Take it to the limit

Extreme sports, once a pastime of the daredevil few, are going mainstream. BBC Grandstand has announced it is to devote airtime to adrenaline-charged activities like snowboarding, slalom canoeing and mountain-biking, which look set to make the usual football reports, horse-racing and athletics seem positively staid.

Around three million Britons are estimated to have had a go at an adrenaline sport, ranging from white-water rafting to climbing. For those in dull jobs, the thrill of doing something unusual can have a positive effect.

According to Professor Cary Cooper, a behavioural psychologist at University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology: "You can suddenly rediscover aspects of yourself that were buried under tension when you try a challenging sport."

Sports psychologist Dearbhla McCullough says having a go at an adventure sport could have great benefits for your selfesteem. "By pushing your body to new limits, your confidence towards anything will grow."

With the choice of extreme sports wider than ever, here's what they can do for you.

Zorbing

A zorb is a gigantic, three-metre inflatable ball inside which is another, smaller ball suspended by thousands of nylon threads. You and a partner squeeze inside the smallest ball, strap yourselves into a harness and get launched off a ramp to travel downhill at top speed.

What is it good for? All that gripping as you try to control the downhill journey will give your stomach muscles and gluteals a work-out. The feeling of weightlessness you experience is second to none in terms of adrenaline rushes. "You won't feel sick, though," says Paul Knight of Zorb South UK. "Even though it reaches speeds of nearly 40mph per hour, the rotational motion is quite relaxed."

Where can you do it? Try contacting www. zorbsouth. co. uk (07092 121270) for venues across the south of England. Expect to pay £50 per ride for two people.

Canyoning

Also called gorge walking. You plunge down a series of waterfalls and torrents of water while negotiating different terrains as quickly as possible. A hybrid of activities that includes wading, abseiling, climbing, jumping and swimming. Because it exposes you to precarious situations, this truly extreme sport carries a danger risk, even in good weather. You need to wear a life jacket, wetsuit and a crash helmet as well as carry climbing equipment.

What is it good for? "Swimming and wading in cold water and deep ravines are exhausting - a serious cardiovascular workout - and all the major muscle groups will be used just to keep you afloat," says Louise Beaver, head of health and science at Leeds Metropolitan University. "There is no getting away from the fact that it's dangerous, so the psychological release once you've finished is huge."

Where can you do it? Contact the British Mountaineering Council (0870 010 4878 or www.thebmc.co.uk) or visit www.travel-quest.co.uk or www.snowdonia-adventures. co.uk

Wakeboarding

This hip new watersport is basically waterskiing on a board - you are pulled behind a motorboat on a 1.5-metre length of shaped fibreglass. Gravity pulls you sideways onto a natural water ramp that is formed by the wake, according to instructor Rob Davies of West Coast Adventure, based in Devon. "Because of this you can reach great heights and perform tricks you could never do on a snowboard such as the 720-degree turns done by the top wakeboarders."

What is it good for? It burns about 450 calories an hour. "Do it regularly and it will improve strength in the arms, legs and stomach," Davies says. "Thrilling - a huge stress reliever and great for balance, too."

Where can you do it? Contact British Water Ski (020 7833 2855; www.britishwaterski.co.uk); West Coast Adventure (01237 477637) and Wakeboard UK on 0121 603 3113.

Street Luging

A sport that evolved after American skateboarders, who were bored with standing up, tried lying on their boards and heading downhill. Nowadays, street luging, or land luging, has its own bigger boards with wider wheels on which riders can reach speeds of 80mph. One advantage is that there is not much to it - you can learn the basics of street luging in a couple of hours.

What is it good for? Improves balance and co-ordination. "Because you have to lean to steer the board, you recruit the core muscles in your abdominal area," explains Louise Beaver.

Where can you do it? There are street-luging centres around the country, including one in Sevenoaks. See www.streetluge. co.uk for more information.