Before we start, we want to make it clear that the activities that Yumping.co.uk lists are all run by trained and, where necessary, qualified guides who use the best equipment available and tailor the activity to the abilities of their customers. These experiences might not be so risky, but they remain popular!
The Science
As we mentioned above, doing extreme sports usually involves going somewhere - and doing something - that you shouldn’t. This should judgement is based on the fact that there are inherent and immediate dangers to, for example, climbing up a cliff in breaking waves or jumping out of a plane at 15,000ft. The awareness of those dangers pushes us into survival mode. The brain releases large quantities of adrenaline in what is commonly called the fight or flight response. This hormone makes our heart beat faster and our muscles prepare for action in order to face the danger or run away.
When we lean into the experience and feel the adrenaline rush, it’s a very intense sensation. Getting through the experience, what we might call surviving, leaves us with the adrenaline and a mixture of other hormones such as dopamine in our systems, creating an incredible, heart-pounding high. As with any kind of high, it can be addictive! Read more about the science here.
The Social Factor
Of course, no one is an island. It’s not just the internal interplay of chemicals that makes extreme sports popular, but the social rewards that come with it. In the first place, we’re social animals and sharing experiences is a key part of the bonding processes that we all go through. If the intensity of the experience is dialled up, it only makes sense that interpersonal bonds should become stronger too. On top of that, we can all agree that navigating a deep gorge with a crashing river at the bottom wouldn’t feel half as intimidating in the company of some good friends as it would alone!
However, with our social instincts come the competitive ones. Though we might not admit it, we all like to show off from time to time so that we stand out from the crowd. One of the best ways to do that is by daring to do what others are too afraid to try. Pulling off some wicked stunts on the land, in the air or at sea is a sure-fire way to get noticed!
The Escapism
Finally, there’s the fact that we all need to shake up our routine from time to time. More than ever, our lives are dictated by timetables and schedules, safety regulations and biometric tracking, and so it’s normal that we feel the need to break those bonds. Many extreme sports, like bungee jumping, are over in a few seconds but the experience transcends time, taking our mind off the ticking clock and making a brief moment feel as long as a lifetime.
Other risky sports give us the opportunity to escape from our daily lives in a more physical way. Most rapid rivers are found in remote, mountainous areas, so going on a white water adventure is a fantastic excuse to take a trip to a breathtaking part of the world.
Of course, extreme sports aren’t for everyone. A lot of people get their kicks in other ways, but there will always be adventures among us, people who aren’t satisfied to do what’s expected of them. For the high-risk thrill seekers and those who are content with less strenuous activities, there’s Yumping. What will your next adventure be?
