“Sick Jumps” Capture the Imagination

The rise of freestyle ski and snowboard events that has culminated in the addition of new events for 2014’s winter Olympics is built on the audience’s insatiable desire for thrills. When a competitor has hurtled down a slope to catch “the big air”, the audience usually descend into a silent rapture, which only erupts once the jump has been landed. These so-called “sick jumps” are the cornerstone of events in the Winter Games New Zealand, which concluded last week, and are sure to be among the standout images when the Olympic roadshow touches down in Sochi in 2014.

Courage and Skill

Two of the biggest attributes of a successful freestyle skier are courage and skill. A quick and agile mind is almost as useful as a quick and agile body, as calculations of speed, wind, and distance are needed to ensure the jump is not only landed, but the required tricks and combos are pulled off. Such is the importance put on such events nowadays that nations such as China are providing former divers and gymnasts with ski goggles and ski wear to try to get their hands on some Olympic medals.

Have a Go Yourself

For those of us not fortunate, brave or mad (delete as appropriate) enough to be taking part in the Winter Games, the prospect of strapping on a pair of skis and having a go yourself is not too daunting. With quality ski facilities up and down the country, including flagship centres at Milton Keynes and Manchester, there is no excuse not to blast down a couple of slopes.

Teen’s Hiking Death Latest in a Long Line at Yosemite

A 17-year-old boy, Kao Kue, was last week rushed to hospital with severe head injuries after taking a plunge in his walking boots at Yosemite National Park – the world famous nature reserve in California, USA.

He was out hiking last Saturday when he lost his footing on the steep, rocky Mist Trail, which is renowned for its difficult terrain, despite its popularity amongst visitors.

After four days of fighting for life, the young man passed away at Doctor’s Medical Center in Modesto, Central California the following Wednesday.

Before Kao, 14 outdoors enthusiasts have died this year alone at Yosemite National Park. There have been six drownings, two falls resulting in death, a car accident that led to a death, and five deaths of natural causes, according to a park ranger.

Controversially, Yosemite will not be including the teenager’s death in its annual statistics for Yosemite fatalities as, although the accident took place within the park, the death itself occurred in hospital and not inside park boundaries, so the official total for 2011 still stands at 14 so far. The official total of deaths within Yosemite park boundaries in 2010 was 15.

Perhaps even more controversially, when interviewed, park officials say they do not feel it is necessary to install more warning signs and/or protective measures to safeguard their visitors.
"We are adamant about educating all of Yosemite's visitors about potential dangers, as well as ensuring that it remains a wild place," said the park ranger.