Extreme sports have become quite popular amongst the youth these days. Any sport with a level of danger linked to it usually is put in the extreme sports segment. These sports mostly involve a great degree of speed, dramatic stunts, specialized gear as well as a considerable level of physical exercise. Though these activities are usually not exclusive to the youth, it has been noted that the people engaged in these activities do belong to younger demographics. ESPN also provides all the news and happenings around these events through their programs.
Most of the variables in extreme sports action are out of control. This could be one of the reasons why most of the extreme sports athletes begin training with no coach or considerable guidance and are mostly solitary in nature. Challenges not simply extend amongst competitors but in addition to nature and environmental variables such as wind, snow, terrains and water. Some of the uncontrollable phenomenas linked to extreme sports can be seen during events such as surfing, rock and ice climbing and snowboarding. The quality of ice and rocks, the heights of the waves during snowboarding or even the snow conditions during snowboarding events are beyond physical control.
One of the largest extreme sports sporting events is known as the X Games. This commercial sporting event is organized and aired live by ESPN.. There are 2 such sporting events organized during the year, one during wintertime and the other in summer. The Winter X Games are held in the month of January and February and the Summer X Games take place mostly within the month of August. Both these events are conducted in the United States.
The participants vie for the gold, silver and bronze medals in the games and also the cash prize that is connected with it. However, judging an extreme sport event is quite different from the conventional games. While distance, score and time form a major portion of the judging criteria for traditional sports, extreme sports players are judged mostly on the aesthetics that they bring making judgment far more subjective. As a result of this each sport employs its respective dynamic ideals that evolve assessment with new techniques and trends set by way of the participants.
There’s been some debate surrounding the tag of extreme sports. As a number of people contend that extreme sports is not more than a marketing plan giving viewers the perception on the high level of danger related to it. These folks point out that a sport like rugby or Demolition derby is not considered an extreme sport even though there is a level of danger and adrenalin rush that is associated with it. It is viewed more like the youth looking to reject authority and order and establishing a place of their own making the participating demographics of a much younger age group. Although initially adult sports such as sky diving, bungee jumping, mountain climbing scuba diving etc were connected with extreme sports, this term is a lot more applicable to youth driven sports including skateboarding, aggressive skating, BMX etc.
