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.