Jumping Stilts are a now considered an extreme sport by many people. This product is known under a number of brand names: Powerstrider, League Boots, Powerisers, Powerskips, AirTrekker, Pro-Jumps, Flyjumpers, and a few others that are new and emerging ones.
While many people consider stilts part of the extreme sport world, most people do not buy jumping stilts for that reason. In fact, most people buy these stilts because they are fun and you can get a much better workout with them. Because these stilts are specifically designed to capture the natural energy produced by our legs, and then return it to us with more zing, using carbon or fiber springs, we can walk with more bounce to the ounce, run with more agility and speed, and jump to almost twice our regular height. This is what makes more people want to use stilts.
When you buy jumping stilts you need to do a little research so that you know what the brands are, what each brand offers, what spring weights are available and what is weight is best suited for, plus what safety garb is required to keep you safe when you mount you jumping stilts for the very first time. Funny enough, that is generally when people get hurt, when they first mount their stilts and land abruptly. Because of this, most retail stores who specialize in sporting equipment recommend that protective wear be purchased when the stilts are bought. This makes good sense, as most people are anxious to try them out soon as they get home. Most retail stores also have free videos for their customers to watch about stilts and safety equipment. It is always wise to take something that is offered free! So, when you buy jumping stilts also purchase a helmet, some pad for your knees and elbows, and some wrist guards. These are the basic requirements, but it might be wise to add some shin protectors too.
Because using jumping stilts can also be dangerous, you cannot buy them if you are under the age of eighteen without a parent or guardian being present with you in the store. When you buy jumping stilts, you assume all risks of injury and death, because you are a consenting adult and using them at your own risk, so with this in mind it is not likely to smart to buy used ones or ones in discount stores as they could have fault or be of less quality. Buy what you can afford, and get the best that you can buy.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The X Games and Skateboarding
The X Games are an event much like the Olympics, but held annually and focusing on extreme sports. Broadcast by ESPN, the Winter X Games occur in January, and the Summer X Games are held in August. Both events are held in the United States, and draw competitors from all over the world. The competition is known for frequently showcasing new tricks.
Each year, over 80,000 spectators show up to the Winter X games and over 200,000 to the Summer X Games, and thousands more watch the events on television. Along with the competitions of the X Games, ESPN also hosts the X Fest sports and music festival, with live music, autograph sessions, and other interactive activities. The event is growing each year, with more events added to the lineup, more sports stars competing, and more fans showing up to watch.
The Winter X Games will be hosted in Aspen, Colorado, through 2012, while the Summer X Games will be held in Los Angeles, as they have been for the past several years. Besides the main X Games, there are also smaller international competitions called the Global Championships, as well as demo events held by X Games at varying times through the year, all around the world.
The first Winter X Games were held in Big Bear Lake, California, in 1997. The event has also been held in Colorado and Vermont. The Winter X Games include skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling events, and have recently included new events such as free skiing, SnoCross, and SkiBoarding. New events are added every couple of years to keep up with the changing face of the extreme sports world.
The first Summer X Games took place in 1995, when the event was called Extreme Games. Competitions were held in Rhode Island and Vermont. Summer sports include inline skating, bike stunts, motocross, skateboarding, surfing, and wakeboarding.
Most of these extreme sports' biggest stars have taken part in the X Games. Popular participants include snowboarder/skateboarder Shaun White, snowboarder Danny Kass, skier Sarah Burke, skateboarder Tony Hawk, motocross and rally racer Travis Pastrana, and many others. The X Games gain media exposure by attracting big name sponsors and the top athletes in their respective sports.
For skateboarding, the X Games currently includes six divisions: Big Air, Street Women's, Street Men's, Vert Men's, Vert Women's, and Vert Best Trick, where top skateboarders often debut new stunts. Big Air includes a 60 to 80 foot roll-in with a gap 50 or 70 feet long, ending in a 27 foot quarter pipe. This style of skateboarding was developed by pro skateboarder Danny Way, and is used exclusively at the X Games. During the street competitions, athletes perform in a concrete skate park with stairs, ledges, banks, and other features. In the vert competition, competitors ride down a 120-foot wide ramp with transitions, combining big air and lip tricks.
Scores in all three competition types are based on style, creativity, difficulty, and amplitude. Big Air competitions are untimed, while Street competitions give an allotted time of seven to fifteen minutes, and the Vert competitions include 45-second runs.
Each year, over 80,000 spectators show up to the Winter X games and over 200,000 to the Summer X Games, and thousands more watch the events on television. Along with the competitions of the X Games, ESPN also hosts the X Fest sports and music festival, with live music, autograph sessions, and other interactive activities. The event is growing each year, with more events added to the lineup, more sports stars competing, and more fans showing up to watch.
The Winter X Games will be hosted in Aspen, Colorado, through 2012, while the Summer X Games will be held in Los Angeles, as they have been for the past several years. Besides the main X Games, there are also smaller international competitions called the Global Championships, as well as demo events held by X Games at varying times through the year, all around the world.
The first Winter X Games were held in Big Bear Lake, California, in 1997. The event has also been held in Colorado and Vermont. The Winter X Games include skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling events, and have recently included new events such as free skiing, SnoCross, and SkiBoarding. New events are added every couple of years to keep up with the changing face of the extreme sports world.
The first Summer X Games took place in 1995, when the event was called Extreme Games. Competitions were held in Rhode Island and Vermont. Summer sports include inline skating, bike stunts, motocross, skateboarding, surfing, and wakeboarding.
Most of these extreme sports' biggest stars have taken part in the X Games. Popular participants include snowboarder/skateboarder Shaun White, snowboarder Danny Kass, skier Sarah Burke, skateboarder Tony Hawk, motocross and rally racer Travis Pastrana, and many others. The X Games gain media exposure by attracting big name sponsors and the top athletes in their respective sports.
For skateboarding, the X Games currently includes six divisions: Big Air, Street Women's, Street Men's, Vert Men's, Vert Women's, and Vert Best Trick, where top skateboarders often debut new stunts. Big Air includes a 60 to 80 foot roll-in with a gap 50 or 70 feet long, ending in a 27 foot quarter pipe. This style of skateboarding was developed by pro skateboarder Danny Way, and is used exclusively at the X Games. During the street competitions, athletes perform in a concrete skate park with stairs, ledges, banks, and other features. In the vert competition, competitors ride down a 120-foot wide ramp with transitions, combining big air and lip tricks.
Scores in all three competition types are based on style, creativity, difficulty, and amplitude. Big Air competitions are untimed, while Street competitions give an allotted time of seven to fifteen minutes, and the Vert competitions include 45-second runs.
Extreme Sports
Defining the World of Extreme Sports
Extreme sports have been growing in popularity for many years now. Multiple activities fall into this category of intense sports with high levels of inherent danger. Defining the world of extreme athletics can be tough to do since there are so many different activities included under this term. Still, it is safe to say that pretty much all of them involve a high degree of speed, danger, special gear, and physical and mental exertion. These sports certainly are not for the faint of heart. People seeking thrills are the ones that flock to these intense and adrenaline packed activities.
It is debatable as to exactly which sports can be classified as extreme sports. We can get a pretty good idea of the types of activities included in this category by looking at some of the common elements that most extreme sports share. Athletes involved in this field tend to face more adverse challenges. Traditional athletes have to compete against other people, but extreme athletes go up against other environmental obstacles and uncontrollable variables such as weather conditions and terrain surface.
Weather and terrain play especially big roles in most extreme sports. While conditions can be controlled to a certain extent in regular sports, extreme activities involve uncontrollable factors like wave height, snow conditions, and wind speed. Some of the sports that definitely fall into this category include paragliding, skydiving, inline skating, mountain-biking, free-skiing, snowboarding, kite-surfing, rock climbing, and surfing. There are certainly some other activities that could be considered to fit the bill for this category of sport. The common threads are the increased levels of danger, skill, uncontrollable conditions, and adrenaline. It may be hard to judge each and every sport, but there is no denying the incredible acrobatics, stunts, and physical challenges that this field of activities presents.
The extreme sports term was really made popular by the X Games, but it has been around far longer than most people realize. These types of sports can be competitive or non-competitive. Those people who thirst for adventure and intense challenges are naturally drawn to this field of sport in search of something more. The thrill of going up against nature and other elements makes for a truly memorable experience. That is why extreme sports continue to gain so much popularity. You can find information on just about any extreme sport, so look for more on whatever it is that interests you.
Extreme sports have been growing in popularity for many years now. Multiple activities fall into this category of intense sports with high levels of inherent danger. Defining the world of extreme athletics can be tough to do since there are so many different activities included under this term. Still, it is safe to say that pretty much all of them involve a high degree of speed, danger, special gear, and physical and mental exertion. These sports certainly are not for the faint of heart. People seeking thrills are the ones that flock to these intense and adrenaline packed activities.
It is debatable as to exactly which sports can be classified as extreme sports. We can get a pretty good idea of the types of activities included in this category by looking at some of the common elements that most extreme sports share. Athletes involved in this field tend to face more adverse challenges. Traditional athletes have to compete against other people, but extreme athletes go up against other environmental obstacles and uncontrollable variables such as weather conditions and terrain surface.
Weather and terrain play especially big roles in most extreme sports. While conditions can be controlled to a certain extent in regular sports, extreme activities involve uncontrollable factors like wave height, snow conditions, and wind speed. Some of the sports that definitely fall into this category include paragliding, skydiving, inline skating, mountain-biking, free-skiing, snowboarding, kite-surfing, rock climbing, and surfing. There are certainly some other activities that could be considered to fit the bill for this category of sport. The common threads are the increased levels of danger, skill, uncontrollable conditions, and adrenaline. It may be hard to judge each and every sport, but there is no denying the incredible acrobatics, stunts, and physical challenges that this field of activities presents.
The extreme sports term was really made popular by the X Games, but it has been around far longer than most people realize. These types of sports can be competitive or non-competitive. Those people who thirst for adventure and intense challenges are naturally drawn to this field of sport in search of something more. The thrill of going up against nature and other elements makes for a truly memorable experience. That is why extreme sports continue to gain so much popularity. You can find information on just about any extreme sport, so look for more on whatever it is that interests you.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
