When I first started racing I wondered- why? I mean I loved to race and thought it was a fantastic ministry by earning the right to be heard, but I still needed a purpose.

While working out one day my friend Pat, said, "Oh I have something for you." It was a brochure for XMA. It was called adventure with a purpose. After reading this I knew this was for me.

XMA hikes, bikes, boats and sometime rides motorcycles to reach people groups, who have never heard the gospel. I knew I wanted to do this. Randy Pierce was coming to town the next weekend and we set up a meeting. We talked about possibly doing a trek race in Slovenia.

I really wanted to go to the hard to reach areas and not Slovenia at first. But the details began to fall in place and I knew I was to go to Slovenia. Slovenia is beautiful and sits on the Julian Alps!

The neat thing about this trip is I get to go with a group. I normally adventure race alone. It is a tough place to minister but we go to "earn the right to be heard." We'll be competing in the Slovenia Adventure Race the end of June.

The trip looks like this.

Duration 7- 10 days

1) Slovenia Adventure Race: We will adventure race and build relationships to cultivate in the future.

2) Prayer Walk and Bike Evangelism: Team members will prayer walk or do literature distribution at different villages accessed by bicycles.

3) Adventure Races Slovenia: need racers of all kinds, beginner to advanced. We can also use volunteers. The cost is $3000, and it includes everything you'll need! If you need to fund raise XMA has you covered.

I'd really like to see us bring several teams for XMA and be a heavy presence there. If you'd like to do the adventure race, or just volunteer let me know. There is a place for all levels of racers. Though I am looking to put together a team to win as well.

I am filling the trip spots right now. You do not have to put together your own team, I can help with that, but if you have a team that would like to go that is great as well.

For involvement in the USA, please let your church know about XMA and Slovenia. We can come speak to your church and help in any way we can. If this trip is not for you XMA has many trips through the year and we are looking to build an Adventure Racing base. So please contact us.

Our missionary there wanted to stress that these people are in need. Suicide is rampant there and they are desperate for the gospel. Please consider joining us on this exciting opportunity to share the gospel.

To start your own adventure just go to Extreme Missionary Adventures and see our trip to Slovenia, get in touch with Kimberly through her website Extreme Adventure Sports.

There are a lot of myths concerned with skydiving. Why don't we take a look at a few of these myths and see if we can discover whether they are true or false?

1. It is impossible to breathe when you are skydiving.

If this was true, then once you had jumped out of your plane you would lose all consciousness. How is it possible then for the diver to open his parachute and land safely down below, when he is not capable of performing the parachute opening due to being unconscious? This I am afraid is not true, it is just a myth.

2. You are able to hold a conversation whilst skydiving.

Another myth I'm afraid, may be good on screen watching two or more people talking whilst they are skydiving, but alas due to the force of the wind rushing past your body, it is virtually impossible to hear anything from anyone. This is why you always see skydivers try to communicate through using hand gestures.

3. If for some reason you fall out of a plane without a parachute, then holding onto somebody that has one will save you.

Again this has probably come about due to the influence of heroes in the movies. There is no way to say with any guarantee that this is in fact true. It may have occurred in the past but this is not to say that it will always happen.

4. You can free fall for at least five minutes.

You would have to have jumped out of your plane at around 60,000 feet to get anywhere near that amount of free fall time. A typical time scale would normally be around the 40 second mark, before you would have to open your parachute.

5. The parachute will not open when I jump.

Again another total myth I'm afraid, as most accidents and deaths caused by skydiving today are either by misjudgement on behalf of the diver or not being properly prepared beforehand. Today's parachutes are in the main practically failsafe equipment.

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The actual Ollie is probably the most frequent trick which a skateboarder ought to know. By knowing how you can Ollie, it is possible to carry out a lot of variations of it along with various other tricks, such as grinding on ledges or rails, or do additional specialized tricks.

The actual Ollie is the basic trick that you have to learn when you're skate boarding.

Even so, you need to understand that learning to do the Ollie is often difficult. And, you might want to anticipate a lot of mistakes while you are trying it out for the first time. As well, count on quite a few wipe-outs as well as falls and also bruises while learning the way to skateboard. The tricks needed, are commonly associated with falls and pain.

One mistake is termed the Chicken foot. This is when you carry out the Ollie but when you land, ones feet will land on the ground rather than on the board. That is a very common problem. It can be either you are generally carrying out the trick completely wrong or perhaps you are simply afraid to get back again upon ones board. To assist you with this particular problem, try and land at least one foot on the board. Decide on which foot you would like to land on the board and make sure that it does land on the board. Keep practicing the trick and it will be easy to overcome your fear of falling when you land after a Ollie and you may also be able to do it very easily.

Spinning is actually an additional problem for skate boarders when they perform the Ollie. More often than not, a skate boarder does not comprehend just what is causing this due to the fact they may be making a mistake unconsciously. To fix this, lean forward when you Ollie. Be sure that you lean on the particular direction that you're skating. This should be able to cut down the spin. You can even try out shifting your foot position.

Low Ollies are also a widespread problem among novice skateboarders mastering the best way to carry out the trick. This usually takes place mainly because you aren't crouched low enough or you're not pulling your leg up high enough. Attempt to try this:

When you're getting ready to pop up, crouched as low as you'll be able to that your hands are able to touch the ground or pavement. Whenever you pop-up, get both your knees to touch your chest. This would solve your low Ollie problem.

These are some of the problems that you can experience when ollying. Never forget that practice is the key for you to master almost any trick in skate boarding. You shouldn't be scared to fall because it is part of the activity.

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The Razor A scooter ... What does that phrase make you think about? If you have children, I'm sure that you've already heard of the Razor A scooter series, but they weren't around when we were kids. However, the concept was, although I forget the marques from my youth.

I loved my two-wheeled, kick-powered scooter when I was a kid. Mum and Dad had their car, my older brothers had their bikes and I had my scooter. It didn't go fast, but then, I didn't go far either, but it was a vehicle, of sorts and it gave that feeling of freedom. I had my wheels and I was mobile!

Well, the modern variety of that scooter is the Razor A scooter series. And they really are modern too! They are a far cry from the plain scooters of years ago. The Razor A scooter series was introduced in the year 2000 and is sturdy, strong, collapsible and as safe as it gets.

The Razor A scooter series is sold in several guises to suit various age groups, abilities and pockets. For example, the Razor A scooter is meant for children of six years and older, while the Razor A2 scooter, the Razor A3 scooter and the Razor Pro scooter are meant for older, heavier, more demanding and more skilful riders. With prices starting at about $25 none of them is over-priced.

The Razor A scooter series is made from aircraft-grade light aluminium and weighs in at only six pounds. That's light enough for any young child to be able to carry, if required, without risk of injury. It is also collapsible, which means that it is easy to carry under your arm, in the boot of your car or on the bus. Storage is a doddle too.

The Razor A scooter range is height-adjustable too in that the handlebars can be elevated as your child grows up or if an older sibling wants a go. It also has a heavy-duty braking system, which is naturally very important as these scooters will easily travel at speeds of five or six mph on the level and much more on an incline. Going down hill, that is.

The Razor A scooter series also has lesser and greater stable companions. The Razor Kiddie Kick is intended for children younger than six and has a third wheel for increased stability, although it is equally as strong and durable as the Razor A scooter series. The Razor A scooter series is intended for 'young-minded' people from the age of six. I use the words 'young-minded' because it is quite the rage now, to put one in the car and scooter the last mile or two into work or college. That mile or two every day will save you fuel and give you more exercise over a prolonged period of time. After all, it all adds up, doesn't it?

Then, for those who want a bit more, there are the Razor E100(S), Razor E200(S) and the Razor E300(S), which are electrically powered scooters. The (S) means that they have a seat fitted.

So, why not introduce your kid to the concept of mobility with a Razor A scooter? Give your child the chance to look back on his or her younger years in 20-30 years time and remember zooming about at three-five mph on a Razor A scooter.

Do you have great memories of your chilhood scooter? The Razor A scooter is the modern equivilent. Come visit our web site at http://razorascooter.com and find out more.

Like most adventure sports, water skiing has its fair share of dangers. These can be avoided if you are careful. You should always wear a safety jacket when you are water skiing, just in case you lose your balance and fall into the water. Because you wear a safety jacket also means that you do not have to be the best swimmer in the world to participate in this sport. Your jacket should be able to keep you afloat until you are rescued.

Dangers from water skiing are varied and wide. For example, you would not go water skiing in waters that you know are full of sharks, now would you?

You would not have the same sort of dangers associated with water skiing on rivers or lakes that you would have water skiing on the seas.

A scene from Jaws showing a water skier being attacked by sharks may not have done a lot for the sport of water skiing, but sharks are not the one and only danger that can affect water skiers. Submerged ships and cargo close to the surface, or even hidden rocks are another danger.

However most of the time water skiing is performed on stretches of water that are familiar to the skier, so they know the water well. There is only a danger should the skier attempt to ski on stretches of unfamiliar water, and unfortunately these dangers can become all too real.

Everybody that water skis will fall off and crash into the water at some time. It does not matter how experienced you are.

Because water skiing is performed at such a fast pace, it is inevitable that people will lose control and fall into the water. Just be aware that falling into the water at such speeds could have fatal implications due to the body hitting water at such speeds.

It is always advisable to ski in groups or with qualified and experienced people. This way if any accident did occur whilst you are out on the water, then at least you have somebody to assist you. Always follow all safety measures that are in place, and always wear the correct equipment before you start your skiing experience.

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When taking up skydiving in Michigan it is the perfect place with premium drop zones and state of the art equipment. There are many skydiving places within Michigan. If you have never carried this activity out before then you will need training from experienced instructors who have participated in many jumps.

There are people who love this sport that travel all over the world to carry it out. Michigan is the second largest state that provides facilities for sky dives. Sky diving is probably one of the most extreme of the extreme sports and instructors have to be fully qualified before they can teach others how to properly jump.

There are some centers within Hastings and a number of them have recently grown and moved to a bigger facilities. They still provide similar services like first time Tandem jumps and student training. They provide a whole variety of experiences such as Tandem jumps as well as student training. Due to the location this is a more comfortable and convenient centre in the West of Michigan. Some centre's are located hours away from Grand Rapids, Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and South Bend.

If you have not experienced this extreme sport before then you really should be daring to try. Many people talk about the thrill they feel or the adrenaline rush as they experience falling from the plane at swift speeds. Hardly a sport for the faint hearted, but if you love adrenaline sports then you will love this. The great thing about Michigan is that it is one of the best areas for this sport.

With so many large centers throughout Michigan you are spoilt for choice. That is why places do so well. Each center competes by offering different services as well as prices. One center is in Fremont and each facility carries out a range of different jumps.

Whilst this sport is not as dangerous as people first believe there is still a lot of risks involved with skydiving which is why a person must first receive training. There is a sky diving university within Michigan, but each center also has an instructor. The members of staff in each center have to pass specific exams before they can qualify.

The sheer exhilaration and fun of this sport is what drives many people to do a jump. It is usual to experience a level of fear the very first time they carry out this extreme sport, but that is part of the fun of it as well. The feeling just before a jump is especially tense and many people decide not to carry it through. However most centers are prepared for this and do not make the person feel bad.

Looking to find the single source of helpful information on skydiving in Michigan?

California has a lot to offer for those who want to hike. It has some of the best spots in the U.S. and this is what makes the city a popular destination for hiking. Hiking trails can be found all around and give the opportunity to the athlete to enjoy the atmosphere and the scenery of California. The best thing about the trails is that there are many. In fact, you can hike on a different trail every day. Hiking in California is a very pleasant experience for all.

For the avid snowboarder, the snowboard isn't just a way to slip down snow over and over. Instead, it's a part of their identity, a branch of self-expression that means something personal to them. Snowboarders carry their equipment with them, bring it home, and travel with it in the car - a snowboard is something they're going to have to look at a lot. And if they don't have the right snowboard for them, it simply won't be as fun.

Of course, picking out "your" snowboard isn't only about style and personal identity, it's about function. What kind of snowboarder are you, and what kind of board suits your style the best? These are questions only you can answer, of course, but there are some ways to find out.

Hiking in California is made for everyone. There are many long trails going through difficult paths that are ideal for those that are more adventurous and other shorter trails ideal for those that are just starting out with hiking and want to enjoy the scenery. You can choose to go hiking through the mountains. Many people follow these trails as they get the chance to see beautiful waterfalls and desert lands as well as amazing sunsets along the coastlines.

Make sure you visit Grotto Hike a four mile trail starting from Malibu and going through a canyon with rock walls. The scenery is unique and everything is nature's work. This is a very popular spot and a stop you have to make when going hiking in California.

Are you there? Good. Now imagine yourself as the best snowboarder you can be. Then look at your snowboard. What is it like?

Open your eyes now, and start writing down your ideas. Repeat the process if nothing "flows" out, but within a short amount of time, you'll probably start getting a wave of ideas as to how your snowboard should feel, perform, and look.

Ski Snowboarder will help you master the slopes. Whether it's picking a snowboard or ski gloves, Ski Snowboarder can help.

In the mid 90's a new concept of surfboard design was introduced and it was to enable surfboards to become lighter, faster, stronger and most importantly, extremely high performing!

Surftech and in particular Randy French was producing surfboards like no person had seen before. Creating the boards with a sandwich construction and using experimental materials would bring surfboard design into the new century. The two-standout materials that were being used were the EPS Fused-Cell core and Epoxy Fiberglass; with this combination the boards were very lightweight and strong.

Let us dive in and find out about this new type of surfboard design and what makes it so different to the traditional Polyester Foam and fiberglass surfboards and how it can help your surfing.

Durability - Surftech's first and most popular construction is called Tuflite, the name sums it up nicely in a nutshell, the boards are Tough and light. One of the biggest criticisms with standard PU surfboards is their core strength. To keep a surfboards weight down the glass jobs on high performance PU surfboards are done using very lightweight fiberglass cloth, usually 4oz. This has a significant effect on the boards strength and how long it is going to last you. When I personally ride a PU surfboard on a regular basis I will normally get about 3 months constant use out of it before I'm in need of replacement. This can be an absolute nightmare of an expense for the un-sponsored average Joe. The great thing about Surftech is that the boards are extremely strong without sacrificing weight or performance, this means you can get years of constant use before you even need to think about a new surfboard. This is also great for when you come to sell it second hand as they hold their value a lot better.

Weight - If you were to ask the question to any old surfer "what is one of the most important things for a high performance surfboard?" they will surely tell you weight. With a heavy surfboard you are going to find it extremely difficult to bust out airs or do any kind of fast snappy turns. Most notably you will find it difficult to generate a massive amount of speed on a heavy sluggish surfboard, this is considered to be a fundamental necessity of surfing.

Performance - One of the most important things to look for in a surfboard is one that is going to perform well in waves you are going to be surfing the most. Surftech have teamed up with some the worlds best and most celebrated surfboard shapers. The models that the shapers have selected to be made by Surftech are proven to be high performing and their best selling designs. The beauty of Surftech is they are able to replicate that board perfectly every single time so you know you are going to be riding a proven high performance surfboard, not something your local shaper might have been experimenting with.

There is always going to be people that are sceptical of new things but to progress we must evolve and the same goes for surfboards. This is the beauty of what Surftech are doing as they are taking on the next big step in surfboard design. If you want to get the most out of your surfing it really does pay to have the best and most advanced equipment that is on offer. Personally I like trying new and different equipment, I find it to be one of the great joys in surfing that you can mix it up so much. Without that ability surfing wouldn't be as amazing as it is.

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A brand new sport is seen in the usage of a skimboard. This is because it combines two of the most popular sports into one new fun beach activity. This sport is a great new way to bring together all types of people.

Often times the design of this board is compared to that of a surfboard. This is because the two boards are quite similar. However, they are not exact and contain many differences as well.

The best way to be successful at this sport is to get a good running start. This is because your ultimate goal will be to glide along the water. As the water starts to rise you will want to start your run and then glide on your board along this water. This is rather difficult at first and you may want to watch someone demonstrate first.

Gliding along the beach is simply the first step. Once you have mastered this you will want to attempt riding the end of the last incoming wave. This is also extremely hard to accomplish, but will just take some getting used to. This can also be quite entertaining to watch once it has been mastered.

Skimboarding is not only compared to surfing but to skateboarding as well. This is because it does not always take place in the water. There are many land tricks that can be involved with this sport. They can also take place along side the edge of the water where it meets the dry sand.

This new sport has become increasingly popular and is an excellent summer pastime. It is able to bring together two amazing groups of people who can teach each other much about both aspects of this new sport. Overall, skimboarding is something that everyone should at least attempt once in their lifetime.

Get more details and information about the best skimboard for you. There are skimboards made for every level of experience and you will find that getting the right board will make your adventure much more fun!

A skimboard and the right beach are one of the best combinations for a great day at the beach. This is a great sport for water sport lovers that enjoy speed, waves and have the ability to carry out this fun sport. From its inception till now skimboarding has come a long way, and like waves, has grown, crashed, and come back again.

For those that have never seen one it is a very flat board with rounded edges on both sides, like a very long egg. The idea is that the board needs to be as light and buoyant as possible. This article will look at the history of skimboarding since it began till today. In doing so it will ask three main questions: Where did it start? What Happened in the 80s? And, where are we today?

In this short article we will look at three questions people ask themselves about this sport. The questions we will be looking at are: where does it originate from? What happened to the sport in the 1980s? And, where is it heading nowadays?

Because of the specific kinds of waves required for a good skimboarding session, specific beaches were targeted along Florida, Santa Cruz in California, and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. The waves need to be break close to the beach so they can be reached by the skimboarder.

In the decade of 1980 it first exploded in popularity and then flopped in the later years. Fortunately for us, it regained popularity in the mid 90s and has not looked back since.

Nowadays, a skimboard is a regular sight in any of the big surfing and wind surfing sites. It is used as a secondary board when there are no waves by millions of surfers while others focus on mastering this challenging, but incredibly fun sport.

Did you know that skimboard is considered one of the most technologically advanced board sport? Check out our guide to the best skimboards .