![]() ![]() The traditional participant perspective has generally accepted that participants are outliers (at times deviant), emphasizing personality, emotional impact, and the role of adrenaline and thrill. In this special edition, activities have been described as both competitive (see Cohen et al.) or non-competitive and creative (see Immonen et al. More recently, the risk notion has been downplayed, and extreme sport activities have been differentiated from mainstream sports because extreme sports are typically not governed by external rules and regulations. From a task perspective, the traditional emphasis has been on the activity being high-risk or dangerous with the potential to cause considerable harm or even death of the participant. ![]() Traditional attempts to define extreme sports have variously focused on either task elements, environmental characteristics or individual participants, separately, or in combination. in this edition) we are rapidly moving into an age where the nuances make a considerable difference when we investigate motivations, performance and outcomes, and as such clarity is fast becoming essential. This confusing array of explanations is unfortunate as despite their popularity there are still negative perceptions about extreme sports participation particularly acute immediately after accidents or adverse incidents.Īttempts to categorize extreme sport activities have been challenging but as authors in this special edition attest (see Immonen et al. For others still, it is about the desire to belong to sub-cultures and the glamor that goes with extreme sports. Authors have also proposed that extreme sport participation is merely an outlet for those people attracted by risk and danger or the desire to brag. For others, it is about the spectacle and the merchandise that is associated with organized activities and glamorous athletes. Traditional notions on motivations include perspectives that stress rebellion against a society that is becoming too risk-averse. ![]() This special edition does not set out to refute these happenings, rather add to the work already undertaken. For example, Everest and other high and popular mountains have long been associated with the rubbish left over by mountaineers ( Bishop and Naumann, 1996) and with notorious images of mountaineers walking past dying colleagues ( Elmes and Barry, 1999). Indeed, there are many examples of the downside of extreme sports. Traditional explanations for why extreme sports have become so popular are varied but for the most part stem from a notion that extreme sport participation is deviant or undesirable. These nuances are pointing to understandings that not only help explore extreme sports more generally but also revealing important information about what it means to be human ( Brymer and Schweitzer, 2017b). As already noted and further highlighted by many articles in this special edition, extreme sports are not well-served by approaches that stem from traditional sports research ( Arijs et al.).įrom a psychological viewpoint, while the tendency has been to assume that the activities and experiences described as extreme sports are somehow homogenous, research is questioning these assumptions and revealing important nuances between activities and subdisciplines within the same activity ( Collins and Brymer, 2018). However, this attention needs to consider the unique and nuanced characteristics of the people involved, their motivation, and the activities. With the continually rising participation rates in these activities, science and medicine is starting to give these sports the same attention already given to traditional sports ( Feletti et al., 2017). The current trajectory suggests that traditional sports will soon play second fiddle to these new and exciting opportunities. While participant numbers in many traditional team and individual sports such as golf, basketball, and racket sports have declined over the last decade or so, participant numbers in so-called extreme sports have surged. They have developed into a significant worldwide phenomenon with considerable social and economic impact ( Brymer and Schweitzer, 2017a). These activities are revolutionizing the notion of sport, exercise and physical activity and overtaking many traditional sports in terms of participation, and influence. ![]() A new class of sport has emerged in the last few decades, variously called extreme, adventure, action, and lifestyle sports. ![]()
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