Adventurous sports are those sports that involve extraordinary speed, scaling heights, physical exertion and death-defying stunts. These sports include rock climbing, mountaineering, rafting, scuba diving, trekking, base jumping, skiing, hang gliding, paragliding, wind surfing, sky diving, kayaking, etc. The following definitions may be helpful to know the clearcut meaning of adventure sports.
Adventure sports can be defined as outdoor sports or activities in which the participant competes in a natural environment more against himself/herself than against others.
Adventure sports are defined as activities in which there is a high degree of risk to the participant. In fact, the definition of adventure sports is embedded in its name. These involve thrilling and adventurous, death-defying feats achieved with a sporting mindset. Some of these sports require more athletic ability than others but it is a fact that all adventure sports need a strong mental makeup.
The different types of adventure sports are described below.
1. Rock Climbing:
Rock climbing is one of the most dangerous sports activities which requires a strong mental control, agility, flexibility, endurance and various coordinative abilities such as balance, coordination, reaction, ability, rhythm, etc. In fact, it is an activity in which participants climb on natural rock formations or on artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach at the apex or summit of a formation or the end point of a predetermined route without falling. To successfully complete a climb, the participant must come to the base safely. Competitions are also organised in rock climbing. These competitions have objectives either to complete the pre-fixed route in the minimum time or to attain the farthest point on difficult routes. There are different types of climbing such as Aid climbing, Free climbing, Trad or Traditional climbing, Sport climbing, Top rope climbing, Free soloing and Bouldering.
2. Trekking:
Trekking is an adventure sport. It is not an easy task to do trekking. Indeed, it needs a lot of courage and confidence along with a strong physique. A trek is a long journey on foot, especially in the mountains. Trekking refers to making the long and difficult journey on the mountains for pleasure or sport. Trekking is a part of adventure travel and expedition. The duration of trekking can be as less as a day to over a month. It depends on the particular region, personal interest and physical fitness of participants. It is better to make trekking trips in groups with appropriate planning. Trekking is a beneficial adventurous activity for every individual. It helps in building self-confidence. It improves the cardiovascular system. It also improves the general health condition.
Types of Trekking:
There are following types of trekking.
(a) Easy Trekking:
The individuals, especially the beginners, are offered easy treks. There is no difficult climbing. It means there is no-climbing on high altitudes. Such treks usually provide colourful visuals of the whole series of mountain ranges.
(b) Moderate Trekking:
Moderate treks are slightly difficult and challenging than easy treks. For moderate trekking the participants or trekkers should be more energetic. Such trekking is usually longer than roughly ten days of walking up and down. It is usually arranged on slightly higher altitudes.
(c) Strenuous Trekking:
Strenuous trekking needs a lot of physical effort, energy and determination. In such type of trekking some previous experience in mountan walking is required. These treks involve ascent to high altitudes usually up to 5000 m. They also involve some steep climbing.
(d) Difficult Trekking:
This type of trekking is suitable only for real adventure seekers. Some steep ascents to high altitudes are involved in this type of trekking. The participants must have enough endurance to complete such treks as they may last approximately more than one month.
3. River Rafting:
River rafting is also one of the major activities of adventure sports. It is a real thrilling sports activity. Indeed, bumping and swirling over the rushing water spontaneously makes river rafting a thrilling sport. It is also popularly known as white water rafting. River rafting became popular adventure sport during the mid 1970s. It is a challenging sport. It involves the use of a raft for navigating through rivers. There are several rafting competitions which are held around the world. River rafting provides a thrilling experience of riding through rough and untamed water rush. The river rafting experience involves a complete detachment from the normal world. There are following grades of difficulty which indicate how demanding some paths of river may be.
Grade I: Very small areas, easy waves, mainly flat water. Generally it does not require any maneuvering. Beginners can enjoy this type of water.
Grade II: Some rough water. There may be some rocks. It may require some maneuvering.
Grade III: There may be difficult passages. Due to bubble, the water may look white. This type of water may require significant maneuvering in the raft. At this level, prior experience and strong paddling skills are required.
Grade IV: There may be large waves. There may be rocks. Sharp maneuvers may be required. This grade should not be attempted without proper experience.
Grade V: It is extremely difficult level. There may be large waves. Volume of water may also be large. There may be large rocks. It needs very precise maneuvering. Only the participants with advanced experience should attempt it.
Grade VI: At this grade or level, rafters can expect to face huge waves. This level is very tough which demands great physical and mental toughness. At this level, there may be injury or death. Successful completion of such level without serious injury or death is usually thought to be due to luck or extraordinary skill.
4. Mountaineering:
Mountaineering is another type of adventurous sports prevailing all over the world. It is one of the finest outdoor opportunities available to the lovers of high places. It is about putting hands and feet onto rocks and ice and finally reaching a summit.
Mountaineering is an adventurous sport that combines climbing and hiking up mountains or mountain terrains. An individual who wishes to get involved in this sport needs to have tremendous endurance, agility, strength, experience and strong mental power. It may involve normal rocky or snowy environments. There are various reasons why most of the enthusiastic individuals take part in mountaineering. In fact, it challenges an individual's capabilities and skills. In addition to this, it is also a great way to be in the lap of nature. Mountaineering is also considered as a form of relaxation and exercise. There is no doubt that mountaineering is a strenuous and dangerous activity but even then it is also thought that it is worth undertaking to experience the sight of rare and wonderful views after reaching the summit. There are three basic forms of climbing which depend on the track condition. The first of them is rock climbing. This form of mountaineering involves rocky slopes. The next form of mountaineering is the snow and ice climbing. It is dangerous because it involves routes with glaciers. The third form of mountaineering combines both the rocky and sow routes which make it the most difficult of the three.
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