by Ray Fauteux

Created on: April 25, 2008   Last Updated: February 28, 2009

Every year or so it seems that another extreme sport is born somewhere in the world. Bungee jumping, cave-diving, skydiving from cliffs, ice-climbing, and numerous other extreme challenges have all had their day in the sun over the decades. Just when you think you have heard it all, that everything has been tried, another extreme sport is born.

It seems to me that the extreme sports that are the riskiest, are the ones where a person gives up control of the situation and casts control of living or dying into the hands of fate. In other words, the less control you have of the outcome, the higher the risk level, and the more pronounced the adrenaline rush.

To me, hang-gliding and sky-diving are very similar in the risk factor. Both of them require one to put their faith in the equipment they are using and the fickleness of updrafts, downdraft's, and any other wind anomaly's that might be thrown into your path every time you 'slip the surly bonds of Earth.'

Every year, you hear about horrific sky-diving accidents where a rookie has jumped from a plane and their chute failed to open. Just waiting for that to happen when you jump from a plane must be heart-stopping. To feel it not happen is unimaginable. What a horrible way to die. Spinning through the air completely out of control, knowing that you will soon be very dead. Of course it happens to seasoned jumpers as well, but at least they might not panic and may be able to react in time to save themselves. On the other hand, of the thousands and thousands of jumps that take place around the world each year, it is only the accidents that are sensationalized, and for the most part skydiving is well-regulated and safe.

Hang-gliding is just as risky with the biggest danger present when you are attempting to land. There is no accounting for sudden up or down drafts or change in wind direction that can smash you out of control into the ground regardless of how experienced you are or how many times you have repeated the landing. Even some of the best competitors in the world have had uncontrolled landings that have ended in disaster and sometimes, death.

Have you ever watched those extreme skiers when they are coming down an incredibly steep mountain slope that involves clearing rock formations and various other hazards? They are seemingly in some sort of control most of the time, but when they lose an edge or land off balance, the results can be horrific. I have watched skiers on T.V. tumble down mountain sides completely out of control. Usually the time the first time they hit the snow off balance, they explode into a mass of skis, poles, mitts, and hats. Then they tumble for what seems forever as the slopes are so steep that there is no way to control their fall until gravity brings them to a stop.

Often many bones are broken, concussions suffered, or death results from this extreme sport that requires the utmost skill and confidence in order to survive the inherent risk of letting the forces of gravity control your downward plunge. To me, it is one of the riskiest extreme sports, because a person is just one mistake away from disaster every second of the descent.

To me, the riskiest extreme sports are the ones that leave far too much control in the hands of fate and to little in the hands of the person involved. Push the envelope on these extreme sports often enough and one can almost be guaranteed that tragedy will eventually strike.

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