The search for freedom in extreme sports: A phenomenological exploration

Abstract

Participation in extreme sports is continuing to grow, yet there is still little understanding of participant motivations in such sports. The purpose of this paper is to report on one aspect of motivation in extreme sports, the search for freedom. The study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. Fifteen international extreme sport participants who participated in sports such as BASE jumping, big wave surfing, extreme mountaineering, extreme skiing, rope free climbing and waterfall kayaking were interviewed about their experience of participating in an extreme sport. Results reveal six elements of freedom:freedom from constraints, freedom as movement, freedom as letting go of the need for control, freedom as the release of fear, freedom as being at one, and finally freedom as choice and responsibility. The findings reveal that motivations in extreme sport do not simply mirror traditional images of risk taking and adrenaline and that motivations in extreme sports also include an exploration of the ways in which humans seek fundamental human values.

Adventurous Physical Activity Environments: A Mainstream Intervention for Mental Health

“…A growing body of literature suggests that adventurous physical activity may improve physical and psychological well-being [28][29][30][31][32]. Participants report outcomes such as: positive life transformations, optimal experiences, enhanced quality of life, emotional regulation, development of emotional agency in interpersonal relationships, joy, goal achievement, social connections, escape from boredom, pushing personal boundaries, overcoming fear, and pleasurable kinesthetic bodily sensations [29,30,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39].…”

“…Participants report outcomes such as: positive life transformations, optimal experiences, enhanced quality of life, emotional regulation, development of emotional agency in interpersonal relationships, joy, goal achievement, social connections, escape from boredom, pushing personal boundaries, overcoming fear, and pleasurable kinesthetic bodily sensations [29,30,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. Research on adventure education and wilderness therapy programs further underscores these findings.…”

Designing Affordances for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity and Exercise in Sedentary Individuals

“…With a particular effectivity, individuals can perceive and interact with the world in certain wayseven noticing certain affordances that may be imperceptible to other people. For example, parkour participants or BASE jumpers [5,6] tend to view urban environments as a means to PA, and what would normally be considered barriers to locomotion in other groups, such as walls or fences at the top of high buildings, are perceived as invitations to engage in acts like climbing, balancing and jumping.…”

Psychological Health of Professional Athletes Involved in Extreme Sports

“…В исследовании E. Brymer, R. Schweitrer утверждается, что занятие экстремальными видами спорта позволяет обрести чувство свободы. Ими даже выделено 6 элементов свободы: от ограничения дви-жений, отсутствие контроля, отсутствие страха, суще-ствование один на один с собой, как выбор и как от-ветственность [11]. С этими авторами можно согласиться и считать реальным наличие возможно-сти получить и позитивные изменения в психологиче-ской сфере спортсменов.…”