Extreme sports are an area many people typically don’t adventure in since they add an added risk most people aren’t willing to take.
However, many people fail to realize how fun and rewarding extreme sports can be for someone who does them properly.
With this in mind, surfing is one of the most popular sports for its intense and physically demanding tendencies, people have difficulty trying to master.
Still, it begs the question, is surfing an extreme sport?
To answer this question…yes, surfing is an extreme sport because of the tricks and extreme natural mechanisms associated with the sport. In simple terms, any sport that requires someone to balance on a board while riding waves and avoiding sharks should most definitely fall under the extreme sports category.
It’s fascinating to look at the specifics of a sport and see why it falls under a particular area.
Regardless of surfing being an extreme sport, many know the dangers and brutal nature of the sport.
Not many can surf well, and that’s the primary point of the intense dealings of surfing.
Still, if someone is willing to put the time in to learn and pursuit surfing, they can certainly say they know how to do one of the extreme sports with surfing.
Nevertheless, down below, we’re going to discuss everything there is to know about surfing and why it’s an extreme sport.
We’ll discuss why it’s an extreme sport, if it’s a dangerous extreme sport, and tips for being good at it.
From there, we’ll go over various other information related to surfing that’ll surely help you begin your extreme sports journey with surfing.
Without delaying it any further, let’s get it started!
Why is surfing an extreme sport?
Pinpointing why surfing is an extreme sport requires the knowledge of what an extreme sport is.
Not knowing the definition of extreme sports will make it challenging to list any sport as an extreme sport.
An extreme sport is defined as a sport with high speeds and high risk at play.
Alternative names for extreme sports include action sports and alternative sports because they’re not as sought after as more mainstream sports like baseball and football.
With something like surfing in mind, surfing falls under the extreme sports tab since it’s a high speed and high risk.
It can’t get much riskier for a person than to physically ride a massive wave in the ocean while balancing on a literal piece of wood.
People tend to associate extreme sports with BMX, snowboarding, and skateboarding, but this isn’t the case.
Although the standard attractiveness of doing tricks through BMX, skateboarding, and snowboarding makes them easy to be extreme sports, there are more extreme sports than most realize.
Other than what’s listed above, freestyle skiing, in-line roller-skating, street luge, and mountain biking also fall under the extreme sports tab.
In fact, there’s probably more niche sports that fall under this category, it’s just that most people aren’t aware of them like they are with skateboarding or snowboarding.
Is surfing a dangerous extreme sport?
As far as danger is concerned, many can assert that surfing is a dangerous sport for what it demands on a person.
Technically speaking, every extreme sport is hazardous since that’s the primary characteristic of what makes them an extreme sport.
With the specifics of surfing at hand, there are a few points of safety concern tied to surfing that should be highlighted.
Although sharks are always a concern, that’s such a rarity that it’s barely ever a concern for surfers to worry about.
Nevertheless, balance is the biggest concern with surfing.
If you don’t have proper balance, you can easily wipe out and get injured, which is never a good idea.
Falling down into the ocean under a wave can call for a severe consequence.
Aside from balance, being over-confident is a big issue with surfers.
Surfers like to try and do more than they can handle, especially early on.
Although beginner surfers tend to know their limits, slightly experienced surfers might try to do waves that are way too big for them to do.
Lastly, although the shark’s overall danger is rare, there is still room for concern that should be highlighted.
Whenever you’re in the ocean and plan to go out to surf, you need to be aware of the potential threat of something like sharks.
Always be mindful of local reports and if it’s safe for you to go out.
What are some tips being good at an extreme sport like surfing?
Like any other sport, there are a number of tips from professionals to become great at something like surfing.
Extreme sports are very physically demanding and require more safety tips than anything else.
Nevertheless, down below are a few tips tied to surfing every surfer should know.
Start Slow
First and foremost, make sure you start slow and don’t try to run yourself out there too quickly.
Trying to begin surfing on a massive wave right away is never a good idea, which is why you should start by paddling and balancing first and work your way up after.
Practice Balance/Low Center of Gravity
Balance is the most crucial element of surfing, and not having a good balance on a board will prompt you the potential for a severe injury.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure you have a low center of gravity, which will help you throughout the process.
Work Your Way Up
Similar to starting slow, make sure you increase the difficulty as time goes on.
Basically, always do something slightly more challenging after every few sessions.
Improvement can only be made if you’re willing to challenge yourself and improve.
Consistency
Practice makes perfect, and the only way to achieve perfection is through consistency.
If you talk to any professional athlete, they’ll tell you the importance of having a healthy workout regiment that consistently improves every week.
Watch Videos About Technique and Wave History
Like reading articles about why surfing is an extreme sport, make sure you watch videos about the technique and history of surfing.
The method will show you how to do the entire process correctly, while wave and surfing history videos will give you a better idea of how the process actually works.
What should be avoided in an extreme sport like surfing?
As many tips as there are to be better at surfing, there’s an equal number of recommendations for stuff you shouldn’t do while surfing.
Aside from surfing concerns with being safe, there are a few unwritten rules people need to know about surfing.
For starters, make sure you don’t drop-in on someone if they’re closest to the peak.
The rule is whoever is most relative to the peak of a wave, has dibs on riding it.
If you try to cut them off, that goes against surfing etiquette and shouldn’t be done.
Make sure you communicate and respect everyone around you.
Surfers have a strong community, and if you’re new on the block, you want to make sure you do everything you can to join the community.
Annoying everyone and being rude isn’t the way to be accepted.
Apologize if you make a mistake and always hold on to your board.
You don’t want your board to get away from you, but accidents do happen.
Whatever the case might be, make sure you seek your board out and get it as fast as you can.
Lastly, know your limits and don’t try to impress everyone.
Expert surfers will be able to tell when someone is a beginner and is trying to do more than they should.
Surfers are willing to help, so don’t make them think you’re trying to outdo everyone.
Is it difficult to do an extreme sport like surfing?
As sweet and straightforward surfing might seem, while watching a professional surfer, it’s much more complicated than most people realize.
Basically, surfing is one of the most cumbersome and demanding sports in the entire world.
There are a ton of factors with surfing that most sports don’t have.
You need to know how to balance correctly, ride, paddle, look for a wave, not wipe out, look out for sharks and people, and much more.
Compared to other sports, there’s a lot tied to surfing that’s challenging for most people to understand.
Not to mention the effect of wind, tides, and swells that change every single day.
Getting used to the environment around you is another factor most people don’t realize is a major part of surfing.
Still, with enough practice and perseverance, you’ll be on your way to becoming a master surfer before you know it.
Like anything else, patience and practice are the two critical parts of surfing, and you’ll be able to do it before you know it.
Surfing is an extreme sport that’ll surely interest people who are willing to step out of their comfort zone and do something so fun and rewarding as surfing.
Be sure to begin your surfing journey sooner than later and catch a wave!
