As a sports fanatic, I’m always on the lookout for the most extreme sports when I traverse the globe. I realize that I almost never sit down and think about the dangers of the things I do in life. I act on my impulses before I think things through, which gets me into trouble as a result.
The following list identifies sports that are dangerous, inhumane and unnecessary – even for entertainment purposes. You should not attempt these stunts, unless you are willing to risk your life or a couple of limbs.
1. Bullfighting:
Bullfighting is a blood sport. A Spanish bullfight is set up to have men (matador) fight against a frightened and confused animal in an enclosed ring. Throughout the fight, the bull is tortured, enfeebled and brought to its knees by a variety of spears, spikes and daggers. These weapons impose incredible pain and the distraught bull is weakened by blood loss.
After approximately 15 minutes of extreme suffering, the matador finally slays the beaten bull. Many bulls die drowning in their own blood because of the matador’s imprecision, which often pierces the bull’s lungs instead of the heart. Following this, a short dagger (puntilla) is used to separate the bull’s spinal cord at the neck before the bull is hauled out of the arena. In the worst cases, the bull is still hanging onto life as it is hauled away.
This ‘sport’ is so violent that it is banned from television in Spain, especially on TVE-Spain’s state-run television channel.
2. Heli-Skiing:
Helli-skiing is off-train downhill skiing that is only accessible by helicopter. There is a reason why these areas have never been used before. If you ever dreamed of wide open terrains and zero lift lines, this is for you. However, people who seek to do such things are crazy and are risking their lives for the most extreme. Countries like France are on top for banning this sport.
3. High Altitude Mountain Climbing:
Mountain climbing can literally kill you. High Altitude Mountaineering, such as climbing Everest and these other 8000 meter peaks, is an extremely dangerous activity where people die every year. Frankly I cannot think of any more dangerous activity on earth!
In 2001, Babu Chiri Sherpa, probably the strongest Everest climber ever, died simply by stepping in the wrong place and falling into a crevasse. Sherpa climbed the summit 10 times.
4. Tennis:
Tennis injuries are only limited to joints and ligaments, so no one’s in real danger of dying. Tennis players sustain a number of injuries. There were over 90,000 tennis injuries reported in 2011, which comes to approximately 15% of estimated tennis players. But we’re just talking about injuries that were so bad that they required medical attention. Most ankle and wrist injuries surely were never reported.
5. Skiing with Yaks:
This sport is very popular in Manali, India, about two hours from Delhi. Yak skiing involves standing at the bottom of a large slope wearing skis and attached rope. Attached to the other end is a domesticated yak via a pulley attached to a tree at the summit.
At the go, the skier, who is holding a bucket of pony nuts as a treat for the yak, shakes the bucket to entice its attention and then drops it as they are hurled up the hill at a terrifying speed on their skis by the two-ton hairy yak on the other end of the rope.
Domesticated yaks are quite calm creatures and also love pony nuts. When tempted by their favorite treat, very little will stop them and God help you if you get in their way. One pieced of advise: Never shake the bucket before you’re tied to the Yak rope.