Most of us don’t feel a great need to leap off a cliff, jump out of a plane, or surf a massive, deadly wave. However, for an ever-growing part of the population, extreme sport seems to be a go-to activity. But what draws people into starting these high-risk sports? In an interview with the American Psychological Association (APA), Dr. Eric Brymer, a behavioural scientist, said these interests seem to come from either familial or external influence. He specifies that what usually begins as normal sporting activities then quickly builds up to extreme levels; for instance, coming from a surfer family and eventually progressing into big wave surfing.
What’s more, in his interview, Dr. Brymer explains that more and more people get involved in extreme sports due to tourism, with many travelling to places where they can experience it with the help of an expert. This rise is partially due to technology and the increase of videos online of people participating in extreme sports. The more people are exposed to extreme sports, the more they think they can do it too.
There is a difference between why people start extreme sports and why they continue. Many athletes actually claim to find a sense of inner peace whilst practicing their chosen sport due to the concentration levels required in these situations. According to Dr. Brymer, many athletes have explained that they have found a sense of serenity during these moments that then carries into their everyday lives. Some athletes find that the brush with death makes them more mindful as they can then appreciate what is actually important in their lives. So, despite what we may usually think, many athletes are not just adrenaline junkies, but rather quite the opposite.
However, there is an element of adrenaline chasing when it comes to extreme sports. According to a study done by the University of South Wales, some athletes find themselves feeling unhappy or that their day-to-day lives are dull when not participating in extreme sports; this then causes a strong urge to continue to engage – just like any other addict. Additionally, some athletes are attracted by the idea of overcoming the difficulties that face them each time they participate in extreme sports; by surmounting each obstacle, they feel more confident and a greater sense of control.
What is the profile of someone who does extreme sports? Despite the image of people in their late teens and early twenties chasing adrenaline, the extreme sport athlete is usually someone older. Dr. Brymer revealed that during his research the youngest person he spoke to was in his thirties whilst the eldest was in his seventies. In addition, the people participating in extreme sports are not actually devil-may-care adventurers searching for their next jolt of adrenaline but are rather meticulous planners who map out each detail of what they are about to do. They usually only partake in one extreme sport that they spend a lot of time perfecting.
For instance, the world-famous climber Alex Honnold spent his whole life climbing and honing his skill. It was only in January this year that the 41-year-old climber completed his historic rope-free, solo climb of Taiwan’s Taipei 101 skyscraper, which stands at an impressive 1 ‘667 feet. Also, because of their years of training, extreme sports athletes have a thorough understanding of their capabilities and do not shy away from walking away if the conditions are not right.
There is no one profile of a person who participates in extreme sports, as all athletes start for various reasons; but one fact remains true: it is an ever-growing activity that draws in people of all ages. Perhaps, in the near future, we will all find ourselves wanting to cave dive or free climb skyscrapers in our free time instead of popping to the gym.
“Barcelona extreme sports festival 2009” by Oh-Barcelona.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
