How Do They Do It? Extreme Athletes Talk Pushing Their Limits and Setting Records

“Why?” That one-word question often pops to mind whenever a gut-wrenching, oxygen-depleting athletic feat is described or witnessed. Just mention of an extreme sport can send some seeking Google for a visual cue or two. Trying such daredevil pursuits is a whole other league. Think highlining — walking across a rope tethered between mountains or buildings, or wingsuit flying — skydiving at nearly 100 mph in a jumpsuit with wings-like folds of fabric between the arms and legs. What some consider extreme sports would be better defined as lifestyle sports or adventure sports, according to Eric Brymer, an associate professor in human sciences at Southern Cross University. “Extreme should be about self-directed independent leisure activities where a mismanaged mistake or accident would most likely result in death, e.g. solo mountaineering above the death zone, big wave surfing [on waves at least 20 feet high] or kayaking Grade 6 [rapids].” However you define “extreme sports,” not all are fast and furious. Consider Paul Salopek’s “National Geographic Out of Eden Walk,” a 38,000-km,10-year trek that is retracing our ancestors’ mass migration. The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner was too busy walking to talk about his slow journalism experiment. Last month Edie Hu became the fastest open

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