Extreme
If you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for a new rush, extreme skiing might be just up your ally. The amazing speed combined with the rush of adrenaline keeps many great skiers coming back for more each winter. And of course there is the prestige that goes with being an extremist – not many people are willing to put their necks on the line in pursuit of the ultimate combination of danger, speed and thrill – so extreme skiers are generally both admired and seen as being somewhat insane.
If you think that this sounds like the sort of thing you were born to do, then keep reading. Extreme skiing is typically performed on a steep slope with a slant of over 60 degrees which may be combined with dangerous terrain. Often participants in this sport are taken to the starting point by helicopter from which they drop to the rough snow below and start their skiing trip instantly. As they cut their way down the mountain side, extreme skiers have to be alert to the various possible dangers which surround them such as sudden dips in the ground, obstacles under the snow, sudden drops and cliff edges and of course, the legendary avalanche! The sport is usually enjoyed off-piste – that is, on compacted snow, which means that it is far harder to control yourself and keep your sense of direction.
Extreme skiing nowadays is classified under Big Mountain skiing or Freeskiing. The term ‘extreme skiing’ was originally coined in the 80’s and a lot has changed since then. However the thrill and excitement of the sport is, in essence, the same and it keeps adrenaline junkies with a passion for the sport coming back again and again – even after bones have been broken and bruises have healed.