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Extreme Sports in the Valley
By Rita Cook

You are an adrenaline junkie and you like to take chances when outdoors. You also crave sports that make other people say "no way." The most intense, the better. These sports include skydiving, surfing, rock climbing, snow skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hang gliding, bungee jumping,, and paintball among others. If any of these sports are on your list of either "have done" or "must do" then you can count yourself as an extreme sport enthusiast with an eye toward action and adventure activities that get your heart pumping.

Extreme sports involve a variety of elements with speed, height, a high level of physical exertion, highly specialized gear, and spectacular stunts being a part of the overall makeup. Extreme sports are often thought of as being more popular with the younger generation as a rule, but folks of all ages enjoy them. Take skydiving (in which you have to be at least 18), skiing, climbing, and the like. Whatever the case, extreme sports are more of the type of activities that are done alone and there are not usually too many coaches to guide the student either, at least not in the beginning.

While most conventional sports offer a point of reference regarding a level of challenges, most often in extreme sports the variables are different and it is usually the elements that are the athlete's biggest obstacle. In addition, that leads to the fact that when performing extreme sports for competition you are not only up against your challenger, but also against nature overall (think; weather, terrain, wind, snow, water and even a mountain).

So, whether you're interested in finding a weekend activity that gets your blood pumping, want to compete or just have to try it out once, the following list of extreme sports can be found around the area. All you need is the guts to get out there and do it!

Skydiving

Whether it's on your bucket list to do or you have already experienced it once, skydiving is most definitely one of the most popular extreme sports around. The most important words you'll learn will be 1, 2, arch; and then away you'll go as you jump out of the plane Within only about a four hour period from when you arrived, you and your instructor will be jumping out of a plane anywhere from 10,000 to 13,000 feet. First-time skydivers do what is called a tandem jump, which means you will jump with an instructor after a short lesson, which includes learning how to jump out of the plane and learning how to land either on your butt or on your feet depending on what the instructor tells you during the descent. With recent statistics showing that there were about 2.5 million jumps alone in 2007, Skydive locations in the area are also part of a bigger organization in the United States called the U.S. Parachute Association, with hundreds of facilities around the country. Many people skydive because they're afraid of heights, but in reality there is no sudden drop feeling at such a high rate of speed. In fact, the air acts almost like a cushion, supporting your body as you fly through the air. Some folks do feel as if they are losing their breath, but they're really not; it's just the rush of air and adrenaline. If you relax and breathe normally through your nose or mouth you're fine. "Skydiving really has a profound affect on people that jump for the first time… it's a feeling that's hard to put into words - pretty powerful stuff," says USPA spokesperson Robert Arends. In most cases, the skydiving company uses a turbine powered TWIN-engine aircraft, which takes around 20 minutes to get to the altitude for jumping. As you're in the air you are harnessed to your tandem instructor and when you jump, well, it's 60 of the best seconds of your life. The parachute is deployed after about one minute of 100 mile per hour freefalling or 1,000 feet every six seconds, which is followed by a three to four minute slow descent starting at around 5,000 feet and carrying you to a soft landing.

One of the reasons for the softer landing these days is that round parachutes are not used anymore; instead these have been replaced with rectangular "ram-air" canopies that have better directional control. The parachute fabrics are also made out of a more durable zero-porosity nylon fabric. So really, you just put on your jumpsuit, helmet, and goggles, which come in handy when freefalling at 150 miles per hour, and the instructor takes care of the rest.

Maybe it's time for you to mark skydiving off your "must do" list, but you're wondering if you're physically fit and ready for your first jump? Arends explains, "All participants in skydiving must meet the USPA's Basic Safety Requirements for medical fitness. A person should be in good health and physical condition to skydive and should not be on medication, which could affect judgment or performance. Some medical conditions can be properly managed if the instructor knows about them."

It is also important to add that at all USPA jump facilities, including Skydiving facilities in the area, do incorporate USPA policies and, as Ed Scott, Executive director of USPA, says, that goes for every skydiver in the nation, as well as coaches, instructors, safety and training advisors, drop zone owners, riggers, pilots, manufacturers and gear distributors. You can find locations around the country at www.USPA.org; however the closest location to San Fernando Valley and the surrounding area are both Perris and Lake Elsinore.

www.jimwallaceskydiving.com
www.skydiveperris.com
www.skydiveelsinore.com6
www.skydivesandiego.com

Surfing

Perhaps it doesn't appear as extreme as some of the other activities on the list, but surfing is still one of those sports that count toward a heart pumping, rushing good time. Surfing is relatively simple. It is basically the art of gliding toward the shore on a breaking wave on the top of a surfboard. However, looks can be deceiving. The sport is difficult to master and takes practice.

These days (unlike in the days of Beach Blanket Bingo) surfboards are lightweight synthetic and are much more agreeable for maneuverability. Basically, the surfer starts the activity at the point when the waves is forming then, facing shore, paddles toward the beach with the wave. The idea is for the wave to catch the board (thus the term "catch a wave) and then the surfer stands up and glides along the wave's crest - which looks great when you finally learn to do it.

Surfing actually began back in Hawaii where it was practiced as far back as the 1800s. It wasn't until the 1920s that it hit the California coast.

Places for surf gear and information in the area:
Malibu Surf Realty -
(310) 456-2221 - Malibu
Val Surf -
(818) 225-8177 - Woodland Hills
Surfboards by Kennedy
(818) 225-1999 - Woodland Hills
Grassroots Surf N Style -
(805) 371-4440 - Thousand Oaks
Surf City Squeeze -
(818) 884-8691 - Woodland Hills

Hang Gliding

There's just something about wind, indeed, that's why so many folks find hand gliding to be a great way to experience flying. Hang gliding is an air sport in which a pilot flies a light and unmotorized foot-launchable aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminum alloy or composite-framed fabric wing. The pilot is ensconced in a harness depending from the airframe, and exercises control by shifting body weight in opposition to a control frame, but other devices, including modern aircraft flight control systems, may be used. A company called Windsports, which is actually the largest and oldest hang gliding flight-training academy in southern California, is a good place to figure out if this extreme sport might be for you.

Windsports offers comprehensive hang gliding flight instruction, a full-time staff of professional instructors; beach-flying lessons, tandem flight training, and they also offer the only training program in southern California that will qualify you to fly at the world famous Sylmar Flight Park. Windsports was established in 1974 as southern California School of Hang Gliding by world-class competition pilots and instructors Joe Greblo and Richard Grigsby. These days, if its hang gliding you want to do, there is hardly a better place to do it. The fleet is modern, light weight hang gliders with 20-acre's at Dockweiler State Beach Hang Gliding Training Park and then the 25-acre Sylmar Flight Park for lessons and more hang gliding.

Windsports Hang Gliding
12650 Gridley St, Sylmar, CA
91342
(818) 367-2430

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is indeed one of those activities that you either love or hate. For the newbie, it looks pretty scary. However, even if you've never tried it, you can start with a fairly easy class and see how you take to it. There is a unique thrill that comes with climbing, but taking a class is highly recommended so that you can learn the fundamentals of both climbing techniques and the equipment you'll need. From an overview to basic movement techniques, to knots and belay skills, a school called Wilderness Outings is your best bet to begin and courses are offered at historic 'Stoney Point' where rock climbing luminaries such as Royal Robbins honed their crafts in the early days of rock climbing and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard made his name as a rock climber. With 300-foot high boulders, Stoney Point is located near the San Fernando Valley, off of Hwy. 118 and Topanga Canyon Blvd. The maximum group for each class is 10 persons with two instructors, but of course if you are a total beginner then you can always begin at an indoor facility such as Rockreation in West L.A. (www.rockreation.com) with 9,000 square feet of climbing space, 24 routes and around 25-foot walls.

Wilderness Outings
PO Box 1160
Idyllwild, CA 92549
877.4WILD-OUT or
877.494.5368
Rockreation
(310) 207-7199
http://rockreation.com

Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking, which sounds pretty easy, can actually be downright dangerous. For the most part, the sport entails riding a specific type of "mountain" bike off-road over rough terrain. If you are looking for a specific mountain bike keep in mind that most have a high level of durability and performance capabilities with wide, knobby tires, a large frame and good front fork or dual suspension shock absorbers. Don't be shocked, because you'll need all those nuts and bolts. When mountain biking you can do cross-country, downhill, free ride or street riding. Each type comes with its own set of skills. Most folks, who so to speak, just want to enjoy the ride, take to the dirt and with a little bit of endurance, bike handling skills, and confidence they're on their way.

A few mountain biking locations in the area include a place in Simi Valley called Chumash with a loop and single 70% track and 30% dirt road track at about 13 miles. Steep in some places, a trail description notes "This loop features some extremely challenging climbs up some nasty rocks, lots of ups and downs throughout, and some killer downhills. You will experience some great technical sections and some smooth fast sections. Deep sand, ruts, rocks, boulders, switchbacks, roots, and logs are a few of the obstacles awaiting you."

How to get there:

From I-5 get onto HWY 118 heading West to Kuehner. Exit here and turn right. You will see the trail and plenty room to park.

There is also East Long Canyon Trail in Simi Valley, again a loop with 5.70 miles and 90% single track or 10% fire/gravel road. Considered steep, trail notes indicate, "Extremely difficult ascent. If you can get up without tapping, you're a god/dess! It's about a three quarter mile ascent; once you're over the top you'll find wide fire roads and miles of easy-to-difficult single-track and fire roads."

How to get there:

Off Madera, turn into Wood Ranch (Wood Ranch Pkwy), head south about two miles. The pkwy dead-ends and continues left. At the dead end there's a dirt parking lot, there's the trailhead.

Paintball

Guns, messy paint, and action. Paintball is a guy thing, right? Maybe not. However, it can hurt and it can get chaotic. Around 40 countries around the world participate in the extreme sport of paintball. In fact, it has been called one of the "most diverse sports." It is played by men and women of all ages and life-styles. Paintball is a sport where women and men compete on equal ground. Youth may not always triumph. Quick wits go pretty far as
well as determination. Paintball is a hybrid sport of chess, tag, and hide-n-seek, but far more challenging then you could imagine."

There are a number of variations of paintball, but usually groups of players divide into two teams to play "Capture the Flag" or "Elimination." There are eight to 14 games played during the day and referees on the playing field enforce rules and monitor the safety of the players. The object is to simply eliminate every player on the other team in the time allotted.

For the game "Capture the Flag" players must capture the other team's flag while defending their own. Players are eliminated with a paint mark to the body larger than quarter size. Games usually have a 20-minute time limit and the game is won when one side grabs the flag and runs it to the correct station.

The paintballs are made of a penny size gelatin sphere capsule with colored vegetable oil inside. The gelatin is similar to medical capsules or bath oil beads and the liquid is non-toxic, non-caustic, water-soluble, and biodegradable.

If you play remember to wear gloves, and also a hat to keep the paint splatter out of your hair.

Conquest Paintball Park - San
Fernando Valley
(818) 503-7627

Bungee Jumping

Bungee jumping is an extreme sport in which the jumper leaps from a high surface while attached to an elastic cord. While one end of the cord is attached to the jumper's body the other end is attached to a stationary object at the jumping point. The jumper has to actually leap from the place he is jumping and that's usually a few hundred feet high. The elastic cord stretches during the jump and then snaps back up over and over again and with that the jumper bounces up and down over the length of the jumping area.

Sound dangerous enough? Most bungee jumpers will tell you it's not as bad as it sounds. One of the best places in the valley to experience this thrill is Bungee America. Founded in 1991, Bunjee America is actually the oldest operating bungee jumping company in the United States. They are also the only Southern California bungee jumping company in existence.

The company proclaims that they lead the industry in three areas: as the only company in California who is State licensed to bungee jump from a bridge, "The Bridge to Nowhere" bungee jumping site where the public can experience the thrills and exhilaration of bungee jumping first hand; second, equipment manufacturing and training, Bungee America manufactures the finest bungee cords, harnesses and associated rigging in the world and it's one stop shopping from consultation to complete bungee tower engineering, sales, and training and third, they have Hollywood's most experienced bungee jumping stunt coordinator and rigging team.

"If you can dream it, we can do it," is their slogan and if it's an adrenaline rush you're after you've got it. "In ten years, we have not experienced a single injury of any kind. Our technical knowledge is the best in the world and our safety record reflects that," they add.

Bungee America -
(310) 322-8892 - Calabasas

Skiing and Snowboarding

If you want some fun in the white stuff, then these high action snow sports are for you. Snow skiing is an activity that uses skis - a long, flat device worn on the feet that lets you slide smoothly over snow. The skis are used with boots that connect to the ski with a binding. Skiing techniques can be difficult, and so beginners are encouraged to take lessons at ski schools, which teach everything from turning and stopping safely to more advanced techniques. For beginners, skiing speeds are low, the terrain is not steep, and the risks are relatively low. For extreme skiers, testing their skills, the risks may be much higher.

Snowboarding is similar to skiing is that it also uses a board to glide over the snow. However, the board is wider, similar to a skateboard or surfboard. Both feet are strapped onto the board. There are many skills involved in snowboarding, such as maintaining body balance, pivoting and steering, mastering balance on the edge of the board, absorbing or adding to the pressure of the board, controlling speed, and coordinating your body movement with proper timing.

Mountain High Ski Resort -
www.mthigh.com/
Big Bear Ski Resort -
www.bigbearmountainresorts.com
Mammoth Ski Resort -
mammothmountain.com

Whatever sport you pick, it is sure to be an amazing experience. You will learn a new skill, and take a proverbial (or perhaps an actual) leap!

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