ESL Podcast 209 - Extreme Sports
snowboarding - a sport where you use a snowboard, which is a small board that looks like a small surfboard, to go down hills with snow
We tried to go snowboarding last weekend, but it was too warm and the snow was melting too quickly.
bungee jumping - a sport where you jump off from very high up, usually an airplane or a bridge, while attached to a strong elastic rope, called a bungee cord, that pulls you back up
She's scared of heights so I don't think she'll go bungee jumping with us tomorrow.
cave diving - to go underwater for long periods of time and explore caves, or deep holes, in the ocean or sea
Cave diving is considered a dangerous sport because it's not easy getting back up to the surface of the water if you have trouble breathing.
extreme sport - a type of sport that is more dangerous that regular sports, usually involving great heights or speed, and taking chances on getting hurt
Extreme sports are popular with people who want to do something exciting and a little dangerous.
adrenaline rush - a chemical reaction in the body that makes you excited and causes your heart to beat faster, sometimes caused by a very exciting experience
The snowboarder got an adrenaline rush from the jumps he made.
to push (oneself) to the limit - to go beyond what one can normally do
I've been pushing myself to the limit by working two jobs and only getting five hours of sleep every night.
to get hurt - to get injured; to feel pain
When you learn to dance, don't worry about getting hurt or you'll be afraid to try the more difficult steps.
danger - the possibility of being harmed or being in pain; something that may cause harm or pain
When I get off work at 10 p.m., I walk home with a friend to avoid any danger on the streets.
competitively - in a way that tries to win something by defeating others, sometimes to prove that you are better than others
He used to play video games for fun but now he plays competitively.
stunt - a difficult or dangerous action
I'm sure that the people in the movies who perform stunts, like falling off a horse or jumping off a building, are professionals.
to push the boundaries - to test or to try to go past the limits of something
When he got fired from his job, Danny realized that it was not a good idea to push the boundaries of his position.
adventurous - someone or something that is exciting and daring; someone willing to do something not considered safe or normal
She was an adventurous child and liked to jump off high places and run at high speeds.
climbing - a sport where you go up something, usually a mountain, using your hands and feet and special equipment
They were planning on going climbing Mount Fuji this Sunday, but she broke her arm and couldn't go.
ice climbing - a sport where you go up large ice blocks, like frozen waterfalls, using your hands and feet and special equipment
Do you think we can do some ice climbing when we go to Alaska this winter?
to pass - to decline; to say `no' to something
I asked her if she wanted a piece of cake, but since she's on a diet, she politely said, "No thanks, I'll pass."