Top 10 Most Dangerous Sports In The World
Broken bones, comas, paralysis, and even death are all potential outcomes of playing some of the worlds most dangerous sports.
At PledgeSports, theyve helped athletes and teams all over the world from almost every sport known to man raise money through crowdfunding.
They’ve spiced things up a little by creating a list of the 10 most dangerous sports in the world €“ whether you choose to play them or not after reading is your choice!
CAUTION: The videos below are not for the feint of heart.
Bull Riding
This is a rodeo sport that involves staying mounted on a bull for as long as possible while the bull tries to buck off the rider. The very mention of mounting a 1000kg bull invokes jitters amongst us; so I guess much neednt be said about the perils entailed in the actual sport.
It has been considered as one of the most dangerous sports in the world with damage to the neck, head and face, as well as concussions, accounting for most of the injuries.
In 1989 after a bull gored and punctured the heart of cowboy Lane Frost it was made compulsory to wear protective vests made of ballistic material.
This and a slew of other protective measures have brought down the accidents in the sport but despite this, it still continues to be the €œmost dangerous 8 seconds in sports€.
Here are some great examples of successful sports crowdfunding campaigns
Rugby
With 13 burly players on either team smashing against each other for 80 minutes, therell definitely be sickening injuries. With the only protection being a mouth guard and spiked boots, players have to carry the ball down the field.
Rugby players use their whole bodies to play the game, leading to the controversial use of shoulder barging, body checking and the lifting tackle. These plays contribute to the concussions, torn ligaments, dislocated shoulders and even tetraplegia, that players can end up with.
See why Rugby players are some of the fittest and toughest athletes on the planet
Recent data shows that the repeated concussions also puts players at risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), brain damage and dementia.
Since 2001, collisions and rough tackles in rugby have led to the deaths of over a dozen professional players.
Car Racing
With cars hurtling across the track (NASCAR) or sand (Dakar Rally) at over 150mph, accidents are almost guaranteed. As car technology improves every year, one would think races €˜should be safer, but in reality, they are not. With factors like the weather and driver error, auto racing is still one of the most dangerous sports in the world.
Blitzing around a course at an average speed of 175mph, in a carbon fibre box, while trying not to crash is for the very brave or very stupid. Drivers are protected by fire-retardant suits and helmets, but those dont help in all accidents. Common injuries include smashed bones, excessive blood loss, trauma to the head etc.
The Indianapolis 500 has been held since 1911 and has shaped everything from the culture to the memorabilia associated with racing. But even the Indy 500 has led to 41 deaths since inception. In more recent times, there have been over 40 driver deaths at major racing circuits since 2001.
Big Wave Surfing
Big wave surfing is a discipline of surfing in which surfing maestros paddle into or are towed onto waves of the height of at least 20 feet. The most coveted crown is to ride an intimidating 100-foot wave which offers a prize a $100,000.
See where Big Wave Surfing ranks on our list of the worlds Toughest Sports
Some of the biggest hazards of this sport include drowning and being pulled into the water by the current or even have the head smashed against the hidden underwater rocks.
It is also not impossible to get whacked by the gun, which is the surfing board.
Street Luge
Street luge is a lot like skateboarding, except the rider is in a supine position on the luge board or sled, as he dashes down a paved road or course at extremely high speed.
The legality of this extreme gravity-powered activity is a shady issue.
Participants are required to put on protective leathers and helmets, or the chances of getting smashed by vehicles that will most likely not notice the riders will go higher. The chances of a collision on the road are high, short of which, only the feet work as brakes.
Cycling
Many might immediately jump to the conclusion that the injuries can be ascribed to extreme mountain biking while in reality, the major cause of injury is, wait for it, €˜other vehicles.
This has been documented vividly in the film Premium Rush. Every second of the film will keep you on the edge of your seat, such is the risk involved. The streets could prove to be an extremely dangerous place to frequent on your cycle and possibly a gateway to the hospital.
Check out where Cycling ranks on our list of the Ultimate Endurance Sports
Ranking sports on the basis of the dangers involved isnt exactly that easy. But one important factor is taking the necessary protective measures could go a long way, possibly even save your lives!
Base Jumping
If you thought that jumping off an airplane with 15,000 feet above ground is dangerous, think again.
For many, this isnt challenging enough apparently and hence they choose cliffs and man-made objects like towers. Jumping from such heights may sound safer while in
Jumping from such heights may sound safer while in reality, they tend to be trickier due to virtually no time available to deploy the parachutes or deal with any problems.
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BASE is actually an acronym for the type of objects people jump off. It stands for Buildings, Antennas (tower), Spans (or bridges) and Earth (natural formations like cliffs, canyons, gorges, etc.). First developed by Carl Boenish in 1978 it has grown in popularity since.
Climbing
It is not too hard to comprehend that mountain climbing essentially involves the risky activity of climbing up and down the highest of natural rocks, i.e. mountains.
Every element of this activity is risky.
The climber can receive different physical injuries like twisted ankles, sprained muscles, torn ligaments, broken bones, back injury, concussion, or frostbite, during the heavy physical activities or from falls.
Weather changes can be lethal, one can lose path easily, and deaths are quite common.
Boxing
A contact sport where the participants sole goal is to punch his opponent it doesnt come as a surprise that this isnt an injury free sport.
Our analysis show why Boxing produces some of the fittest athletes in any sport
Statistics reveal that 90% of boxers suffer brain damage during the course of their career. They could even be prone to diseases like Parkinsons or Alzheimers later in their lives.
Sounds scary, doesnt it? But with proper protective gear, the risk of sustaining injuries can be minimised.
Motorbike Racing
Sending your body down hurtling down a track at over 100 mph is insane in a car; imagine doing it on a crotch rocket. With only a few layers of Kevlar and a helmet for protection. Broken bones and third-degree abrasions are the most minor of accidents in motorcycle racing.
Yet, in what is considered the oldest race in motorcycle history, thousands descend on the Isle of Man for six days, every year. The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is the most dangerous race on earth.
For one, there is no dedicated course. The race snakes through the town on a narrow 37-mile journey, with 250 corners. Riders average 120 mph on public roads with hedges, stone walls, and homes, mere feet away. In its 107 years of existence, 240 riders have died taking part, 48 of them since 2001.
