Sky Diving

Sky Diving

Group member ( Haji, Obaid and Mohamed Abdulrab )

Introduction

Skydiving is one of the most dangerous and intriguing sports or activities. In sky diving, the participants go high in the air, hundreds or even thousands of meters, and then fall back to the earth through gravity. The free fall from several hundred meters is the best part of the exercise and essentially forms the best part of the sky diving experience. After the free fall part, the participants are expected to slow down their fall by using either of two devices: a parachute or a wing suit.

History

Skydiving began in around 1797. Aeronaut Andre- Jacques Garnerin used a canvas canopy- like equipment to replace the modern parachute and a small basket to sit in. These were tethered under a hot air balloon, and some distance into the balloon flight, the aeronaut would open up his chute. Parachuting was later developed for military purposes. However, the original uses for skydiving and parachuting did not have anything to do with battles. The main reason was to find a way to reach people in an airborne emergency. In this respect, people who developed problems in a hot air balloons and aircraft's would need help delivered to them, and the best method was through parachuting. The use of parachuting as means to deliver soldiers into a battlefield and areas that are unreachable by foot or vehicles started much later. The activity was later developed to be a competition and finally sport.

 

Ascension

As there are options in choosing the best descending methods, there is also the option of choosing the best ascending method. The most common method, which is not necessarily the best, is using an airplane. For the sake of the cost cutting and the availability of resources, the most common medium for sky divers is usually a propeller driven airplane. However, skydivers have jumped from a myriad of places. For instance, there are major world events that bring hundreds of skydivers together to perform synchronized jumps. In these events, the divers get the opportunity to perform jumps from helicopters, Boeing 727s and even hot air balloons as part of the festivities. In other places, the most daring of skydivers will attempt dangerous endeavors by diving or jumping from very tall buildings, cliffs and even bridges too (Popular Science, 1929, p.29).

 

The Dive

When the jumpers dive and leave the vehicle of ascension, the sky divers experience a forward throw. This is the continued ‘flight’ forwards while also experiencing the effect of gravity for a few seconds. The gravity will assist in a downward movement while the plane’s momentum will offer forward momentum. This is not the case in other stationery means or medium of height. For instance, a tall building or a hot air balloon will not have the forwards movement since they are stationary (or very slow, for hot air balloon). In free fall part, skydivers generally lack the falling experience. This is because their bodies will resist the air at very high speeds. The speeds could at times reach above about 80 km/h (50 mph), and thus it provides some feeling of weight and direction (Dropzone, 2013). The divers at some point can manipulate the shape of their bodies in free fall. As such a diver can turn, generate a forwards motion and even a backwards motion and sometimes lift upwards. However, these directional alterations will be in relation to the other jumpers and not the ground. All this time, the diver will be getting closer to the ground (Popular Science, 1929). These activities make the most interesting aspect of skydiving.

The Descent

Of the choices between a wing suit and a parachute, the wing suit is probably more dangerous and harder to use. A wing suit is basically a suit that has its arms and legs joined using a flap of clothing. The space between the legs too is also joined so that the when the wearer spreads his arms and legs, he can easily resist gravity and either glide in the air of float. However, very few people know how to handle a wing suit and the wing suit is not available in many regions of the world (Red bull, 2012). Similarly, sky diving is not as expensive as it should be in the world. For the descent, most people use and recommend the use of a parachute. This has resulted to sky diving earning the alternative name, or the synonym parachuting. However, in other countries, there is no option of which equipment to use, because of poor or scarce training and trainers on the variety. There countries strictly train participants on the use of parachutes only.

The Dangers of Skydiving

There are many avenues and opportunities for danger in skydiving. It is essentially a dangerous activity in itself. First, the ascension is an individual risk. The plane could crash, or the person could fall from the cliff or building top at any time resulting to instant death. Secondly, the descent and/ or the fall have many instances where it could go wrong. For instance, the parachute could get stuck and refuse to open (Centurion, 2013). This could result in a free fall all the way to the ground. As such, the person could suffer from shock before he hits the ground and even death from the impact on the ground. Sometimes, the parachute may launch and open successfully. However, the person could have difficulty to control it due to poor skill or other faulty features of the parachute. This could have several devastating eventualities. Among these, there is a collision with an object on the ground such as buildings or trees resulting to injuries and even fatalities (Webmaster 2010).

Other dangers could have natural causes such as poor weather conditions. Poor weather conditions essentially cause poor visibility and the divers end up colliding with objects, and do not realize who close the ground is, they end up launching the chute too late. However, it is possible to completely avoid these conditions altogether.

Diving at Night

Skydiving or parachuting is not always done during the day. Professional and divers with experience sometimes jump at night. However, the rules and regulations around the weather requirements remain the same. There other regulations that should be followed with regards to safety at night. For instance, more equipment is used than the daytime jumps. Additionally, the law (at least in the United States of America) requires the skydiver to have at least a B-License which is an advanced skydiving license. Prior to the jumps, the jumping teams will hold a meeting with the local safety officials. This meeting should cover directions as to who will be responsible for what roles during the jumps. A lighted altimeter (preferably one enabled- audio altimeter) is necessary. Skydivers are also required to take lights such as flashlights up with them. This is to ensure that they can check their canopies to ensure that they have properly deployed. Secondly, they need to ensure that they are visible to other skydivers, andeven aircraft. According to FAA regulations, jumpers and skydivers jumping at night should wear a light that is visible for at least three miles (or 5 km) in every direction (United States Parachute Association, 2013).

Conclusion

Apart from the fact that people jump for sporting and adventure purposes, there are events skydiving events that are held for the sake of raising funds for specific causes. For instance, in Arizona, more than one hundred and fifty women jumped from a plane in order to raise money for their organization, in support of women empowerment and cancer treatment (The Arizona Republic, 2009). The event attracted women from more than thirty countries. Other than this, people form skydiving groups to break records and some for the sense of adventure. Skydiving, as a sport (an international sport), began in 1952. However, it is generally a recreational activity in many parts of the world, and a competitive sport specifically in the first world countries. The other positive uses include the use as a deployment mechanism of military personnel and occasionally, airborne rescue operations. For recreational purposes, a skydiving centre is opened up as a commercial operation spot or a club. For ease of access to ascension vehicles, it will be usually located at an airport and allows for individual and groups of skydivers up for a fee.

Reference

Centurion, B. (2013). Is Skydiving Dangerous?Retrieved November 21, 2013, from Elsbee: http://eslbee.com/zone/benjamin_centurion/inquiry.htm

Dropzone. (2013). Skydiving. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from Dropzone.com: http://www.dropzone.com/

Popular Science. (1929, November). Made 500 Parachute Jumps. Popular Science Monthly , p. 65.

Popular Science. (1929, September). Parachute Jumper Leaps 135 Feet from Bridge. Popular Science Monthly , p. 59.

Redbull. (2012, May 24). 'Wingman' completes world's first sky dive without a parachute. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from Redbull.com: http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Article/Wingman-completes-worlds-first-skydive-without-a-parachute-021243213346445

The Arizona Republic. (2009, September 30). 181 women break skydiving record. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from The Arizona Republic.

United States Parachute Association. (2013). Skydiving Safety. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from USPA: http://www.uspa.org/AboutSkydiving/SkydivingSafety/tabid/526/Default.aspx

Webmaster. (2010, December 30). Parachutist Online. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://parachutistonline.com/feature/safest-year%E2%80%94-2009-fatality-summary

Mountain Climbing

Mountain Climbing

Mountain climbing, also referred to as mountaineering refers to the practice of scaling raised points for sport, research or enjoyment (Sheel, 2004).

Types of Mountain Climbing

Three categories of mountain hiking exist, which are trail climbing, rock climbing and ice climbing. Trail climbing involves the participant simply hiking through the length of trails to the mountain crest. Normally, the mountains are comparatively small and the trails are not extremely steep. Rock climbing is a second example and it involves a landscape with steeper slopes and larger mountains (Sheel, 2004). The members have to climb on hands and feet, using specialized equipment, ranging from thick rubber-soled boots, shoes, rope, and steel spikes (pitons), that are forced into the rock to aid in climbing. Ice climbing is the third example and it is only common in extremely high mountains, whose crests are beyond the timber line. The equipment required for ice climbing include the ice axe and clip-on boot spikes, known as crampons, which are used on solid ice or snow (Ewert, 1985).

History

Mountain climbing can be dated long time back in the ancient periods where people used to climb mountains to perform their daily mandatory activities such as retrieving lost animals. For some other reasons, early attempts to scale mountain peaks were inspired by the need to construct altars, to see an overview of one’s own neighborhood or the neighboring countryside, and to observe meteorological or geographical phenomena (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996). However, climbing mountains in a much more technical manner such as a sport, bares a shorter history. People try to get accomplishments from conquering sports of mountain climbing of those mountains that have never been previously climbed or tried.

Mountain climbing as a sport started in the 1780 and after the ascent of Mont Blanc, in the year 1786, people started looking for other high heights mountains to make their first ascents (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996). Asia has been known for having some of the toughest mountainous landscapes because it has the majority of the globe’s highest peaks. In1953, Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand made history by becoming the first to conquer climbing Mt. Everest (world’s highest - 8,850 m/29,035 ft) (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996). One year later, Italians Achilles and Lino conquered climbing the second largest mountain in the world, K2, which is also located in the Himalayas. Since at the time the mountains were being climbed for the first time, the mountaineers used to challenge themselves by seeking to reach at the peak using the most challenging routes and techniques as well as using less help from their climbing partners. In 1978, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler made history by pioneering the climbing of Mt. Everest without oxygen support (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996). Two years later, Messner, who was from Italy returned to beat their conquest by climbing Mount Everest all alone and without oxygen.

As time went by, people sought to use more challenging techniques to climb mountains. For instance in the late 20^th and early 21^st centuries, people became more daring by some surmounting groups of related summits. In 1985, Dick Bass pioneered the Seven Summits by scaling each the highest mountain on every continent. 14 years later, Messner completed climbing these seven mountains in the world which were all higher than 26,000 ft. On May 2005, Ed Viesturs from the United States also accomplished this feat by climbing the 14 highest mountains in the world in 16 years and completed the feat without the benefit of bottled oxygen (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996).

Motivation

People climb mountains for various reasons, like research and adventure or enjoyment. The thrill of the challenge that people derive from climbing mountains is satisfying to many mountain climbers. They take pleasure in the unobstructed view they get from mountain tops and the excitement of reaching a summit (Sheel, 2004). It is sport the mountain climbers enjoy with their fellow participants to explore and have fun by beating the challenge of getting to the heights the hills provide. In addition to the physical exertion, completing the task with any injuries is considered a success because the sport involves many safety risks (Ewert, 1985).

Development

Mountain climbing has lately become a famous sport and by the publicizing the improvements made on mountain climbing equipments, successes and tragedies encountered during mountain climbing, the number of mountain climbers has increased (Stebbins, 2005). Many countries therefore have demanded that the mountaineers must first acquire permits to climb the mountains. In Himalayan for example, mountaineers must pay environmental bond, which is necessary in guaranteeing that the Mountaineers will remove all their waste by the end of their trip. Environmental efforts also seek to persuade the local rock climbers to participate in annual clean up day to pick up litter, maintain approach trails and wash off the gymnastic chalk from the rock (Sheel, 2004). The US, for instance, has regulations in place to control equipment that destroy the rock.

There is also the Access Fund to help the climbers' access mountaineering spots and also help in solving environmental problems related to cliffs in the US. Recently, many people have been involved in climbing small avenues in a much more controlled setting arising from the invention of indoor rock climbing from 1980s (Stebbins, 2005). However, outdoor climbing is more challenging and requires new skills and judgmental calls because dangers such as cliff are caused by bad weather, loose rocks and falling stones.

During the late 20^th centuries, new developments in climbing competitions were made whereby rock and ice climbing of all ages and skills became so popular. These competitions are based on how fast a climber can ascend within a given time. These sports have led to the creation of more climbing gyms, club sponsor competitions and national organizations for climbing sports such as the American Sport Climbing Federation. In 1932 Union Internationale d’Alpinism et Alpinists (UIAA), was founded and since then the organization has presented about eighty climbing associations in about sixty countries (Stebbins, 2005).

The Components And Rules

The participants’ primary concern is safety, therefore, there are rules to be observed. Hiking excursions must be carefully planned. Detailed information on the length and difficulty should be noted and party members should be told where one is going. Before any excursion, one should pay attention to the latest weather forecast and be watchful for any weather changes in the course of the excursion. Individuals should objectively assess their fitness levels and choose a suitable excursion based on the evaluation. Excursions should be begun in the early morning hours and returns accomplished before nightfall.

Participants should adopt a moderate and  standard walking speed and include adequate breaks where children are involved. They should carry a first aid kit, select light and breathable clothes to wear plus some spare clothing. They should also ensure that they have carried enough food and fluids. The participants should treat nature with respect and protect it by avoiding littering or making noise. They should always trail the marked paths and frequently check on the map for directions.

Tournaments

Mountaineering competition became fashionable in the last bits of 20^th century, with  different hikers in the rock and ice climbing categories showcasing their skills and abilities. The regular climbing contest is judged depending on the height one can climb within a definite period. Speed climbing contest pit hikers against a timer to observe how swift they can climb a wall. Local hiking gyms and clubs fund contests, as do national organizations (Kurtzman & Zauhar, 2005).

 Globally, mountaineers, ice and rock hikers from over 80 associations in about 60 countries are represented by the Union Internationale d’Alpinism et Alpinists (UIAA) since it was founded in 1932 (Kurtzman & Zauhar, 2005). As the sport’s popularity increased significantly in the 1980s and 1990s, the UIAA’s responsibility also increased in terms of mountain safety, tutoring, and environmental management.

Competitors from all over the world are hosted in major events although it has been noted there is always a profound attendance by China in the speed climbing, and  Australia and Eastern Europe appear monopolize on the technical discipline. Junior climbers are also hosted in the championships though many of the contestants in the main adult events are still in their teenage years (Kurtzman & Zauhar, 2005).

References

Ewert, A. L. A. N. (1985). Why people climb: the relationship of participant motives and experience level to mountaineering. Journal of Leisure Research,17(3), 241-250.

Frison-Roche, R., & Jouty, S. (1996). A history of mountain climbing. Flammarion-Pere Castor.

Kurtzman, J., & Zauhar, J. (2005). Sports tourism consumer motivation. Journal of Sport Tourism, 10(1), 21-31.

Sheel, A. W. (2004). Physiology of sport rock climbing. British journal of sports medicine, 38(3), 355-359.

Stebbins, R. A. (2005). Challenging mountain nature: Risk, motive and lifestyle in three hobbyist sports. Calgary: Detselig.

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