Extreme sports are suitable for your mental and physical health. Some people like the increased adrenaline rush they get from intense activities since mountain biking, snowboarding, and skateboarding are popular extreme sports.
Read these intriguing extreme sports facts if you want to learn about the unique sports that might endanger your life. Let’s get started!
Water Extreme Sports Facts
1. Kitesurfing is the new buzz in extreme water sports.
Kitesurfing became famous in the 1990s, although most facts about kitesurfing indicate that kite sailing dates back to the 1400s when Chinese people used kites to move their canoes across the sea. Today, approximately 1 million athletes from all over the world call themselves kitesurfers.
2. Wakeboarding falls in the group of water sports that are usually done in lakes.
Wakeboarding facts show us that even though most wakeboarding is done in lakes, more and more wakeboarding spots are springing up along the coast. Because of the size and strength of the waves, wakeboarding in the ocean is a more challenging exercise. The wakeboarder must have more balance, control, and physical condition to control the board in the seas.
3. Many deepwater divers have died while breaking the world record for deep-sea diving.
According to scuba diving facts, it is one of the most dangerous water sports globally. Nitrogen narcosis is a disorder that affects scuba divers who go deeper than 30 metres. This intoxicated condition causes hallucinations and unconsciousness and can finally lead to death.
4. Competitive freedivers can hold their breath for 4–7 minutes.
Freedivers may dive to over 200 metres without using any oxygen tanks. They can also hold their breath for extended periods. The men’s record is eleven minutes, while the women’s is nine minutes. However, don’t be intimidated by these interesting facts about freediving. Most recreational freedivers do not strive for these extreme timeframes and depths.
5. Initially, white water rafts were made of wood.
White water rafting facts indicate that before the invention of the rubber raft, those interested in rafting were forced to do so in a wooden raft. However, the difficulty with these rafts was that they were not strong enough to navigate the river’s most difficult sections, and they often would collapse under the pressure of the waves.
Land Extreme Sports Facts
6. Before the ramp invention, skateboarders used to practice in empty swimming pools and drainage ditches.
One of the most interesting facts about skateboarding is that in the early 1970s, due to a major drought in Southern California, most homeowners drained their pools to save precious water. Skateboarders quickly discovered that skating in an empty pool was similar to surfing enormous waves. That’s why today’s modern skate parks usually have areas that resemble the pools where skateboarding began.
7. You go straight down the slope on Volcano boarding because it’s impossible to steer.
Darryn Webb, who climbed Chile’s Cerro Negro volcano in 2006, invented the sport. One of the craziest volcano boarding facts is that the only equipment is a wooden sledge with a thin layer of metal applied to the bottom and a rope.
8. The UK is the first country to recognise Parkour as a sport formally.
Parkour facts indicate that the sport was invented by Raymond Belle in France and developed in the late 1980s by his son David Belle and a group of friends. Since parkour is both a physical and mental discipline, switching locations offers several advantages. Lisboa, Portugal, is a beautiful place to develop your skills and meet other parkour lovers.
9. Andrew ” Freddie ” Flintoff holds the record for fastest 100m in a Zorb ball with 26.59 seconds.
Zorb balls can handle nearly any surface, regardless of how bumpy or slick it is. However, there are two main types of Zorb: hydro Zorb and harness Zorb. According to the zorbing facts, Steve Camp set the world record for the longest distance in a single roll with 570 metres.
Climbing Extreme Sports Facts
10. Ice climbing was part of the 2014 Winter Olympics program in Russia.
Many facts about ice climbing indicate that the sport has a long history, but the first recorded competition was held in 1912 on the Brena glacier in Italy. Ice climbing was part of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia’s cultural program. However, it is not on the 2022 Winter Olympics Beijing list.
11. In 2017 Alex Honnold climbed El Capitan in Yosemite Valley without a rope or protection.
Alex Honnold is one of the most talented and inspirational free climbers. In June 2017, he climbed El Capitan without a rope. Climbing this 1,000-metre wall-free solo earned him instant fame outside of the climbing community.
12. Depending on the difficulty, rock climbing can burn from 500 to 900 calories per hour.
Rock climbing facts show that this sport can improve climbers’ mental health, depression, and anxiety. Also, it has the potential to cause significant changes in your body composition, resulting in increased lean muscle mass.
13. The tallest artificial climbing wall is in Reno, with a height of 51.56 metres.
BaseCamp Climbing Gym in Reno, Nevada, USA, owns the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall. The wall has around 52 meters in height, with a 49.85-meter climbable surface, offering a variety of different climbing grade tracks. The BaseCamp wall is not a freestanding structure; it is tied to a multi-story parking garage.
Air Extreme Sports Facts
14. Today’s gliders are safer because they are prepared with advanced technology gadgets.
The hang gliding facts state that a barometer is carried by all hang gliders to aid in perceiving acceleration forces. Also, NASA has conducted a significant study in hang gliding. Hang gliders are now well equipped with technology to help them fly more gracefully at high altitudes.
15. The wind is the only thing that powers the paraglider.
A paraglider is an aircraft that doesn’t have an engine and isn’t motorised. Its only source of power is the wind, meaning there is no need for fuel, electricity or battery. So, most facts about paragliding indicate that flight can last several hours and cover hundreds of kilometres when conditions are ideal.
16. With 640 jumps, Jay Stokes holds the record for most skydives in a day.
In 2006, Jay Stokes achieved a Guinness World Record for the most skydives in 24 hours. He jumped out of an aeroplane 640 times in a single day. Interestingly, most sports skydivers call it a day after six jumps to give an idea of how long it takes. It is one of the most amazing facts about skydiving.
17. A New Zealand entrepreneur, Alan John Hackett, is known as the “Father of Bungy Jumping.”
With a height of 43 metres, the AJ Hackett Bungy on the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown, New Zealand, became the world’s first commercial jumping site in 1988. Today’s bungee jumping facts show that the Macau Tower in China has the world’s highest bungee jump platform. It is 764 feet tall, which is twice the height of the Eiffel Tower.
Motor Extreme Sports Facts
18. Motocross bikes are not legal on public roads.
Motocross dirt bikes and Formula 1 cars may appear to be a lot of fun to ride in the morning rush, but be aware that they are not street legal. The motocross facts show that motocross dirt bikes are not street legal. They lack headlights, brake lights, rearview mirrors, and turn signals. So, the road laws mean that riding one on the road will get you in trouble with local law police.
19. Caleb Wyatt was the first Motocross rider to land a backflip on his bike.
Wyatt accomplished a backflip on a motorcycle in 2002, although it was thought to be a physically impossible and deadly manoeuvre. Since then, many Motocross riders have attempted to replicate and even improve on Wyatt’s gimmick. One of the most interesting facts about motocross is that at the 2004 Winter X Games, Wyatt won a gold medal for completing a no-hander backflip, a trick that has since become a regular sight at Motocross races globally.
20. In Switzerland, motor racing was banned for 49 years.
Following the deaths of 80 spectators at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans event, the Swiss authorities outlawed motor racing as a dangerous spectator activity in 1958. Auto racing facts indicate that this ban lasted until 2007. However, the Swiss Grand Prix was held in France in 1975 and 1982.
Winter Extreme Sports Facts
21. The length of most bobsledding runs is at least 1,500 metres.
Caspar Badrutt, the owner of St Moritz’s Palace Hotel, built the first bobsleigh track in 1870. The Olympic bobsledding facts indicate that the track was later used for two Winter Olympics and is still in use today. In addition, the bobsledding runs length is at least 1,500 metres long, with approximately 15 turns on the route.
22. Skiers can ski faster than cars.
Skiing is one of the fastest land-based non-motorized sports. The facts about alpine skiing show that Simone Origone set the world record at 156.2 mph for the fastest skiing in 2006, significantly faster than the 120 mph speed limit for the road.
Skiing is one of the fastest land-based non-motorized sports. The facts about alpine skiing show that Simone Origone set the world record for the fastest skiing in 2006. His top speed was measured at 156.2 mph, which is significantly faster than the 120 mph speed limit for the road and almost as fast as Nascar cars.
23. The V-style in ski jumping helps athletes to achieve a better take-off.
In 1988, the V-style of skiing became popular. Ski jumping facts show that the skier twists his feet and uses his skis to form a V shape in V-style. This style helps jumpers in getting a better take-off from the ramp.
24. People were snowboarding as early as 1910
According to snowboarding facts, Sherman Poppen is considered the pioneer of modern snowboarding. In 1965, he decided to put two skis together and add some steering rope. His wife coined the term “snurfer,” which combines the words “snow” and “surfer.” Poppen licensed his idea to a toy manufacturer after it became popular.
Extreme Sports Statistics
25. Every year the extreme sports industry generates over $200 billion in revenue.
(Insider)
The demand for extreme sports is constantly at a significant increase. So, after a year spent in lockdowns, people are seeking adrenaline. Due to Insider’s extreme sports statistics, globally, the industry employs 490 million people and generates more than $200 billion in revenue each year.
26. The 2020 Winter X Games in Aspen attracted 111,500 spectators.
(Statista)
The X Games events vary from year to year, although they typically include skiing, snowboarding, BMX biking, skateboarding and motocross. Also, the X Games’ attendance has changed over the years. The fifth edition of the event, held in 1999, had the most extensive total attendance, with nearly 270 thousand individuals. The most recent statistics on extreme sports indicate that the Winter X Games, in 2020, drew around 111 thousand spectators.
27. Extreme E X Prix attracted a global viewership of 18.7 million people.
(Extreme-e)
The appetite for this new sport is high, according to the latest extreme sports viewership trends.
Overall, 18.7 million people tuned in, representing nearly 900 million households in over 180 countries. China topped the list with almost 1,500 hours of broadcast coverage, closely followed by Europe and Asia.
28. The average age of most extreme sports players is approximately 30–31 years.
(Frontiers in Psychology)
Looking at the statistics on extreme sports, we can see that most extreme sports players are between 30–31 years old. For example, the average age in Triathlon is 31 years, while Windsurfing and Sport Climbing is around 30 years.
29. 90 percent of BASE jumpers are men.
(Frontiers in Psychology)
The extreme sports popularity statistics show that males are more prominent in BASE jumping. Also, they account for 81 to 92 percent of injuries and fatalities. In reality, women are sometimes excluded from research due to their rare participation in high-risk activities.
Extreme Sports Injury Statistics
30. Injuries are common among inexperienced athletes and proficient extremes.
(Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research)
As we can see in the extreme sports injury statistics, extreme sports injuries increase as athletes try to push their boundaries for awards, attention, or popularity. Also, new and inexperienced athletes who have just begun participating in extreme sports have higher injury rates.
31. Climbing fatality rates range from 0% to 28% of climbers.
(Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research)
The extreme sports injuries statistics reveal that rock climbing has a lower frequency injury rate than football and horseback riding but with greater catastrophic or fatal results. According to the data from several studies, the fatality rate for climbers ranges from 0% to 28%.
32. The fatality rate of BASE jumping is 43 times higher than jumping out of an aircraft.
(Pursuing Outdoors)
BASE jumping is undoubtedly the most dangerous sport on the planet. According to extreme sports death statistics, this extreme sport has a much higher risk of death than any other sport. More than 260 people have died from BASE jumping since 2000. The fatality rate has risen considerably after the first BASE jump in 1972.
33. The most common injuries in extreme sports are head and neck injuries.
(Science Daily)
According to extreme sports injuries statistics, the most common injuries are head and neck injuries (HNI), 11.3% of the 4 million injuries reported. Moreover, 83% are head injuries and 17% account for neck injuries.
Since the margins for mistakes in these activities are small, appropriate safety equipment is essential for protection against severe or deadly injuries.
Extreme Sports Trends
34. E-MTBs outsell muscle-powered “bio-mountain bikes” in Germany.
(ISPO)
According to ISPO, around 1.36 million electric bicycles were purchased by Germans in 2019. Approximately 360,000 of them were e-mountain bikes. Many extreme sports future trends indicators suggest that the importance of E-MTBs will continue to rise.
35. Athletes continue to push themselves to new heights.
(Sport Tomorrow)
Mental training, diet, vitamins, and data analytics, show that athletes and their teams are always trying to stay ahead and reach their full potential by incorporating innovative performance-enhancing methods. Athletes will also begin to include non-traditional holistic training methods into their training regimens. Those are smart food, neuro coaching, gene therapy, sleep management; they all will be part of an athlete’s future tools.
Conclusion
There are two types of people in the world: those who enjoy relaxing on the beach or swimming in a peaceful lake or river, and those who use the sea, lakes, and rivers to participate in extreme water activities. We believe that you find these extreme sports facts amusing, no matter to which type you belong. However, if you are the second type, don’t forget that the most important consideration is your safety.