What About Adventure Sports

Posted on November 27, 2008
Filed Under Skydiving

How come some people don’t feel or experience fear ?. They can do almost any adventure sports in the world without fear. Just thinking about the stunt man you see in action movies. How come these guys seem not scared of anything? I’m sure that if you ask them to join you in any adventure sports and they would be ready to follow you into action within a minute. I don’t think of myself as a brave person. I don’t like heights, fast speeds or defying gravity. I prefer my feet to be firmly on the ground. Skiing is the only vaguely thrilling activity I have ever done and I just love it. Adventure sports do not suit me but I would surely like to get over my inhibitions and go for it. I am an armchair sportsman; happy to observe others take extreme risks.

The thing I’d do first is skydiving if I was braver. That must be an unforgettable thrill, up so high and free as a bird. You would think some people are doomed as they free fall down into caves and their parachutes open just as it’s getting dark. Rock climbing also looks exciting, although I wouldn’t like to climb those high peaks like Everest. Mountain climbing in Force 10 winds and frostbite eating at your fingers doesn’t really appeal. I’m also far too claustrophobic for pot holing and the thought of cave diving fills me with dread.

Almost every sort of water adventure sports are offered in beach resorts around the world. I do feel lazy, lying there whilst everyone else is jet skiing, parasailing, wind surfing and otherwise whizzing around. A hearty game of volleyball is the most activity I indulge in on a beach. From time to time I may fling a Frisbee. I think about doing something but then it’s so nice to soak up the sunshine and there is also all that food and drink to consume.

Hang gliding or a trip in a hot air balloon doesn’t go along with my fear of heights. Traveling in a wicker basket under a flammable, gas filled balloon is not my idea of a relaxing time. I’m sure it’s thrilling but I would be on constant guard for electricity pylons, not to mention a unexpected drop in pressure to send me falling back to earth. Adventure sports like that are made for brave, optimistic well insured people.

I am hoping that one day someone will invent a hologram suite, you know, like the ones in the Star Trek shows. These are programmed virtual realities, in which you can ski down the side of a mountain at breakneck speed and come to no harm. That’s because the mountain is not truly there. Nothing is real but it feels just like reality. In other words, it’s all the thrills without the danger. I could do any adventure sports I wanted then and maybe even create a few new ones. Until that time, I will observe others do their hot dog tricks and bungee jump from high places. These days, does driving into the city and back count as adventure sports?

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