by David Colello

Created on: April 27, 2008

In the world of extreme sports, there are countless opportunities for injury. Broken bones, torn ligaments, concussions, and burst arteries are all too common. But there are only a select few where death is a serious probability. Although few official statistics are kept on the risks of extreme sports, basejumping and big wave surfing seem obvious choices for top billing in the risk category. Compared to other extreme sports, these two stand out for a number of reasons.

Basejumping is a fringe sport even among those accustomed to skydiving, offering many unique risks and challenges. It involves jumping into mid-air, but not at 10,000 feet as is usual in skydiving. Jumping from a plane gives you time to enjoy the experience of freefall casually. You have two parachutes, a primary and a back-up, which you have time to deploy before impact. In basejumping however, people jump from much lower heights.

Whether from bridges, buildings, cliffs, radio towers, or any other object they can find, basejumpers will rarely be above 1,000 feet up when they give themselves up to gravity. This leaves very little room for error. If their parachute doesn't open, they will impact within seconds. There is also the extra added danger of hitting something besides the ground during their descent. Several jumpers have been blown into cliffsides or nearby buildings by the sheering winds that are present at low-altitude. Others have had their parachutes open, only to see them torn or deflated by guy wires. Well over 100 people have died from basejumping in the past 25 years for this reasons.

In addition to the threat of death, a successful basejump carries risks as well. People don't seem to enjoy having basejumpers jump off of structures that they own, and serious fines and arrests follow. After jumps from tall buildings in major cities around the world, police try their best to meet the jumpers where they land. This adds to the excitement for the basejumpers, but it is an expensive risk nonetheless.

Big wave surfing has to rank at the top of anyone's list of the riskiest extreme sports. It is particularly dangerous due to the infrequency of big waves, which leads surfers to take "once in a lifetime" risks. When waves of 20, 40, or 60 feet start breaking, word goes out quickly to all the big wave surfers around the world. They flock to the site and charge into the surf, despite mass evacuations and warnings.

There are several ways for you to "shuffle off your mortal coil" while big wave surfing. When bailing on a wave of that magnitude, the initial fall is bad enough. Water is not exactly soft when hit following a 30 foot freefall. Provided that you manage to avoid breaking a bone or knocking yourself temporarily unconscious on impact, you will then be driven down 30 more feet underwater by the force of the wave. There is only a short window for the surfer to surface and take a breath before the next monster wave crashes over them. While underwater, they can be pummeled by currents into coral reefs or rocky shoals.

The most glaring risk is the complete lack of emergency rescue available. Your fellow surfers and anyone else in the area can be of no help. To go out into big wave surf is to confront nature one on one. You can only rely on your wits and your willpower to get you back to shore safely.

The inherent riskiness of extreme sports is part of their appeal, but basejumping and big wave surfing stand apart from the rest. They exemplify the individual struggle for achievement in the face of difficulty that is found in all the extreme sports.

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