Abseiling

The sport known as abseiling, or rappelling in some other locations, is not for the faint of heart, or for those that may possess a fear of heights. The fear of heights could be overcome, however, by simply deciding not to look down.  The feeling of dangling from a small rope whilst suspended in mid-air is truly a unique and exhilarating experience. There must be the ultimate trust in one’s team-mate or climbing partner.  It’s a fairly simple concept. You are a long way from the ground standing atop a cliff. You are attached to a rope by use of a harness and carabineers. You lean backwards and make your way down the cliff, scooting along the rope until you reach solid ground. Sound like fun?

 

Abseiling is usually a skill utilized by mountaineers, rescuers, window washers on high rise buildings, cavers, or climbers.  It can also be considered a sport all in itself. In 1876 Chamonix, France, a climber known as Jean Esteril Charlet discovered abseiling as a way to rope himself down from an attempt at a solo climb that failed. After the initial discovery, he decided that he should perfect the skill. 

 

Equipment for this sport is not necessarily expensive, but it is rather critical that one obtains equipment in perfect condition, as any flaws can cause injury or ultimately death. It is also essential to learn this sport from an expert with a great deal of experience, and one that uses good safety techniques. Helmets must be worn to protect the skull from falling debris or rock and from the occasional bump. Gloves are used to protect the hands, but the best are fingerless leather. The gloves keep the hands free from the possible heat of the rope or metallic equipment on a particularly long descent and of course, from bumping against the harsh rocks. Good sturdy boots are a definite plus, but should be flexible with very good gripping soles. Some abseilers prefer knee and elbow padding for obvious reasons.

 

The rope is not ordinary rope. It must be the kernmantle type construction that contains a core of many strands with a sheath that is resistant to abrasion. Static rope is used for abseiling, as opposed to the more flexible rope used in climbing, as the lower stretch is desirable for ease of descent and less bounce. The harness should fit comfortably and not cause any “pinching points” that would compromise the circulation. Some abseiling descents can take long periods of time. Waist harnesses are adequate, but some prefer the full body harness that also covers the back and chest area.

 

The only mechanical device needed for abseiling might be the braking bar rack. The rope is weaved throughout the bars to provide friction and the amount of friction can be varied by adding or removing bars. The figure eight is a simple device shaped like a number eight. The rope is wrapped through the device to create friction for a controlled descent. An older method, and one that could be used for an emergency descent when one has no device, is called the munter hitch. That is a technique in which a simple carabineer is wrapped in a particular way to create a makeshift abseiling or rappelling device.

 

As wonderfully exciting as this sport appears, before you attempt it be sure to get proper professional instruction, and never abseil alone.

Sauna Bathing

Sauna bathing is a very popular way to relieve stress and it is also good for the health. Today, sauna bathing is considered a sport as well. After all, sports are categorised as recreational activities. In the case of sauna bathing, there are competitions that are held. For example, the Sauna Bathing World Championship is a very important sports event for those who love and enjoy sauna bathing as a sport. This first started in Heinola, Finland when a few men sat in a hot sauna for a long time and thought that they could make a competition out of it. The rules of the competition were (and still are) very simple. The person who can sit in a steaming hot sauna for the longest time is declared the winner.

 

For anyone lucky (or brave!) enough to participate, a sauna bathing competition is a unique and paradoxical combination of relaxation and endurance. You do not need to be extraordinary to participate in this competition. You do, however, need to be physically fit enough to survive the overbearing heat of the sauna.

 

The rules of this competition are followed very strictly. Participants need to sit in the sauna. They have to sit erect whilst their forearms rest on their knees. Their arms should be upright. The participant is not allowed to touch the skin with their hands. The costumes are also regulated, including a set length. Participants should have a medical certificate that states that they are fit to participate in such a competition.

 

The world championship in sauna bathing began in 1999. It has become a regular sport from then on. There are people that come from various countries to take part in this competition. The competition is popular because of the fun that people have whilst competing. There are no special entry requirements. Anyone that enjoys sauna bathing can take part in it. The demand and popularity of this competition have grown over the years. More people are attempting to check their patience and their capacity to bear the heat in a sauna bathing competition.

 

Originally, it was only Heinola locals who participated in sauna bathing competitions.  Tourists from near and far began to get wind of these unusual contests, and, very soon, the word spread. People from both Finland and abroad came to participate, giving rise to the Sauna Bathing World Championships of today.

 

It might sound easy to participate in a sauna bathing competition, but it is extremely tough. The beginning seems easy, but, at the later stages, the heat increases and it becomes very difficult to breathe efficiently and sit in the required position. The thighs and the buttocks should be pasted to the seat at all times, which is near-impossible if you have been sitting in stifling heat for so long! If a participant moves or gets up from their seat, they bow out of the competition. The person who can sustain the heat and stay seated is declared the winner. The winners are given rewards and are well recognised, which is the least that they should expect after such an ordeal!

Underwater Hockey

Underwater hockey was originally invented in 1954 by Alan Blake and was played for the first time in the Eastney swimming pool in England. The sport is still popular today but goes by the name of Octopush there and is officially called Aqua Challenge all over the world.

 

The sport is, for obvious reasons, not very audience-friendly as most of the action takes place underwater. Nevertheless, the sport has a growing fan base across the globe, especially in the US, UK, France, Canada, South Africa, and the Netherlands along with a few Asian countries.

 

The game has many similarities with the actual game of hockey. The puck used here is of the same size but is made of lead instead. Players use gloves, a helmet, diving mask, fin, and snorkel along with other gear for safety reasons during this sporting event. The stick used in underwater hockey is not that long and is 350mm, according to newly published rules, and is either black or white to indicate opposite teams.

 

The goal posts in the game of underwater hockey are three metres broad and are in opposite directions. The two water refs, or referees, make sure that the game is played in the right spirit and in the right way with all the rules and regulations followed.

 

Each team consists of ten members with six members active in the field and the rest are available for substitution, which occurs during the course of the game. When the game starts, all of the players can swim anywhere in the pool in order to score a goal. Once scored, they come back to their own wall or they come back in case the referee signals a break in play. Each half consists of fifteen minutes in which the teams change sides.

 

The usual formation for players in the game is 3-3, 2-3-1, or 2-2-2. Penalties are charged if the stick is not used against a puck; if a body part is used to stop the puck instead; and if the player blocks the opposite team members intentionally and repeatedly.

Birdman Competition

The Birdman Competition, also known as the International Bird-Man Rally, was started in 1971 in the small city of Sesley, West Sussex. The competition involved a peculiar stunt where a person had to run off from the end of a pier and he had to attempt to ‘fly’ the maximum furthest distance. Initially, there was prize money of £1,000 (later £3,000) that was given to anyone who travelled beyond the distance of 50 yards (roughly 46 m).

 

The Birdman Competition got immense popularity initially and, in 1978, the competition was growing fast and it moved to the Bognor Regis resort, which was larger and also had a higher pier. The competition attracted many European teams by the end of 1983 and, ultimately, received the attention of the BBC. 

 

There were several participants from all over the world who took part in the competition and competed with a noble cause to earn money for charity. However, there were also some participants who were serious competitors and they attempted to win the prize money. It was in 1984 when Harold Zimmer of Germany flew 57.8 meters to claim the then world record and top prize of a huge sum of money of nearly £10,000. In 1990, a new world record was set of travelling a distance of 71 meters. Since then, the prize distance was increased to a minimum of 100 metres and the corresponding prize money was £25,000.

 

As a result of the demolition of a 60 ft (18 metres) length of the end of the Bognor pier in 2008, the Birdman event was cancelled because it was assumed that the new water depth of 12 feet at the end of the pier was a probable safety risk to contestants. The new date for the 2009 Birdman Competition is likely to be held at the end of August in Worthing, which looks to be the likely venue for the International Birdman Rally for the next five years.

Haggis Hurling

Haggis Hurling is a popular Scottish sport which involves the hurling of a haggis to the farthest possible distance with great accuracy from atop a platform which is, in most cases, a whisky barrel. The condition lies in the fact that the haggis must be edible in nature.

 

Although the event of haggis hurling is thought to have an ancient origin by its proponents, it is believed that haggis is certainly a very modern invention. It was invented by Mr. Robin Dunseath who was a publicist for Scottish entrepreneur,r Tom Farmer, and was also an ex-president of the World Haggis Hurling Association. According to Mr. Robin Dunseath, he invented this sport as a practical joke in the Gathering of the Clans in Edinburgh in 1977. He later used the sport to raise funds for charity at the Highland Games.

 

There are two variations of this sport that have evolved over the years. One is the professional sport and the other one is enacted at festivals. Alan Pettigrew has held the current world record for haggis hurling for over 20 years. He made an astonishing feat of throwing a 1 pound 8 ounce haggis over a surprising 180 feet on the island of Inchmurrin on Loch Lomond in August 1984. But, another surprising fact lies in the fact that Australian cricketer, Tom Moody, was purported to have thrown a haggis over a record 230 feet in 1989.

 

In general, the heavyweight haggis weighs roughly up to 1 kg although the standard weight of a haggis is estimated to be 850 grams in most conditions with an allowance in the weight of ±50 grams.  In the sporting version of the event, a weight of 500 grams is allowed, having a maximum diameter of 18cm and a length of 22cm. In this case, an allowance of ±30 grams is given and this is used in all types of junior and middleweight events.

Mountain Unicycling

Mountain unicycling is a popular adventurous sport which is rapidly emerging on the extreme sports scene due to the challenges involved. It consists of traversing a rough and tough terrain on a unicycle. This type of sport can also be performed on the same terrain but with a mountain bike.

 

Mountain unicycling is a challenging sport since it combines extreme finesse with a lot of precision that is required to stay on one wheel. This can be done only if one has sheer power and endurance to ride over the rough terrain. Since unicycles lack the typical gear system, it prevents the user from coasting or acquiring high speeds. Therefore, mountain unicycling is usually performed by using specially-designed cycles that are equipped with strong large hubs, large knobby tires, and rugged frames.

 

This typical adventurous sport teaches the user to have a lot of balance and concentration as well as demands a very fast reaction time. Many believe that it is a dangerous sport but, practically speaking, mountain unicycling is a very safe sport. This is because of the fact that, since unicycle involves a direct drive system, it is only possible for a user to travel fast as long as he pedals. But if it was a mountain bike, he could easily do the race by coasting at excessive high speeds.

 

Mountain unicycling is also a year-round sport since it can be played any time. However, summer is considered to be the best time for mountain unicycling although it is also a great winter sport. Mountain unicycling requires high energy inputs from the user at low speeds. Therefore, it is tougher than mountain biking where you can go fast without burning a lot of energy. The riders of this particular sport also need to have a few additional skills, such as good practice with the unicycle as well as core strength and good balance.

Slamball

Have you ever wondered how a basketball player jumps to great height in front of the net? Then, you are watching a game of slamball and not basketball. The games are closely fought between teams and the winner of the game is decided by the team that scores more points. Points are scored by making the ball pass through the net although the points system is not as same as that of its parent game, basketball.

 

The main difference between the two games lies in the court. The court of slamball has four trampolines, so it acts as a launching pad for players. On using those trampolines, the players get a jump, which helps them reach greater heights for the slam dunks. The rules of slamball also allow physical contact between the players of each team.

 

Scoring in slamball is achieved by passing the ball through the opposition’s net. All throws that pass through the opposition’s net yield two points, but it cannot be touched by the opposing players. The slam dunks are worth three points and, during the final two minutes of the game, all successful scores yield three points. The game is played in two halves that are each eight minutes and that are separated by a break of ten minutes. The game starts with a slam-off in which the ball is allowed to reach the apex without interruption.

 

The game also allows full body contact at times, but there are certain restrictions as well. A player can be hit when he does not possess the ball whereas, when he is in possession of the ball, he can be hit only when he dribbles the ball. Each team has four players on the court at any particular time and has unlimited substitution options from a roster of eight players.

 

The game is quite popular and is slowly spreading to different parts of the world due, in part, to its similarities to basketball as well as the exhilarating nature of the game. Slamball truly is a spectacle to watch and a real adrenalin rush to play.

Extreme Ironing

By the name itself, extreme ironing is well understood to be a dangerous sport. The game is quite different and it is considered a performance art in which the participant has to carry an ironing board to a particular place and iron a few clothes that he or she takes along.

 

The game is such that it involves danger and thrills. It is quite different from conventional games. The locations of the extreme ironing event are not normal places and those that are selected are ones that are not easy to reach. Common places that are venues for such an event generally include the mountainside of a tough climb, a forest, underwater, or even the middle of the street. The places simply challenge the participants in all possible ways.

 

The sport was started in England in 1997. The sport has slowly captured the attention of a huge number of people. The sport has become so popular within such a short span that international extreme Ironing events are now being held. To participate in extreme ironing competitions, there are three main things that you need to carry like an iron board, an iron, and a piece of cloth. It is also advisable to bring a camera as well as a friend or a relative.

 

Extreme ironing is a real dangerous sport and, at times, it requires risking one’s life as well. For starters, it always better to begin with safe places like parks or fountains. Before you actually start moving to more dangerous places, such as mountains or forests, you have to get yourself set with your ironing board and iron, so that you do not really face any difficulty when reaching such places. Wherever you decide to prop your board up and go for the gold, just remember to think first and iron later because of the risks that might be involved.

Air Guitar

Air guitar is simply an imaginary simulation of loud music in which the performer acts as a person who plays heavy metal style electric guitars or rock style electric guitars. Whilst playing air guitar, strumming motions are accompanied by loud singing or by simple lip-synching.

 

Though the exact origin of air guitar is debatable, it is believed that the father of air guitar was Joe Cocker who displayed the air guitar technique on stage in 1969. The term, air guitar, was used for the first time at Florida State University and, since then, it has become a widely popular sport with loads of participants.

 

If you thought that air guitar is not popular, then you are definitely wrong. Many countries organise air guitar competitions and there are huge numbers of participants fighting it out. The first-ever world championship of air guitar was held in 1996 during the Oulu Music Video Festival. Since then, the concept of air guitar has spread to various corners of the world. The World Championships of 2007 had participants from 17 nations, including the US, UK, Switzerland, and Japan.

 

Nowadays, air guitar is taken seriously by a huge number of people and that has increased the amount competition among participants. Countries like Austria and the US are a few that have their own system of choosing the best among all. The winners of those competitions get the opportunity to represent their nation in the world championships.

 

Over the years, air guitar has become more and more popular, and new innovations are also making it more interesting. One of the technological innovations that have been tried is that of making the air guitar produce sound, which depends solely on the action of the guitarist.

Mud Soccer

Mud soccer is a sport that is derived from the game of soccer. The game is quite similar to the conventional game of soccer, but it has its own set of rules. The game is closely fought and has become quite popular as well.

 

The game is very interesting and is closely fought. It is generally played on swampy fields, so that the game becomes a tough one. The game generally lasts for a couple of periods with each one being 25 minutes separated by an interval. The team in mud soccer is comprised of six players, including a goal keeper. Some of the conventional soccer rules apply too, but what separates the game from normal soccer is its chaotic nature. The game is actually not very strict with rules too.  For instance, the game can have an innumerable number of substitutions. Also, there is no particular penalty box nor do any offside rules apply.

 

The game generally requires players with strength, good passing, and running capabilities. Players who are small with large feet are of excellent help to the sides since scoring is easy for them. The game is actually fun to watch as the game stops at many instances when players sink into deep mud. The game is not a very simple one to play and generally requires loads of practice, involving running in swamps with accurate passing and finishing techniques.

 

The sport falls under the category of extreme sports and has become so popular that world championships are now held annually. It is simply a game of football played on swampy, wet ground. The championships are very closely contested and teams from various countries practice hard in order to win the championships. The championships have different games for men and women as well as a category of mixed teams that is also allowed as part of the championships.