Keeping Extreme Sports Safe

Ian K    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Accident, Adventure Sports, Danger, equipment, extreme sports, gear, Injury, Protection, Protective clothing, Risk, Safety, Safety Tips, Skateboarding, Sport Safety

It’s not been a good month for skateboarding. There have been a number of accidents that have made the press, and inevitably questions are being asked about the safety of extreme sports.

So, it seems only right we set the record straight, and make four points on safety and risk: read more

Buying your Extreme Sports Gear

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure Sports, Adventure Sports Equipment, buy, buying, equipment, gear, hire, kit, owning, rental, sell

Getting into a new extreme sport is exciting: there’s so much to learn and a huge amount of exploration and discovery to be enjoyed. That said, it’s not always cheap. Some sports require very little investment, but with others, you really need to have the right gear.

It’s the move from renting to owning that financially hurts the most. Buying your own rig or board is a real step forward; it’s also a statement that you are fully committed to your exciting new world. And with ownership comes freedom: no more waiting for hire shops to open, no more rushing back to return your wetsuit just as the sun is setting and the best waves of the day are rising. With your own kit and equipment, you can get riding, skiing or flying any time you like. read more

When sports equipment fails

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     equipment

Sir Chris Hoy and team mates could have missed out on a Gold medal yesterday thanks to faulty pedals. Competing at the Copenhagen World Track Cycling Championships, the Olympic star snapped his right pedal as he readied for the off. No harm done – other than some tainted pride – but imagine it was a crampon or an ice axe?

We’ve all had it. Something frays, breaks or tears just when we need it most. Annoying yes, but for some sports people, the integrity of their equipment is all.

We are all guilty of craving the latest, the lightest and the cleverest in kit; all of which is far from indestructible – despite firms sometimes claiming otherwise. But it can and does fail. read more