Results

Men

1st – Wayne Taylor – Halifax

2nd – Cody Hierons – Chatham

3rd – Ben Knox – London

Women

1st – Liz Osbourn – Cambridge

2nd – Katie Ormerod – Halifax

3rd – Lynsey Ashdown – Manchester

Animal British Slopestyle Championship Results:

Men

1st – Andy Nudds – Halifax

2nd – Cody Hierons – Chatham

3rd – Ben Knox – London

Women

1st – Katie Ormerod – Halifax

2nd – Sophie Nicholls – Halifax

3rd – Lynsey Ashdown – Manchester

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.

As the name indicates, extreme sports are not for the faint hearted. Indeed, your typical crown green lawn bowler will be unlikely to partake in a little illegal base jumping on his nights off. Nevertheless, extreme sports are not merely for the borderline insane or those who want to show off their injuries on a certain popular music television station. In fact, extreme sports are enjoyed by a wide variety of people from all over the world who have a range of different interests. Furthermore, extreme sports are not always as dangerous as their reputation would suggest – the element of danger exists in all sports but those that are `extreme` are said to be on the very edge of what is mainstream. In other words, to employ a popular sporting phrase (which is also used among fighter pilots, interestingly), extreme sports aim to `push the envelope` to the very limit.

Extreme sports, therefore, take many different forms and guises. Among the most popular are snowboarding, surfing, skiing, skateboarding, canoeing, body boarding, paragliding, rock climbing and wind surfing. However, this list of sports may not appear all that `extreme`. Indeed, many of these are taken up by complete amateurs on a daily basis and injuries can be few and far between. Nevertheless, these sports and other, more extreme sports – such as base jumping and cliff jumping – involve a relatively high risk of injury when compared to more gentle activities. As such, it is essential that the extreme sportsman or woman gears up with the appropriate equipment and accessories. Failing to do this can quite literally cost life or limb.

As a basic rule to buying extreme sports equipment, it is important to gain guidance on the gear required by those who are experienced enough to give advice. Because there are so many different types of extreme sports, it is impossible to give a concise overview of all the necessary equipment for all sports. Accordingly, the first step to buying the right gear is to do the necessary research beforehand.

Moreover, whilst financial concerns are always relevant, buyers should not compromise on safety in order to save a little cash. Popular big name brands in extreme sports equipment are at the top of their game because, generally speaking, they produce the best equipment available. Always buy the best as this may one day prove the difference between life and death.

For example, surfing equipment must comprise a good quality board such as those produced by Carl Schaper or Jim Banks, in addition to a snug-fitting wetsuit, flippers, watch and knife (in case of entanglement). Likewise, K2 and Burton are respected brand names in snowboarding equipment, whilst skateboarders ought to consider equipment such as the Powell Peralta Tony Hawks skateboard for ultimate performance. Finally, for looking like an extreme sports lover when not riding on the ocean waves or jumping off a cliff or sky-scraper, the quiksilver clothing shop is the perfect destination for everyday attire.

As the name indicates, extreme sports are not for the faint hearted. Indeed, your typical crown green lawn bowler will be unlikely to partake in a little illegal base jumping on his nights off. Nevertheless, extreme sports are not merely for the borderline insane or those who want to show off their injuries on a certain popular music television station. In fact, extreme sports are enjoyed by a wide variety of people from all over the world who have a range of different interests. Furthermore, extreme sports are not always as dangerous as their reputation would suggest – the element of danger exists in all sports but those that are `extreme` are said to be on the very edge of what is mainstream. In other words, to employ a popular sporting phrase (which is also used among fighter pilots, interestingly), extreme sports aim to `push the envelope` to the very limit.

Extreme sports, therefore, take many different forms and guises. Among the most popular are snowboarding, surfing, skiing, skateboarding, canoeing, body boarding, paragliding, rock climbing and wind surfing. However, this list of sports may not appear all that `extreme`. Indeed, many of these are taken up by complete amateurs on a daily basis and injuries can be few and far between. Nevertheless, these sports and other, more extreme sports – such as base jumping and cliff jumping – involve a relatively high risk of injury when compared to more gentle activities. As such, it is essential that the extreme sportsman or woman gears up with the appropriate equipment and accessories. Failing to do this can quite literally cost life or limb.

As a basic rule to buying extreme sports equipment, it is important to gain guidance on the gear required by those who are experienced enough to give advice. Because there are so many different types of extreme sports, it is impossible to give a concise overview of all the necessary equipment for all sports. Accordingly, the first step to buying the right gear is to do the necessary research beforehand.

Moreover, whilst financial concerns are always relevant, buyers should not compromise on safety in order to save a little cash. Popular big name brands in extreme sports equipment are at the top of their game because, generally speaking, they produce the best equipment available. Always buy the best as this may one day prove the difference between life and death.

For example, surfing equipment must comprise a good quality board such as those produced by Carl Schaper or Jim Banks, in addition to a snug-fitting wetsuit, flippers, watch and knife (in case of entanglement). Likewise, K2 and Burton are respected brand names in snowboarding equipment, whilst skateboarders ought to consider equipment such as the Powell Peralta Tony Hawks skateboard for ultimate performance. Finally, for looking like an extreme sports lover when not riding on the ocean waves or jumping off a cliff or sky-scraper, the quiksilver clothing shop is the perfect destination for everyday attire.

For anyone who has been to the White Air Festival back when it took place on the Isle of Wight, you don’t need us to introduce it for you. However even seasoned ‘Whities’ will be amazed at just how much the festival has grown this year and how amazing it promises to be.

To put things into perspective, it was, and still is Europes’ biggest extreme sports and music festival ‘. This means that it is a showcase for some of the top performers in the extreme sports world and some of the craziest new sports as well. Further more you cannot have a festival without music and these guys certainly don’t like to disappoint. They’ve upped the anti this year and scooped The Doves as the headline act!

The move of the festival to the seaside resort of Brighton has meant that is more accessible to lots of people, and also they have been able to embrace a wider selection of sports. You’ll still find the classics like BMX, kitesurfing and mountain boarding, but you’ve also got treats like ropeboarding and Parkour to quench your adrenaline thirsts.

The best thing about this festival however, and the reason we return year after year is the chilled out atmosphere and the great people. It will fit in with the Brighton lifestyle effortlessly, so make sure you head along in September (18-20th) and be a part of one of the freshest festivals in the world.

www.whiteair.co.uk

Ticket Prices:

Adult £60 + booking fee

Student/Under 16’s £55 + booking fee

The company has been producing some of the world’s best snowboard gear since they were first established in 1977 by Jake Burton Carpenter, who was only 23 at the time. The company has always has a focus on research and development, a passion fuelled by Jake’s desire to constantly stay ahead of the game and produce pioneering board shapes and materials.

Burton however has also led the way in terms of style, a great deal of which has been replicated by other snowboard brands over the years. They bring out a new range of boards with various different graphics each year and they are always popular. However, a recent ‘Playboy’ range of boards was not so well received by the usually liberal state of Vermont, who took offence to the iconic images taken from 1970’s Playboy magazines that are displayed on the top and bottom of the boards.

Burlington in Vermont is where Burton first started and is a skiing and snowboarding Mecca for Americans. It is therefore a bit of a surprise that the locals and officials have taken a stand against the boards designs, and even gone as far as to ban the boards in a number of ski resorts. Stowe and Killington have prohibited their staff from using the boards and a number of other slopes are in the process of banning them all together.

We at Extreme Sports Trader love the liberalism that comes with snowboarding and extreme sports in general, and feel Vermont is being a little bit silly over this level or censorship.

Now in their 5th year, the festival has grown from a local band playing out of the back of a lorry to a 3-stage, 2-day event with national artists, that still maintains the same good vibes and laid back fun that is all important at festivals. This year really does promise to be the best yet, so check out the site and get you and your mates along for a weekend you will never forget, guaranteed! www.brownstock.co.uk

Powerbocking is a sport that has been around for a lot longer than most people realise. The devises needed to perform this sport have been on sale in the UK close to 5 years now, but it is has only really begun to enter the limelight recently and started to get the attention it deserves.

It’s a bit of a crazy sport it must be said, but then haven’t all extreme sports been referred to as crazy at some point? It basically involves strapping two huge spring-loaded stilts to you feet using bindings not to dissimilar to those you might find on snowboards, and then letting yourself loose on all sorts of different terrain. They are mainly used in urban areas where the hard surfaces and varying angles make for the ideal place to pull somersaults and wall-plants, but they have been known to be used in a woodland environment also.

They are named after Alexander Boeck, the person who invented the stilts in Germany, but they have also become known as powerisers or pro-jumps. What ever the name, they are brilliant fun! You can pick a pair up for around £150 but we advise that you invest in some good protective gear as well. These babies can launch you as high as 3ft in the air and don’t promise to land you perfectly when you come back down.

Swansea in Wales will be playing host to one of the biggest kite surfing events in Europe next month, when the British Kite Surfing Association kicks off their championship tour known as Kiteival 09.

The event will be sponsored by Deadman, Buff, King of Watersports and the extreme sports powerhouse, Red Bull. All the sponsors were happy with this year’s location and the event organiser Steve Parrot has also praised the city saying “As soon as we came to Swansea, we knew it would be perfect for Kiteival – it has a great beach and equally good facilities in the city centre…we would love for it to become a regular thing”.

Kitesurfing has been increasing in popularity pretty rapidly over the last few years and is set to reach similar participation figures as surfing and snowboarding before too long. It has also spawned a whole new range of products and brands including Fusion, Airush and Flexifoil, which are all doing very well.

Here is how the event is set to play out:

Thursday-

Press Afternoon 2-5pm

Friday-

Pro Men Ladies Freestyle Kitesurf

Registration 8.30-9am sharp at Marquee

Riders Briefing 9.05 am

First Possible Start 10am

Evening – Red Bull BBQ

Saturday-

Am Men Ladies Seniors and Juniors

Disciplines – 8.30am – 9.30am sharp at Marquee

Riders Briefing 9.40 am

First Possible Start 10.30 am

Evening entertainment – TBC

Sunday

First Possible start TBC on Saturday

Prizgiving TBC (usally between 4 and 6pm)

We can’t wait!

The Cove Stiffee is not one of those bikes that attempts to be something its not. The Stiffee is not thoughtful, it is not image conscious and it is certainly not forgiving. It is however dependable, functional and rock hard. It’s like a mate who you would ask to help you cut down the oak tree in your garden but not the kind you would want to go for a drink with afterwards.

The new Stiffee hasn’t changed a bit…and we like that. It’s maintained its root characteristics and yet still evolved with the modern rider. An oversized RAD tubeset from Easton provides the turgid core strength and the more distal components are practically all welded to it, providing a menacingly strong machine that is balanced to perfection. This machine rides on fat 2.3in tires that are very stable and reassuring to ride.

All this muscle and width comes at a cost however, the Stiffee is not fast and not great in the messy stuff. But that doesn’t matter because as we said, it’s not trying to be things. Despite its size the frame only weighs 4.5lb bare and it finds its home on the tough, technical trails where it won’t let you down and when you’ve finished riding the bike with be shaking with adrenaline wanting to go on.

Cove say that its “one of the best aluminium hardtail frames in the world” and we have to say “we agree”.

Diamondback have been around for longer than gravity.  In fact we seem to recall Isaac Newton had one, he used to grind up the steps at Cambridge with it.

After that Diamondback went from strength to strength, linking with top BMX names such as Doug Davis and Harry Leary. Now in 2009 Diamondback are still going strong, being represented by stars like Andrew Carpenter and Darin Read. They’ve also just released their new bikes…and they’re crackers! Their new range is stronger and more robust than ever. They have new cleaner lines and some cool new colours that seem a million miles away from the retro-chrome they sported back in the day.

They have a new bike for almost every discipline, but our favourite is the Accomplice (pictured above). This is Diamondback’s pro-level bmx and for the money, it’s a winner.

Here is the stock spec:

Colour: Gold

Frame: Full chromoly frame, double butted top tube / down tube, removable Oryg tabs, hiddenset head tube, mid BB

Fork: Full Chromoly, CNC 1 1/8″ 1-piece steerer, fluted 1 1/4″ OD legs, 6mm dropouts

Gear Set: DB 4-Banger, 28t CNC”d from 7075 aluminum with 10t cassette

Controls: Full chromoly 2-piece 25.5″ wide x 7.75″ rise

Finishing Set: The Shadow Conspiracy Belter front / Undertone rear 20×2.1 and The Shadow Conspiracy Interlock V2 1/2 link 1/2 x 1/8

Wheel Set:36h Alienation Deviant front / 440 rear with 10mm front 14mm rear axle hubs

Brake Set: Dia-Compe 996 U-brake w/ SST DC Amplifier, soft compound pads