SPF – Just what does the adventure sports community need to know?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure Sports, Nivea, SPF, sun cream

Of all the sportspeople, adventure sports and extreme sports fans are perhaps those most ‘out there’. Typically, our passion for sports leaves us braving the elements, often for hours on end. And we all know about sun damage. For us, there is no hiding from the sun, especially when we are always chasing it.

Seeking out its rays, bathing in its warmth, and pushing ourselves through its heat are all very well. But beware: it’s a dangerous partner.

So dangerous in fact, that charity CancerUK says: “Non melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in the UK each year.”

And the most common cause? Long-term exposure to the sun.

The good news is, it’s preventable. There’s no reason not to be out windsurfing, skiing or cycling, for hours on end. Just read these well-advised tips. Just a minute could help. read more

Top 10 Snowboard Parks

Tim B    Top 10 Adventure Sports Travel Lists     snowboard, Snowboarding

Snowboarding took off in the late 1960s when skateboarders and surfers combined their expertise to create a dynamic new sport. They added snow, removed wheels, removed the threat of sharks and took to the pistes. Over the last twenty years, skateboarders have helped the sport evolve by introducing rails, boxes, and assorted obstacles, so that thrill-seeking snowboarders can ‘get tricky.’ Snowboard and ‘Terrain Parks’ can now be found at most resorts, and vary in size and difficulty. Whether you’re an enthusiastic beginner or a seasoned professional, here are ten highly recommended snowboard parks to add to your list. read more

Mongol Rally Madness!

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure, Adventure Sports, Mongol Rally, Overlanding, Travel, trekking

With little experience beyond a couple of European road trips, a team of five university students are taking on the Mongol Rally.

Unlike other overland adventures, this trip will see the team pick up a cheap small-engined wagon, drive it all the way to Mongolia before donating it to needy locals.

Thousands of miles, no set route, no real experience – are these guys adventurers, or just plain crazy? Let’s find out:

The team: Jon Medlock (22), Ben Newnum (19), Rob Fitzpatrick (22), Paul Challis (22) and Matt Challis (19).

Gentlemen: Why?

Paul: “To set off on a journey to the other side of the world, collecting money for a good cause four days after graduation, what better way is there to have a break after university?” Jon: “When life throws you an opportunity like this, I fail to see how people could turn it down – mortgages and property ladders can wait, we’re off!” read more

Extreme sports: pushing it to the max

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts    

The New Scientist has been running short features titled ‘Maxed Out: Testing Humans to Destruction’. It is looking at just how far the human body can be pushed.

Now, hopefully we know our own limits. We should also be able to judge what is physically safe – and have a little fun while testing ourselves – but how can we know what is physiologically safe?

Just what are the limits? What can our bodies actually do? read more

Rafting The Zambezi – Can anyone do it?

Tim B    Our Experts     Rafting, victoria falls, white water rafting, whitewater rafting, zambezi, zambia

The Zambezi has a bit of a reputation as it is one of the longest rivers in the world, but can anyone raft it? The answer, plain and simple is: Yes.

read more

Extreme Sports: Who’s pushing the boundaries?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     dean potter, extreme sports, Felix Baumgartner, free climbing, parkour, shaun white, Skateboarding, skydiving

In sports, if you think it has all been done before you have two choices: You can do it faster and better; or you can turn it upside down, twist it inside out, and innovate. Extreme sports do the latter. They are sports, radicalised. Turbocharged. Adrenalised. And with little, or no compromise.

Even still, these sports have their pioneers. We have picked five sports that take it to the edge, and people in each who are pushing back the limits of what is consider physically possible.

Why do they do it? It’s simple: There are no boundaries… read more

Are older adventure sports fans a risk, or an inspiration?

Tim B    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     old people, pensioners, ranulph fiennes

The news that more pensioners are having accidents when taking part in adventure sports is not surprising: More pensioners are taking part in adventure sports!

Adventure insurance specialist Perkins Slade’s director of sport, Richard Doubleday has been reported saying there has been “a big increase in the number of older people in accidents”.

While his findings are no doubt accurate, we can’t help but feel that they show what we already know: more pensioners are getting out there and taking part in sports, adventurous or otherwise – and good on them! read more