In the realm of action sports, adventure sports, or extreme sports, the activities involved are perceived as carrying a high level of risk. These activities often entail speed, height, intense physical exertion, and specialized gear. Extreme tourism shares similarities with extreme sports, as both involve an element of risk and offer an adrenaline rush, although they differ in terms of engagement and professionalism.
Definition and Origins: The definition of extreme sports is not universally precise, and the origin of the term remains unclear. However, its popularity surged in the 1990s when marketing companies used it to promote the X Games, and when the Extreme Sports Channel and Extreme International were launched. Dr. Rhonda Cohen (2012) proposed a commonly used research definition, describing extreme sports as “a competitive (comparison or self-evaluative) activity within which the participant is subjected to natural or unusual physical and mental challenges such as speed, height, depth or natural forces, and where fast and accurate cognitive perceptual processing may be required for a successful outcome.”
The exact activities considered extreme sports may vary, and the term has been used broadly to describe a wide range of activities. However, several characteristics are commonly associated with extreme sports. These sports tend to appeal to a younger demographic and are often not included in school physical education curricula. Most extreme sports are more solitary in nature, although there are exceptions such as team-based activities like rafting and paintballing.
Distinguishing Factors: Extreme sports, as categorized by the media, differ from traditional sports due to the presence of numerous uncontrollable variables. Environmental factors such as weather conditions and terrain, including wind, snow, water, and mountains, play a significant role in these activities and events. As these natural elements cannot be controlled, they inevitably influence the outcome of the sport or event.
In contrast to traditional sports where athletes compete under controlled circumstances, extreme sports involve a higher number of unpredictable variables. For instance, changing snow conditions for snowboarders, rock and ice quality for climbers, or wave height and shape for surfers are factors that cannot be held constant for all participants.
Furthermore, while traditional sports often employ objective measures (distance, time, score) to assess performance, extreme sports are often evaluated based on subjective and aesthetic criteria. This leads to a tendency to reject unified judging methods, with each sport adopting its own standards, allowing assessment criteria to evolve with new trends or developments in the sports.
Classification: While there is ongoing debate about the precise definition and inclusion criteria for extreme sports, some arguments have been put forth to classify these activities.
One viewpoint suggests that for an activity to be considered an extreme sport, it must fulfill two conditions:
- “Sport”: The participant must possess considerable skill and/or physical ability to avoid poor execution of the activity.
- “Extreme”: The poor execution of the activity should result in a significant risk of serious physical harm to the participant.
According to this classification, activities like being a passenger in a canyon jet boat ride would not meet the requirements, as the skill required pertains to the pilot rather than the passengers. In such cases, the term “thrill-seeking” may be a more appropriate descriptor than “extreme sport” or “action sport.”