Archive for February, 2009

Writing about extreme sports we never imagined we would have to cover the topic of nudity – well read on folks for that is what the people of British Columbia have been doing – taking their clothes off and bearing all as they make one giant leap of faith and bungee jump – all in the name of charity.

The annual naked bungy jump fundraiser for the B.C. Schizophrenia Society at WildPlay’s Bungy Zone south of Nanaimo attracts hundreds of people from as far as New York and Wisconsin. More often than not, nudity takes a backseat to facing the fear of heights or getting an adrenaline rush.

“I have no shame,” said Olympia’s Nick Wenzel after his jump as he stood under the bridge in nothing more than his birthday suit and a pair of sneakers. Wenzel has made the six-hour commute four times to take the naked leap of faith in Nanaimo, but this time he didn’t jump solo. Girlfriend Audrey Norris clutched Wenzel for dear life as they tipped off the plank together, face-to-face, for her first-ever jump.

“It was so much fun,” said Norris, who adds she was more nervous about being cold than anything else.

By early Sunday afternoon, the Bungy Zone had registered more than 160 jumps and raised more than $5,800, beating last year’s donation tally.

Pilots Kevin Teker and Ian Johnson from Seattle brought a cheering crew with them to add to their once-in-a-lifetime experience. The duo saw the event posted on the Internet and Teker said “now that’s got to be one crazy T-shirt.” Teker’s wife painted blue wings on her husband’s upper back before he ascended to his post, where a jump master wrapped his ankles.

“This is about overcoming a personal challenge,” said Teker before he shuffled to the end of the plank, spread his arms and flew into the air.

For Steven Bobowski, WildPlay senior jump master, it was just another day at the office. He’s been helping people take the plunge for 14 years and whether they’re clothed or not, it’s all the same to him.

“It can be the most amazing experience is someone’s life. It’s empowering,” said Bobowski as another bum disappears over the edge. When asked if the nudity bothers him at all he lets out a little laugh. “My guy friends give me a little grief over being around other naked guys, but all I say is eye contact is a beautiful thing.”

Our thanks go to Krista Charke of The Daily News for bringing us this story and also to bcssprov for the video below which shows the action!

In another bungee jumping incident 49-year-old Mark Afforde survived a snapped bungee cord during a jump from a 400-foot high bridge over Canyon Creek, near Yacolt on Thursday, reports shortnews.com . He broke free just as he bottomed out and was only 25 feet over the water.

Afforde’s wife said that it was the only time he’d ever tried the extreme sport and is probably the end of her husband’s thrill-seeking days. Afforde escaped serious injury, only complaining of a sore backside.

Thankfully we can report a happy ending this this territying story but it does demonstrate why bungee jumping has to be considered an extreme sport.

There are just some pieces of information that you cannot ignore and we are grateful to www.rockclimbingusa.com for sharing this information with us – we just had to pass it on to you guys – whether you be a budding rock climber, an experienced mountain goat or maybe just thinking about something to do in the great outdoors it will be worth your while checking out what follows.

How can I get started rock climbing?
First, have you tried a climbing gym? If you Google your area and “indoor climbing,” you’ll probably find something. If not, try to find a climbing guide. The next best thing is to find out where people rock climb near you and go there? Strike up a conversation with some climbers? Ask questions, be friendly and, eventually, ask if you can try it out?

I’ve been climbing indoors. How do I transition to outdoors?
Climbing outside is very different from climbing inside. Aside from technique-based differences, outdoors tends to include a number of objective, environment-based hazards, such as falling rock, weather and anchor set up. So, you’re right to wonder what the best way is to transition. Opinions will vary, but most people will offer these basic tips:

• find an experienced climber who’s willing to take you under his or her wing
• take a course or hire a guide
• read lots of books on anchoring, knots and other safety topics

What’s a “running belay?”
A running belay is any lead belay.

What’s a “dynamic belay?”
Put simply, a belay is dynamic when the belayer purposefully adds distance to the climber’s fall by introducing slack into the system at the moment of the catch.

Where can I find a mentor to teach me hands on? Everybody seems to agree that people who show determination, reliability and a good attitude attract mentors more easily.

What’s the difference between toproping and leading?
Put simply, toproping is climbing with your anchor above you, and as you climb higher, there is less rope in the system. Leading, on the other hand, involves you placing your own anchors at intervals. Instead of pulling in rope, the belayer pays out rope as the climber ascends. Leading is necessary for longer climbs.

Does “free climbing” mean climbing without a rope?
Nope. Free climbing means using only your body to ascend a climb, while your equipment is only there for safety reasons. Climbing a rope in gym class, for example, is not free climbing. Bouldering is a type of free climbing, as are trad climbing and sport climbing. The opposite of free climbing is aid climbing. Often times, uneducated people use the term “free climbing” to mean climbing without ropes. What they actually mean, however, is “free soloing.”

How do I get the rope back after I rappel?
Typically, when you rappel, you’ll thread your rope through an anchor, such as steel rings. But rappel anchors come in other forms, too, such as slings around a tree or boulder, or the tree itself without slings. When you’re done rappelling, you simply pull one end and the rope comes tumbling down. If the rappel is long enough that you have to tie two ropes together, then it works the same way, but you have to make sure you pull the side with the knot on it.

Should I clip my belay ‘biner to my belay loop or to both tie-in points?
Do what your harness manufacturer recommends. Check the label on your harness.

How should I screen my potential climbing partners?
Of all the aspects of climbing, one of the most prominent and yet enigmatic is the relationship between partners. There’s no better metaphor for a climbing partnership than the partnership itself – it’s that important.

Finally you must remember that whatever you read is just that – written words. What we are saying is that there is nothing like practical experience – get out there and do it and remember in this game there should never be a rush, check and check again – one mistake can lead to some very ugly accidents – it is not after all an extreme sport for nothing.

Had enough for the moment – probably – so check out the video below from fatassjustin which shows what rock climbing is all about, with a group of mates under good instruction, a great day out and a sense of achievment when successful with plenty of encouragement from your friends. You too can do it!

Here’s a salutary video for you to watch this weekend. They were lucky… Thanks to tobymolins for posting it.

Extreme is good – but be careful!

The second edition of the Nissan Outdoor Extreme Winter Games are happening right now in Chamonix.

5 international teams of extreme sporting professionals have, this week, been climbing, freeriding, BASE jumping, wingsuit flying and paragliding their way around the valley in an attempt to make the most impressive extreme sports short film.

Do you know what the Nissan Outdoor Games is all about? Here’s a quick video from OutdoorGamesTV to remind you…

The films will combine the skills of the individual athletes as well as the creative talents of the film crew that they work with.

Chamonix, the death-sport capital of the world as it has been described in the past, is the perfect backdrop for Nissan’s second games . This quote, from someone who lived in and loved Chamonix many many years ago, personifies Nissan’s quest:

“The great object of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even though in pain; it is this craving void which drives us…” Lord Byron

The results will be displayed on a giant screen in the Outdoor Games Village in the Tourist Office square today, Friday 20th, and Saturday 21st February, and prizes will be awarded for Best Sport’s Sequence, Best Photography and Jury’s Special Award.

There will also be an opportunity to talk to the experts themselves or try your hand at ice climbing, slack-rope walking and the climbing wall.

On Saturday there will also be two air shows combining BASE jumping, wingsuit flying, speed flying, acro-paragliding and hang gliding. The first one will take place at mid-day on the Aiguille du Midi and the second will be above the Grands Montets ski area at 3pm.

Cham will be at her best – difficult when lovers of Chamonix say she is ALWAYS at her best, but Cham has it all this weekend, and with the fantastic snow conditions that Europe has had this season, this year’s films should capture some amazing images of the valley and surrounding regions.

This was the Ride The Planets winner last year, again thanks to OutdoorGamesTV for posting it:

The sport of Adventure Racing is sweeping the world at a phenomenal rate. It is one of the most extreme competitions for a team to challenge, but it is because of these challenges that adventure racing has grown so rapidly in popularity over the last few years.

It helps that it is an easy cross-over for any sportsmen looking for the ultimate challenge.

The other extremely important factor about Adventure Racing is that it is a team sport. A team can vary from 2 to 5 persons. This is an essential element to the competition – the way the team works together. It is far more important than individual achievement.

Adventure Racing is one of the few sports where just completing a race is often considered a victory. The challenges that arise during any one race will test both your mental and physical endurance.

The Sabah Adventure Challenge 2009 begins on the 10th April, 2009 in Borneo and finishes on the 12th. This is a 3 day adventure race, the longest running, multi-day adventure race in South East Asia. Teams may choose between the Adventure or Extreme Categories of the race and compete in teams of 3 participants, either mixed, or all male or all female.

The disciplines included will be trail running/walking, mountain trek/run, ropework, navigation, mountain biking, river kayak, sea kayak, swimming, whitewater rafting, rafting and a mystery discipline.

There is certainly enough there to keep anyone from getting bored!

This is a volunteer organised race and will be the 10th time it has been run in Borneo.

If you are interested in taking up the challenge be warned that entry is limited to 30 teams and will be on a first come first served basis – as always.

Some things that you can look forward to from earlier Sabah Eco-Challenge Adventure Races, with thanks to ibor22 for posting them.

And if you really are just interested in going around the world from one adventure race to another, you might like to know that there is an earlier race in Chili from the 29th March – 4th April… known as the Atacama Crossing. This is a 7-day, 6 stage, 250km foot race.

Yesterday we were talking about a downhill ski race scheduled for January 25th, 2010 at Kranjska Gora in Slovenia, but whilst investigating the area we came across all this great information on the mountain biking trails there and thought we should pass some of it on to you as, as you probably know, mountain biking fits happily into our catagory of ‘extreme sport’.

Kranjska Gora – scenic isn’t it…

We bring you a video from nosymetry which gives an idea of the superb site and scenery that can also be enjoyed, if you have time, whilst descending the hill at extreme speed…

There is a fun bike park at Kranjska Gora and the tracks will suit all kinds of bikers from experts, who are looking for the challenge of big height differences and difficult ascents and descents, to the bike lovers who want an enjoyable day out with time enough to drink in the stunning surroundings.

This year the existing track has been modified and updated and more than 40 artificially made obstacles have been added. Some of the old obstacles have been changed in order to ensure both a safer ride and a safer landing. Facilities have been put in place to allow the less experienced riders to learn the basic skills they will need to fully enjoy the freeride trails.

All obstacles have been made with different levels of difficulty, so that every biker has a choice. A new track will run through the woods on the “north shore” while the old track has been completed with some new elements. The freeride track should be enormously popular with all MTB riders.

The trails around the alpine village will also host the 2009 DH European Championships. The race will take place from the 12th – 14th June, 2009. Both the European Mountain Bike Downhill Championships for Junior and Expert catagories and the Masters Catagory Championships will be held.

The “Downhill Vitranc”, a title given to the men’s Alpine Ski World Cup race, is shared with the mountain bike downhill race. There will be two main catagories to the mountain bike race.

• The ‘Masters’ riders will race the bottom two thirds of the course which is about 2km with a 300m vertical drop. The racing time will take between 2.5 and 3 minutes.

• The Junior and Experts, on the other hand, will start at the new top part of the course which is steep and technical. It will be mostly in the woods which will offer many challenges – roots and rocks being just a few of them! The lower part, which is frequently used in national races, will be slightly changed for the Championships but will remain fast and flowing. Long stretches are on open ski slopes, shorter sections in the woods and a some of it on gravel jeep trails.

So, if you’re wondering where to go, perhaps somewhere a little unusual, this year for a wild and wonderful mountain biking experience, why don’t you think…. Slovenia? Maybe Hayes1955 can help you make up your mind: