Encyclopedia of Extreme Sports

(Hardback)

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Description

Students and extreme sport enthusiasts will not only learn about the sports themselves, but also about the techniques, innovations, engineering, and physics behind them. How do ice yachters achieve speeds of up to 150 MPH What does take to become a pro snowboarder Other parts of the encyclopedia highlight key areas of study, such as extreme sports and the media, the controversies surrounding, and the impact of extreme sports on our culture. A resource guide of print and electronic sources, competitions, organizations offers students an insider's guide to all things extreme. Inside readers will discover BASE (Building, Antenna tower, Span, Earth) Jumping. What's more dangerous than leaping off of a tall building Jumping off a structure that's much closer to the ground, and that's exactly what many BASE jumpers regularly do. The risks include malfunctioning parachutes, landing on rocks, into electrical wires and more. Readers will learn about Bhang Gliding, where experienced pilots perform full barrel rolls, inverted maneuvers and other stunt flying moves. It is no longer unusual for an experienced hang glider to travel 200 miles or reach altitudes above 10,000 feet. Coverage also includes information on caving, which involves exploring caves that travel deep into the earth, moutain biking, and many other sports.

Reviews

This is a well-written text that provides an overview of extreme sports. This encyclopedia is likely to appeal to a large number of individuals that are interested in general and extreme sports. . . . This is a useful text. Individuals with a general interest in sports and extreme sports are likely to find this to be an interesting. The text is likely to complement personal and public libraries. * ARBAonline *
The 81 entries in this encyclopedia chronicle the development and practice of 40 sporting activities that offer an athlete a higher degree of danger and personal expression than traditional sports. The author also relates the career of 19 prominent extreme athletes, describes five major competitions, and explores the psychology of risk, children and sports injuries, video games, and the role of sponsorships. Both black and white photographs and color photographs are provided along with a timeline of extreme sports. * Reference & Research Book News *
. . . written in an easy-to-read style suitable for readers ranging from teens to adults. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers. * Choice *

Author Bio

Kelly Boyer Sagert is a freelance writer who has published biographical material with Gale, Scribner, Oxford, and Harvard University, focusing on athletes and historical figures. She is the author of Joe Jackson: A Biography (Greenwood, 2004) and The 1970s (Greenwood, 2007).