Adventure Sports - That Shapes Youth

By Mohamad Yousuf

There are many kinds of adventure sports like Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski-Mountaineering, Snowboarding, mountaineering, long distance skating, channel swimming, Paragliding, parasailing, micro light flying, air surfing, hot air ballooning, sky diving, hang gliding, bungee jumps, zorbing, wild water Rafting and Kayaking, mountain cycling, high altitude trekking, cave exploration, motor sports, desert safari, and under water exploration etc. Some of these are also called “Extreme Sports”. Many of them are also called as “Mountain Sports”.

Men have always wanted to climb to the mountain tops and go deep in the oceans. The spirit of adventure and desire to know about things and places has led them to do so. Adventure activities were undertaken in the ancient times too but it gained momentum in recent years. Most of the adventure sports are also used for warfare purposes. It is admitted fact that these sports are vital part of one’s all round development and an important area of man’s cultural heritage. There is no other thought that a sport is a science of outdoors where a person is exposed to the hardships of life.

Reasons for Undertaking Adventure

Adventure sports are important component and integral part of general education. Without sports educational system is incomplete. As much importance is attached to sports as to life outdoors. There may be a number of reasons as to why people take to Mountain Sports in our country but I think the most appropriate is that they are “fully alive on the mountains”. It is a way of living, acting and thinking together with a fraternity of people who seek high adventure in the high places. It brings about complete mental, emotional and spiritual integration. Some of us do it because we want to test physical endurance. Companionship is strong motivation too. Mountaineers stay in close touch and this chance for lasting friendship lifts mountaineering above other sports. Society makes relationship superficial; mountaineering deepens them because “shared adversity has a lot to do. Adventure makes youth resourceful and teaches them to face difficulties. Adventure sports are not only a source of thrill, excitement and joy but it also provides a valuable opportunity for developing such traits so as to prepare youngsters for facing challenges against all odds confidently. This provides a creative and happy outlet for the abundant energy, enthusiasm and imagination of the youth. These are unique sports which also teach self-discipline and strengthen one’s faith. The boy or girl, who knows how to rule his or her servant, here learns how to serve others.

Growth of Adventure

A trip to mountains has a soothing effect on soul. “Why do you go to climb the Everest” was once asked from Late Mallory. His precise reply was “because it is there”. Another noted hiker remarks, “sometime you must get out of the bustle of the city. The more you go the more peaks will call you”. These sports are becoming increasingly popular amongst the youth allover the world, and have gained world wide recognition as an activity, which contributes most significantly to the harmonious development of the youth. These sports are also catching up fast among the youth of our country. Besides number of climbing, skiing and allied sports institutes, hundreds of adventure clubs are operating in the country for promotion of these scintillating sports among student and non student youth. ***These sports have tremendous potential in tourism sector. These are in fact job oriented sports. A trained person can start his travel agency, or work as Mountain/River Guide, Ski Instructor etc. and can earn his livelihood soon after completing his studies. Many boys who were trained to adventure sports by Kashmir University could find jobs abroad.

Training Institutions

There are some Institutions and Travel Agencies in Kashmir which are conducting and initiating preliminary and advanced training camps for the local youth at different health resorts in the valley. The prominent among them are Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Gulmarg, Jawahir Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Tourism Department (Kashmir), University of Kashmir, Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Adventure Call Tours and Travels, Srinagar etc. Their motive for going through with these activities is to expose the youth of the sate to nature, hardships and hazards which undoubtedly in turn builds 8Cs i.e. Character, confidence, courage, coordination, cooperation, camaraderie, competence and spirit of competition.

While training youth to adventure one must ensure professional competence, adequate safety and proper infrastructure. There is need of encouraging these healthy outdoor pursuits among our youth through Schools, Colleges, Universities, voluntary Clubs, Associations and NGOs. Not only imparting training in adventure the participants must be aware about preservation of flora, fauna and avi-fauna of the state. They must also be trained to First-aid, rescue work, high altitude sickness, navigation, survival in the mountains

Schemes for Financial Assistance

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the University Grants Commission have taken up Schemes under which financial assistance is provided to voluntary organizations and educational institutes for promoting adventure sports. It is felt necessary that every school/ college/University of the country must organize adventure activities for their students, which would certainly create and foster amongst them a spirit of risk-taking, cooperative team work, the capacity to ready and vital response to challenging situations and of endurance. This will also provide a creative and happy outlet for the abundant energy, enthusiasm and imagination of the youth.

The article was published on 29th September, 2008 Daily Rising Kashmir, Srinagar.