You have heard the word, extreme sports.  You may know a few of the sports that are included in that definition.  But have you ever thought what makes a sport extreme?  What really are extreme sports.  More than likely you never really thought of it.

A basic definition would be extreme sports all consist of an element of danger and exhilaration.  They include any number of newer sports which have a combination of speed, stunts, heights or danger are included.  To the addicts there is always some sort of adrenaline rush associated with these sports.  To get an understanding of what are extreme sports lets take a look at examples of different ones. 

The best known extreme sport is skateboarding.  A short film in the mid 1960's brought skateboarding to the mainstream.  Then there were competitions, national championships and people started to take notice.  At first skateboarders jumped  with man-made ramps and half pipes.  They used rails and stairs in a urban atmosphere and the sport soon was associated with trouble makers and rebellions.  Since then skateboard competitions have become accepted by the mainstream, gone international, now are in the Olympics.

Snowboarding is basicly just skateboarding on snow.  Tricks and moves are very closely related and just like skateboarding it has got on internationally.  Some ski resorts are building snowboard trick areas.  The reason is that  today in America you will find snowboarders on just about any ski slope you visit.

Another extreme sport example that takes place on the snow is freestyle sking.  As the skiers come down the slope they use various obstacles to perform tricks.  These tricks may be spins, flips or jumps, depending on the specific competition.  There is also a form of freestyle sking  that takes place over moguls.  They then perform tricks on these longer  jumps to gain more points as they come down the slope.

BMX biking is another extreme sport that is enjoying a rise in popularity.  This sport actually has a couple different ways that you can compete.  There is racing where competitors race around a track that has obstacles, hills, and dirt jumps that need  handled while you try and beat other competitors who are out on the track with you.  The other form of competition BMX riders can compete in is like skateboard or snowboarding competitions.  They perform tricks on obstacles and ramps and try to accumulate the most points to win.

Then we have a less competitive but more popular extreme sport.  It's skydiving.  I know you are aware that it is where a person jumps out of an airplane, opens a parachute and floats slowly and gracefully to the ground.  The appeal for this is the danger and the thrill of jumping out into the air.  Some skydivers work in teams and make shapes and other choreographed moves during the free fall period  prior to the opening of the parachute.  This is the competition aspect of skydiving.and is becoming more popular worldwide.

It is becoming more obvious extreme sports are the new fad for a younger generation and better competitions are being put together worldwide.  It is for this reason it is becoming more and more acceptable and popular than at any other time.  It is also beoming better organized with better sponsorship, promotion, and better winnings.  This is why extreme sports is becoming a great addition to the sporting world.