Xtreme Sports

Xtreme sports, which emerged during the 1960s and 1970s when women athletes were struggling for positioning in mainstream traditional sports, are also often referred to as “alternative,” “extreme,” “x,” “gravity,” “lifestyle,” and “adventure” sports. The term extreme encompasses various activities, many of which are often dangerous, involve significant risk, and occur in the wilderness or outdoors. An effective system of classification denotes where the events take place: snow, ice, rock, raging water, air, and skate parks.

Female athletes participated frequently in early versions of extreme sports. The sports celebrate freedom and liberty, as female participants epitomized strength, individuality, and courage. Extreme sports can provide women with an alternative identity compared with traditional sports, and therefore women can experience empowerment via their participation. In 2003, there was heightened participation in extreme sports for women; for instance, snowboarding, kayaking, and paintball were the three fastest-growing sports for U.S. women. Despite rapid growth in the United States, Queenstown, New Zealand, calls itself the “Adventure Sports Capital of the World” and the birthplace of bungee jumping.

In recent years, women's participation has increased in extreme sports; however, taking physical risk in sports remains primarily a masculine endeavor. Women were often criticized for taking unnecessary risks through participation in sport by the medical community and mainstream society. And it was believed that women were not adequately biologically equipped to handle such activities. The discourse surrounding mountaineer Alison Hargreaves's suitability to participate in high-risk mountaineering demonstrates the tensions female athletes face when participating in extreme sports. Despite being one of the top climbers in the world, she was criticized severely in media reports following her death on K2 Mountain in 1995 for risking her life because she was a mother. The common belief was that mothers should not risk their bodies, and lives, to perform dangerous physical activities.

Each extreme sport has its own history, environment, geography, identity, development patterns, equipment, physical requirements, and therefore gender constructions and relations. Consequently, some extreme sports are believed to be more male dominated than others. Women athletes are treated with respect among fellow extreme participants when considered “one of the boys”—if they can keep up with the big jumps and daring moves. Ultimately, extreme sports are defined by male standards.