Extreme fitness activities such as skateboarding, snowboarding, rock climbing, and surfing are labeled as such due to the high risk that comes with participation in the activity. Great heights, high speeds, and hostile environments are all components of extreme fitness workouts. However, these same activities can be excellent cardiovascular and muscle strengthening regimes as well.

Extreme fitness: a combination of physical and mental skills

Extreme workouts often take place in inhospitable environments, such as fast moving rapids and sheer cliff sides, as in white water kayaking or mountain climbing, respectively. However, as extreme fitness activities tend to require feats of great physical prowess, they also require a certain degree of mental prowess, pushing both the mind and the body to and past known limits.

Extreme fitness activities are generally solo activities that an individual may also utilize in order to confront fears or overcome personal obstacles, such as a fear of heights or of water. While training and toning the muscles is necessary during the activity, the mind is engaged as well, allowing for both physical and mental development. And although extreme fitness activities are considered dangerous by many, improvements in safety equipment and accessories can greatly reduce the risks of injury from either environment or error.

What are the costs of extreme sports?

Extreme fitness activities can also be much more expensive than mainstream fitness activities, with costs that go towards equipment, safety gear, or in some cases, travel. Snowboarding, surfing, water skiing, mountain climbing, paragliding, white water rafting, and kayaking all require specific locations and equipment in order for safe and proper participation. However, equipment and location availability grows with the extreme industry.

Extreme fitness: mainstream or out of the ordinary sport?

Some extreme fitness activities have become mainstream sporting events, as in the Olympic category for snowboarding. Many credit the hype created by public relations agencies in order to sell beverages and other products as “extreme” products for bringing previously dangerous and little-acknowledged extreme sport activities to the forefront of fitness.