Sources: Berkshire Encyclopedia of Extreme Sports

Abstract

Authors are on the academic staff of the University of Waikato, New Zealand. The Berkshire Encyclopedia of Extreme Sports offers a comprehensive dissection of this new and emerging phenomenon, and its characteristics, philosophy, ideology, functions, history and future. The Encyclopedia contextualizes extreme sports, especially their key component -- risk -- from a number of disciplinary perspectives including history, sociology, psychology, theology and physiology. In examining the history of individual extreme sports, the Encyclopedia explores ancient, feudal and cross-cultural forms while also looking at the appeal of modern extreme activities to entrepreneurs, marketers, advertisers and the media as they seek to connect with consumers in the critical 13-34-age cohort. The commercialization of extreme sports as well as their institutionalization -- formation of governing bodies, grand prix circuits, and inclusion in traditional mega-events such as the Olympic Games -- highlights another critical dimension addressed by the Encyclopedia, their contradictory and paradoxical nature. As numerous commentators have observed, participants in extreme sports are typically no less racist, sexist and class and status conscious than their brothers and sisters participating in mainstream sports. - Publisher. Adventure racing -- Agon Motif -- Alaska -- Ballooning -- Barrel jumping -- BASE jumping -- Baumgartner, Felix -- Belle, Bavid -- Big wave contests -- BMX (Bicycle motocross) -- Body and extreme sport, The -- Bonifay, Parks -- Bouldering -- Bouldering, North America -- Buildering -- Bungee jumping -- Carmichael, Ricky -- Cave diving -- Caving -- Climbing -- Coleman, Bessie -- Commercialization -- Crandal, Louise -- da Silva, Fabiola -- Dakidea, Tara -- de Gayardon, Patrick -- Deegan, Brian -- Degrown and Z-Boys -- Dora, Miki -- Eisenberg, Ado -- Extreme ironing -- Extreme media -- Ferreras Rodriquez, Pipin -- Foley, Mick -- Foucan, Sebastian -- France -- Free diving -- Gender -- Gladiator competitions -- Haakonen, Terje -- Hackett, A.J. -- Hamilton, Laird -- Hang gliding -- Hawk, Tony -- Hillary, Sir Edmund and Tenzig Norgay -- Hoffman, Mat -- Ice yachting -- Iditarod -- Initiation/hazing -- Injury -- In-line skating/rollerblading -- Jaws -- Jet skiing -- Jousting -- Juio, Jon -- Kelly, Craig -- Khris, Talg -- Kite surfing -- Knievel, Evel -- Leadership and extreme sport -- Long distance racing and pedestrianism -- Meaning of extreme, The -- Media and extreme sport sport -- Mirra, Dave -- Motocross -- Motorvehicle sports -- Mountain bike racing -- Muldowney, Shirley -- Mullen, Rodney -- Noll, Greg -- Nyquist, Ryan -- Open water swimming -- Outrigger canoe racing -- Pankration -- Parkour -- Physiology of risk -- Playgrounds -- Professional wrestling -- Psychology of risk -- Queenstown -- Rock climbing -- Round-the-world yacht racing -- Scuba diving -- Shaw, Phil (Steam) -- Skateboarding -- Ski jumping -- Skiing -- Skyjumping -- Skiing -- Skydiving/skysurfing -- Snowboarding -- Sociology of risk -- Spirituality -- Stamstad, John -- Streeter, Tanya -- Strength -- Surfing -- Triathlon -- Ultimate fighting -- Ultramarathon -- Valeruz, Tony -- Venice Beach -- Vine jumping -- Violence -- Wakeboarding -- Wakeskating -- Waterskiing -- Whistler -- White, Shaun -- Whiteness and extreme sports -- Whitewater kayaking and canoeing -- Windsurfing -- Wing walking -- X games.