Extreme sports have been growing in popularity for many years now. Multiple activities fall into this category of intense sports with high levels of inherent danger. Defining the world of extreme athletics can be tough to do since there are so many different activities included under this term. Still, it is safe to say that pretty much all of them involve a high degree of speed, danger, special gear, and physical and mental exertion. These sports certainly are not for the faint of heart. People seeking thrills are the ones that flock to these intense and adrenaline packed activities.

It is debatable as to exactly which sports can be classified as extreme sports. We can get a pretty good idea of the types of activities included in this category by looking at some of the common elements that most extreme sports share. Athletes involved in this field tend to face more adverse challenges. Traditional athletes have to compete against other people, but extreme athletes go up against other environmental obstacles and uncontrollable variables such as weather conditions and terrain surface.

Weather and terrain play especially big roles in most extreme sports. While conditions can be controlled to a certain extent in regular sports, extreme activities involve uncontrollable factors like wave height, snow conditions, and wind speed. Some of the sports that definitely fall into this category include paragliding, skydiving, inline skating, mountain-biking, free-skiing, snowboarding, kite-surfing, rock climbing, and surfing. There are certainly some other activities that could be considered to fit the bill for this category of sport. The common threads are the increased levels of danger, skill, uncontrollable conditions, and adrenaline. It may be hard to judge each and every sport, but there is no denying the incredible acrobatics, stunts, and physical challenges that this field of activities presents.

The extreme sports term was really made popular by the X Games, but it has been around far longer than most people realize. These types of sports can be competitive or non-competitive. Those people who thirst for adventure and intense challenges are naturally drawn to this field of sport in search of something more. The thrill of going up against nature and other elements makes for a truly memorable experience. That is why extreme sports continue to gain so much popularity. You can find information on just about any extreme sport, so look for more on whatever it is that interests you.