Dr.K: Extreme Tales Weblog http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/ Personal thoughts about Extreme Sports inspired by the Extreme Tales project ... Contact me. en Copyright 2007 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:42:43 +0100 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 65 Year Old Fights Off Cougar With Pen ... Nothing to do with "Extreme Sports" - but this is the sort of tale that really is an "Extreme Tale" ...

A 65-year-old Californian woman has saved the life of her husband, 70, by fighting off an attacking mountain lion with a small log and his pen.

Jim and Nell Hamm were walking in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park when the cougar wrestled Jim to the ground.

Nell started hitting the animal with the log but it kept hold of Jim's head. She then tried to stick the pen in its eye. The cougar eventually let go.

Mr Hamm is in fair condition after having his lips stitched back together.


The explorers and settlers, the inventors and crazies, the travellers and explorers, all have tales to tell - and they are all "Extreme" in different ways ...

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/65_year_old_fights_off_cougar.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/65_year_old_fights_off_cougar.html extreme tales Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:42:43 +0100 Skateboarding Marathon Record An update here on the man who wanted to "Skate Australia" - apparently he has finished ...

A British man today broke the record for the longest journey made on a skateboard after completing a charity trek across Australia.

Dave Cornthwaite, of Swansea, south Wales, finished the final section of his 5,820km (3,638 mile) journey in Brisbane at around 2.30am GMT (12.30pm local time).

The 27-year-old graphic designer began his epic trip on his battered skateboard Elsa in Perth, Western Australia, on August 30.

He has since passed through Adelaide, along the Great Ocean Road, Melbourne, Victoria, and Sydney in New South Wales, notching up an average of 60km a day.

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Mr Cornthwaite's antipodean odyssey, which has raised more than £16,000 for three children's charities, smashed the previous record for a skateboard journey, set by an American who skated 4,830km in 2003.

He arrived in Brisbane yesterday, stopping 3km (2 miles) from the finishing line before completing the final stretch in the city's South Bank area today.

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/skateboarding_marathon_record.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/skateboarding_marathon_record.html skateboarding Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:25:23 +0100 Extreme Tales Newsboard is dead The "Extreme Tales Newsboard" - a digg-style news site hosted on the CrispyNews site is going down. Apparently CrispyNews are giving up on their free service to concentrate on something called "CrispyIdeas".

Right now I am busy salvaging the most interesting posts from the Extreme Tales Newsboard - and tucking them away in their proper place here on the Extreme Tales Weblog. I've technorati tagged everything from the old "Extreme Tales Newsboard" site to make it easier to notice what has been migrated.

Once I've migrated I'll revamp this site a little bit and then go back to posting here. It was nice using the CrispyNews engine for while - the ability to add, comment vote and discuss in the forums was good - but now the service is closing down it just means more work ....

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/extreme_tales_newsboard_is_dea.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/extreme_tales_newsboard_is_dea.html extreme tales Fri, 19 Jan 2007 19:18:35 +0100 Skateboarding Twins Take Off Tristan and Nic Puehse are fraternal twins who were born on December 8, 1997 and began skating just after their 6th birthday. Their natural athletic ability and toughness, combined with a "no-fear" attitude have made them serious competitors.

They began skating in CASL's (California Amateur Skateboard League) 8 and Under division in May 2004. In their very first CASL competition, Tristan took 1st and Best Trick while Nic placed 2nd. In August 2004, they were moved up to the 10 and under Sponsored division while still just six years old!

In July 2004, after 2 months of competitive skating, Nic won gold and Tristan silver at the California State Games in San Diego.

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/skateboarding_twins_take_off.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/skateboarding_twins_take_off.html skateboarding Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:01:37 +0100 Football and soccer more dangerous than surfing Who are the biggest thrill seekers of all? Not surfers. Sure, surfing may rank as one of the world's coolest sports, but football -- even soccer -- outstrips it for danger, a new study says.

Based on data from 32 worldwide surfing competitions held between March 1999 and September 2005, researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown Medical School found the rate of significant injury among surfers to be 6.6 per 1,000 hours of surfing -- about one-third the rate found in men's college soccer and one-fifth that of men's college football.

"Soccer had about 19 injuries, and college football had about 33,'' in a similar period of activity, says Dr. Andrew Nathanson, an emergency medicine physician at Rhode Island Hospital and lead author of the study, published this month in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/football_and_soccer_more_dange.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/football_and_soccer_more_dange.html extreme tales Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:03:10 +0100 BASE Jumper Arrested An Angwin man was arrested at the foot of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan on Dec. 3 for allegedly BASE jumping off the famous rock formation.

According to Ranger Leslie Reynolds, Walden Grindle, 28, of Angwin, and Fernando Motta, 29, of Oakland, were ascending fixed ropes on the rappel route when they encountered off-duty Ranger Keith Lober, who struck up a conversation with them.

The two men asked if Lober was a ranger, and when he assured them he wasn’t, they said they planned to BASE jump from El Capitan that night, Reynolds said. Later in the evening they did so, and Grindle was arrested by Lober and other rangers as he landed. Motta evaded the rangers in the dark, but turned himself in two hours later, Reynolds said.

Both men were charged with illegal air delivery, and Motta was charged with possession of marijuana, Reynolds said. Among the evidence seized by rangers was video from Motta’s helmet camera, Reynolds said.
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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/base_jumper_arrested.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/base_jumper_arrested.html base jumping Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:28:36 +0100 Surfing Scholarship Awarded Crikey!! - a scholarship to study and learn surfing - it wasn't like that in my day - more's the pity!!

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A YOUNG Port Alfred surfer has been awarded a surfing scholarship from the International Surfing Association.

Lungani Memani, 17, was chosen along with four other surfers from a pool of 20 applicants as recipients of the 2007 scholarships.

Memani and the other recipients will each receive $12 000 (R87 000).

Memani, who started surfing when he was 10, said he began as a lifesaver before doing any surfing.

“I was approached by Warwick Heny, a surfer, who asked me if I was interested in doing surfing.”

Memani said he enjoyed surfing so much that he wanted to become a professional surfer.

“It‘s a very good feeling to be in the water. I don‘t think there‘s anything I‘d like to do more than surfing.
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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/surfing_scholarship_awarded.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/surfing_scholarship_awarded.html surfing Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:26:50 +0100 BASE Jumper "could still be charged" Note that this time it could only be "trespassing and vandalism" - and not "illegal air delivery". The authorities have a real hard time pinning down exactly what to charge BASE jumpers with - but they are determined to stamp out "illegal" BASE jumping.

What to you think? Are you a BASE jumper who has been prosecuted? Do you think the laws are adequate or should be changed? If you are a law-enforcement official or local counciller - please tell us your views also

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A thrill-seeking Edmonton man is facing possible charges after climbing a Telus communications tower early yesterday and parachuting to the ground.

The unidentified 29-year-old BASE jumper caught the attention of two cops just moments before he landed in a field near 83 Street and 90 Avenue, said Edmonton police spokesman Jeff Wuite.

The officers were patrolling the south side about 3 a.m., when they spotted the parachutist coming in for a landing in an adjacent field, Wuite explained.

"After first claiming he had jumped from an airplane, the man admitted to jumping from a nearby communications tower," Wuite said.

The urban skydiver has been released from police custody, while the question of charges - including trespassing and vandalism - is being assessed.

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/base_jumper_could_still_be_cha.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/base_jumper_could_still_be_cha.html base jumping Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:25:17 +0100 Beckhams Try "Indoor Skydiving" Not very often we get to link to "Hello" magazine - but it looks like "indoor skydiving" is going mainstream - as the Beckhams try it out ....

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The former Spice Girl's husband David Beckham had forked out £1,200 to privately hire out the Airkix centre in Milton Keynes - where a 150mph wind tunnel recreates the exhilarating sensation of freefall parachuting. Sons Brooklyn, seven, and four-year-old Romeo spent 20 minutes with their mum and dad lying face-down on tables to learn the parachute manoeuvres before entering the wind tunnel.

"David and Brooklyn were both really good and were going up and down and forward and back and turning like proper skydivers," revealed an insider. "Posh and Romeo had a great time, but weren't as good."

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/beckhams_try_indoor_skydiving.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/beckhams_try_indoor_skydiving.html skydiving Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:23:11 +0100 Parkour in Florida A new physical fitness fad is taking college campuses by storm, with participants bouncing off the walls — literally.

Parkour, an import from France, is a graceful race through urban settings, where runners vault, climb and career their way along, letting no obstacle stop their progress.

Traceurs, as participants are called, leap over walls, slip through railings and even dive through open windows. Think Jackie Chan, without the violence.

Its appearance at the University of Central Florida ranges from late-night runs through campus, caught on video posted on YouTube, to impromptu practice sessions near the campus theater by a group calling itself Renzhe Parkour, Urban Ninjas.

A growing network of Central Florida traceurs are turning up on blogs and parkour Web sites, all looking for the same thing: a place to run.
Source:Parkour in Florida

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/parkour_in_florida.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/parkour_in_florida.html parkour Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:19:31 +0100 Zen and Zero A follow up on "Zen and Zero" - described as " Hunter S. Thompson-esque film about a group of sea-starved Austrian surfers and their quest for waves".

You can find the trailer for "Zen and Zero" at SurfExtravaganza - Quicktime or WMV

"A 7000 Miles surfing pilgrimage through Central America looking for answers we didn't even know the questions for"

]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/zen_and_zero.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/zen_and_zero.html extreme tales Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:11:51 +0100 Of Wind and Waves Likewise you can catch up with more information about Of Wind and Waves

Of Wind and Waves" premiered to rave reviews and great enthusiasm on a four-island, six venue tour of Hawaii in August, 2006.

The documentary had its world premiere at Mountainfilm in Telluride over Memorial Day weekend, 2006, where it won "The Inspiration Award!" Woody's daughter, Mary Sue Gannon, and son, Jeffrey Sellon were in Telluride to share the experience and celebration.

In 2004, the 35-minute version won the "Audience Award for Best Short" at the Maui Film Festival. Watch this space for uncoming screenings in Hawaii, California and other states.

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/of_wind_and_waves.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/of_wind_and_waves.html extreme tales Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:04:59 +0100 Wild and Scenic Film Festival A couple of films of interest to Extreme Sports enthusiasts here:

"Of Wind and Waves" - an inspiring film profiling the extraordinary 92-year-old surfing, sailing and soaring legend Woody Brown.

"Zen and Zero" - a Hunter S. Thompson-esque film about a group of sea-starved Austrian surfers and their quest for waves.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/wild_and_scenic_film_festival.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/wild_and_scenic_film_festival.html extreme tales Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:13:16 +0100 Nick Hyne Makes Austrian Debut Hyne finished fourth in the opening round of World Cup circuit in Graz.

It has given the New Zealand snowboard camp a real boost ahead of next week's world championships in Switzerland in what was their debut as a team in a World Cup.

Hyne produced strong form in the Big Air competition to qualify for the top 16 and was then were involved in a series of gruelling head-to-head knockout rounds.

The New Zealander produced a stunning effort with a series of flawless moves that gave him the second highest score of 26.2 in the first finals round.

He was knocked out in the semifinals by the eventual winner, Finland's Peetu Piroinen.

"I'm very pleased. I was pretty tired at the end, because I arrived in Graz at 5am by car," Hyne said.

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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/nick_hyne_makes_austrian_debut.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/nick_hyne_makes_austrian_debut.html snowboarding Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:33:34 +0100 Skateboarders Fundraise to Build Skatepark The Cave City Skate Club is applying for grants and planning several fund-raisers to raise money to build a skateboard park within the Cave City Park, now that city officials have designated an area for the facility, spokesman Matthew Hubbard said.



The group is also getting donations from banks and other area businesses, he said.

Others who have represented the group during Cave City Council sessions include Anthony Compton and Susan Tully.

“Our first fund-raiser will be a concert,” Hubbard said. Hopefully, the concert will feature bands from a wide area and which are known to support skateboarders’ efforts, he said.

The group hopes to hold the concert in the city park, but nothing has been scheduled as yet because everything is in the planning stage, Hubbard said.

The group hopes to build a $175,000 skate facility that would also be used by inline skaters and freestyle bicyclists.
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]]> http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/skateboarders_fundraise_to_bui.html http://telefonica.net/web2/vailankanni/extreme/2007/01/skateboarders_fundraise_to_bui.html skateboarding Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:31:33 +0100