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TOP TEN MOST DANGEROUS SPORTS »
Top 10 most dangerous sports rated by the LoveToKnow editors.
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Top 10 List how we choose
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BASE
Jumping
BASE jumping is similar to sky diving, except the jumps are made at lower
altitudes, which increases the risk of injury or even death. BASE stands for
the places jumpers of this caliber can leap from. The letters stand for:
B=Buildings; A=Antennas; S=Spans (for example, bridges); and E=Earth
(cliffs).
Helmets are a must and today there are some special types of parachutes
made especially for this type of jumping. There are many
photographs of BASE jumpers from all over the world leaping from
different structures and land formations. You'll also find a
forum where you can interact with other BASE jumpers or wannabe BASE
jumpers. |
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Cave Diving
For those who've always dreamed of becoming explorers or scientists, cave
diving offers both. Although it can be extremely dangerous to go deep into
the depths of water within a cave, there are safer ways to participate in
this sport. There is
special equipment used for cave diving that will allow participants to
dive deep into the cave's water and see what is going on while down there.
You can also find a list of certified instructors and training facilities.
The more prepared you are, the better your cave dive will likely go. |
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Cheerleading
Think cheerleading is all about cute uniforms and fun chants? Think again.
Today's competitive cheerleaders are athletes, training their bodies to push
harder than ever before as more and more complicated stunts are performed.
Because of the intense gymnastics utilized on many squads, the
risk of injury becomes great.
Cheerleading pyramids can present another danger. If a spotter isn't
paying attention or a cheerleader falls unexpectedly, there is no guarantee
she'll be caught. The pyramid need not be particularly high to present
danger. In fact, the stunt the flyer performs may have as much to do with
the danger involved as the height of the pyramid itself. |
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Heliskiing
For those who've grown bored with the traditional ski trails, heliskiing
opens a whole new world of possibilities. Instead of hitting the slopes of a
popular tourist ski lodge, heliskiing involves a helicopter dropping the
skier in a remote location and allowing him to ski the natural slopes of
nature. The locations are typically selected carefully, but still present
some intense challenges. This sport is not for the novice skier. It is also
recommended that skiers use a
mountain guide to help them map out the terrain. In Europe, many
heliskiers are also
ski mountaineers, meaning they can climb rough terrain before skiing
back down it. |
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Motocross
Once a boys sport, today's Motocross includes both guys
and girls. This isn't a fun little bike ride through your local
neighborhood. Motocross involves rough trails, lots of dirt and mud and some
fellow riders who are out for blood. Helmets and
protective gear are a necessity and even with those riders sometimes
get injured. To get a small taste of the excitement of this sport, take a
look at the
gallery of photographs. Most Motocross racers have an entire team that
works with them to make sure their bike is in top shape and train to win
races. |
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Riding Horses
Horses are big animals and any sport involving them takes on some risk for
both rider and animal. Just how dangerous horseback riding is depends upon the
level of competition, your expertise, the temperament of your horse and
which category you might be competing in. Dressage is fairly low risk, while
barrel racing is higher risk, for example. Join the Horse and Rider
forums to discuss topics with other riders. For example, you can learn
how to do an emergency dismount. Knowing skills such as this could save your
life and reduce risk of injury. |
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Rock
Climbing
In this sport, climbers scale large rock faces. In rock climbing, you can
climb up or across. Most climbers will also rappel back down after climbing
to the top, which can entail risks of its own. There are many
different types of gear for rock climbers, including shoes, carabiners
and special gear for ice climbing, such as picks. You'll also find a nice
collection of photographs that other climbers have taken after scaling a
mountain. Be sure to check out articles on safety, such as
Multi-Pitch Safety Tips and
Tips on Avoiding Sunstroke. |
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Rugby
Rugby takes on two different forms with Rugby League and Rugby Union. While
both games are similar, there are different rules for each. Rugby is played
competitively around the world. The game is similar in nature to American
football. Rugby is played by youth leagues, in
high school, at the college level and professionally. Rugby is also
popular with women with special female leagues having formed in recent
years. Players should wear a skull cap to protect their ears. Rugby is a
contact sport without the padding of football uniforms. |
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Street Luging
This sport was born in the 1970s, when skate boarders would sit butt on
board and zoom down the streets in a dangerous race to the finish. The sport
of street luging has developed since those first days and now entails small
luging racers, helmets and lots of padding. Still, this is a dangerous
sport. Many street lugers participate on open roads. Cars and trucks on
those roads may fail to see the luger and this could result in injury. Learn
how to
get started in street luging. Methods suggested include learning from
more experienced riders or taking lessons on a closed road circuit. |
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Surfing
Surfing, especially the big waves, can be pretty dangerous. You'll find
features to get you started, like a summer gear guide and a surfboard
buyer's guide. Learn more about the sport of surfing by reading
surfing articles about topics such as how to paddle with purpose, how
the BP Oil Spill effected surfing and taking photographs of surfing. You'll
find surfing photographs and surfing videos on this site. Want to learn when
the next big surfing competition is taking place? Check out the events page,
which lists competitions and other surfing big events. |
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