Base Jumping
This is the most dangerous of sports to participate in. The person has no control or check on his performance. All depends on the parachute. Jumpers are simply blind-betting their life on whether the chute opens or not. The result could only be a safe landing or sure death. Statistics show that base jumping has consumed over 180 lives since start around 1980.
Iditarod
Iditarod is also known as the “Last Great Race”. The rough Alaskan ice terrain is always changing its shape across the 1150 miles track that crosses mountains, tundra, and snow forests. The Dog-sled racers face temperatures of minus 50 degrees and strong cold winds. The organizers of this brutal race simply ignore the high count of the dogs that die during the races. The race participants suffer snow-bites, bruised or broken ribs, and legs, broken bones and concussions. Seldom people finish the race unsheathed. So far only about 700 people have reached the FINISH LINE while Mount Everest has been surpassed by more people.
Rugby
The world’s most roughest and brutal contact sport has the least protective gear. This is regarded as the maximum injury prone game. The vicious tackling produces far more broken bones, torn muscles and concussions than even marshal arts. The totally absorbed players don’t stop till exhausted by injuries.
Cave Diving
The diver dives down about 100 feet into an unknown pitch completely at the mercy of the conditions underneath the surface. The base-jumper’s safe landing depends on the parachute opening while cave divers’ return depends upon what he discovers below. The risks range from spinal-cord, brain and lungs failure, breathing problems besides unfriendly creatures’ attach. Reportedly over 500 have died since the first such dive in 1960.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is a very tough and courageous sport but carries a high death toll rate. The spirits and strength are at the optimum level when ascending. These are at the lowest level when descending. The slippery tracks and climatic changes and fatigue make retrieve hazardous. Medical help is almost impossible up there while helicopter assistance is always uncertain. The insurance classification rates this sport at category 5 which is next to naked knife sports. About 20 lives are claimed each year in the U.S.A. alone.
Lawn Bowls
Lawn Bowls is a really popular men and women’s game but most dangerous as well. This game is the highest death claimer worldwide. The players are deeply involved in the game till their last breath. They stop at nothing short of victory, in their pursuit. Those who escape death end up with bruises, torn knees, broken hips and bone fractures. The game generates extreme stresses resulting in strokes and even heart attach.
Big Wave Surfing
Wave surfing is great fun and gives unlimited achievement joy. Surfers with a lot of guts and high level of alertness can only risk riding the giant 50 feet water walls. These monster waves can off-set life for miles deep into the coastlines. The huge force can kill the surfers or burry them deep underwater to drown or smash onto hidden rocks. If the board-hinge sticks they are pulled along with a force that can bulldoze complete house structures in seconds. Often sharks are drawn in that increases the hazards. People regard big wave surfing as very dangerous by bikini-clad girls and their rescuers, when wave intensity persists. Most of the rescued survivors stay paralyzed for months, if lucky to avoid sharks.
Bull Riding
Bull riding was entirely associated with Old Western Ranching activities. In the beginning fairs and some sort of cattle/bull gymnastics laid the basis of the bull riding that we see today. This sport is painful for the animal as its genitals are tied to make it more ferocious. The bull exhausts its energy by hurling its 1700 lbs. weight twisting, leaping and tossing the rider, at times 10 feet up in the air. The rider’s abilities reflect how he manures his fall whether back on the animal or on the one inch layer of dust cushion on the ground. The ultimate fate of the rider depends on the posture of landing. He is lucky if he does not hit the ground flat or get locked on the horns for another big toss. At times the bull gives a horrible chase when the rider lands upright within its reach. Breaking of jaws, ribs and collar-bones is quite common. The other participants help divert the bull’s attention otherwise this sport would involve much bloodshed of the riders.
Cheerleading
The past few decades have seen development of a new joyful but risky trend in sports. The morale lifting is entrusted to dancing girls grouped just outside the field lines. They jump into action at the slightest advantage taken by their team. These girls in skimpy outfits cannot feel the danger instantly. All happens in seconds when team players chasing the ball suddenly change direction or the fast superstars are carried over by their shear body momentum and come banging into these fragile jumping dolls completely unprotected to bear such impacts. The result is obvious. Broken legs, ribs, spinal injuries and bruises are the most common. Reportedly about 20000 cheerleading girls suffer injuries every year worldwide. Much is needed by them safety-wise.
High Altitude Climbing
The high summits have always been challenging and require extreme guts and committed determination to surpass the top 10 highest mountain peaks. Besides the usual climbing dangers, people often have to pass over frozen dead bodies on the way and on steeps, on valley glaciers and in the snow-rivers. Up there every step is final as the gravity also works against climbers. When you reach the top you can enjoy your success. Remember your work is only half done and return will not be an easy trot. UV radiation can harm your eyesight and your this accomplishment can make you careless. One can never think of medical aid, physical rescue or even helicopter assistance which is always uncertain under fast changing climate. The fatality rate is declining but is around one dying for every six summits.
