The floodgates opened. The X Games did more than introduce some over-the-top hobbies; they introduced the notion that any crazy idea--with proper protective gear--was worth trying. Before you knew it, people were trying everything. Plus, the accompanying drop in video camera prices meant that a lot of extreme hobbies were being videotaped and broadcast to other curious adventurers.
The Original Extreme Games
It's debatable when and where extreme hobbies began; perhaps it's the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. Suffice it to say, people have always had the urge to try something wild, exclaiming, "Because it's there!" or "The only easy day was yesterday!" as their battle cries. Today, people have a wide selection of extreme activities to choose from, including extreme stamp collecting. (It's true: they travel around the country and cancel stamps with antique post office equipment!) For outdoorsy folks, there are more physical adventures that provide the rush of adrenaline they are looking for.
Water, Water Everywhere
Any time you add water to a sport or activity, the risk factor--and enjoyment level--rises. While there are varying degrees of danger in boating, skiing, tubing, canoeing, rafting, and swimming, the stakes are higher in wreck diving, treasure hunting, deep water diving, and kiteboarding. (Kiteboarding is similar to parasailing, but with a smaller sail--a kite, you could say--and instead of skis, a kiter uses a plank about the size of a snowboard.)
The Sky's the Limit
For those scared of heights, nothing is more extreme than facing your phobia head-on. While paragliding and skydiving have been thrilling people for a while, base-jumping and bungee jumping are relatively new on the extreme scene. Those require very dependable equipment, but there are some activities that don't require anything at all. Cliff diving, which is equal parts acrophobia and aquaphobia, doesn't require expensive gear, just a gung-ho attitude.
Speaking of cheap thrills, one of the newest extreme hobbies is called Le Parkour. Seen in hip ads and hipper music videos, these extremists start off casually running before leaping across rooftops and down staircases, bouncing off bus stop benches, and tumbling back into a "normal" run. It's part martial arts and part gymnastics, with a little bit of Spider-Man or Jackie Chan thrown in. An urban phenomenon, it's a favorite with kids who can't afford the expensive gear of other extreme hobbies.
Last but Not Least
Riding ATVs, motorcycles, 4x4s, and monster trucks is an extreme hobby, according to those who do it. The "kill it and grill it" crowd deserves a shout-out for hunting, fishing, shooting, and archery. Finally, LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) includes civil war reenactments and paintball wars, to name a few.
