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Roberts and his mom, Judy, hiking at Mount Rainier (Courtesy of the Roberts family) 

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"The Boy Who Lived on Edges" was about Adam Roberts and the way he used extreme sports as a way to cope with his mental struggles. Adopted and raised by Steve and Judy Roberts, his childhood was filled with adventure. Residing in the city of Randle surrounded by mountains and trails, Roberts' evidently took on hiking and skiing as leisure activities. As he got older, those activities soon became coping mechanisms. Throughout his lifetime, Roberts fell victim to mental illness and struggled most of his life navigating his next steps. He often took skiing to new heights, risking his life and those around him. He first skied Mount Adams, the second-highest peak in Washington to the Coleman Headwall on Mount Baker, both extremely risky mountains to ski on. "When he got into some really serious shit he knows is dangerous... he's for the first time in hours, days, weeks, months-feeling alive again." said his friend. Unfortunately, his mental illness started to take control of his behavior; facing felony charges, losing significant others and lifelong friends. Soon, his dangerous feats no longer gave him the relief he so longly wanted. Unfortunately, Roberts passed away skiing as he got caught by an avalanche on the Grand Couloir. His story and memory continues to live on through his family and friends.

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Source 2: Extreme Sports A Positive Transformation in Courage and Humility

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Source 2: Extreme Sports A Positive Transformation in Courage and Humility

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The “Extreme Sports'' study based itself on how extreme sports can transform people to be more open and explore themselves while being courageous and teaching themselves humility in these actions. The study had 15 participants from Europe, Australia, and the United States, ten male and five female athletes aged 30 to 70. They participated in jumping, big wave surfing, extreme skiing, waterfall kayaking, extreme mountaineering, and solo rope-free climbing (E. Brymer and L. G. Oades, pg.114). The procedure was to interview them, asking how they perceive the extreme sports they do. One professional extreme kayaker says after the study that “Kayaking has changed my life, it has taught me who I am. Going to rivers changes who you are in a positive way”(Brymer and Oades, pg. 118). Participants feel that these experiences are transformational experiences that teach humility, related to the Zen philosophy of being open in attitude (Brymer and Oades, pg. 120). They seem to accept death, surrendering during the “active” aspect of the event and exploring parts of themselves that one was unaware existed (Brymer and Oades, pg.121). People became less tense and were fearless and more courageous than others. When participating in extreme sports, the participants feel fear but seem calm and focused rather than having a fight or flight response or immobilization (Brymer and Oades, pg.122-123).

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Our sources:

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Denali and Sequoia mountaineering with Marty

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Source 3: The Strangers Podcast- The Schmidts Part 1, The Schmidts Part 2

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Source 3: The Strangers Podcast- The Schmidts Part 1, The Schmidts Part 2

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Part 1:

Part one of the Schmidtz podcast narrates the compelling journey of Sequoia Smith, set against the backdrop of her family's enthusiasm for extreme sports, with a particular emphasis on mountain climbing. The story centers around Sequoia's father, Marty Smith, whose zeal for conquering formidable mountains like Mount Everest and K2, located on the border of Pakistan and China, was unmatched. His profound commitment to this pursuit often resulted in him being away from home for prolonged periods, deeply affecting the family dynamics. The Schmidtz family, known for their adventurous spirit, instilled a love for the outdoors in their children. However, Marty's influence extended beyond his passion for climbing; it shaped the very fabric of his children's lives, especially that of Sequoia and her brother, Denali. The narrative takes a tragic turn in 2013 when Marty and Denali met their untimely demise in an avalanche while attempting to summit K2. The podcast delves into the ramifications of Marty's frequent absences, highlighting the emotional and psychological impact on his family, particularly during their formative years. Sequoia's story is one of resilience and adaptability, as she navigates through a childhood marked by transitions between various foster homes and countries. The turning point in her life occurs when she relocates to America to live with her grandfather, severing ties with her Australian heritage. This transition to a new life in America under her grandfather's guidance brings about a profound transformation in Sequoia's outlook, leading her to acknowledge and value the positive influence he had on her, a stark contrast to the turbulent and often absent presence of her father. The podcast offers a deep exploration of the complex dynamics within the Schmidtz family, illustrating how personal passions can both enrich and challenge familial bonds.

Part 2:

Suddenly Sequoia received news that her father and brother had passed due to a avalanche. They had attempted to ski down K2 the mountain known where 1 in 4 climbers die in the process of doing so. For months this sent her on a spiral of different emotions of anger and hatred towards her father. One day as Sequoia was on a search for K2 climbers, she stumbled upon an African climber who used a video with a human head in the mountain, which Sequoia believed to be her brother. She felt the need to retrieve her brother’s and father’s bodies because she did not want them to be disrespected as entertainment factors. To confirm if it was truly her brother, she had to go to Pakistan to climb up to the advanced base camp which is where the head lay in. This would require her to go through a 17-day trip journey to reach the mountain and yet still climb up 1700ft high up to reach the base camp. Her journey in trying to find their remains not only helped her find closure but it allowed her to have a better understanding of her relationship with her father. This changed her attitude towards the world of climbers and found an appreciation for her father’s love for extreme sports. Over the next several years, she followed her father’s path in exploring mountain climbing. Eventually, she ended up finding a partner who shared the same passion in base jumping. Overall, this experience has allowed her to feel connected to the mountains as it allowed her to forgive her father and be able to create a healthy lifestyle for herself.

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“The Psychology of Extreme Sports (Repeat) - Playing with Science.” StarTalk Radio Show by Neil deGrasse Tyson, 16 Feb. 2021, startalkmedia.com/show/the-psychology-of-extreme-sports-playing-with-science-repeat/.

Thau, Lea. “Strangers: The Schmidts, Part 1 on Apple Podcasts.” Apple Podcasts, 23 Oct. 2020, podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-schmidts-part-1/id490297492?i=1000495845600.

Development, PodBean. “The Schmidts, Part 2.” Free Podcast Hosting and Monetizing Platform, 30 Oct. 2020, www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-h6bxt-bc4d4e1.

Solomon, Christopher. “The Boy Who Lived on Edges.” Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2022, www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/snow-sports/terror-way-beyond-falling/#:~:text=When%20extreme%20skier%20Adam%20Roberts,to%20create%20an%20unbearable%20reality.

Ashcraft, Hanna. “New Zealand - Bungee Jumping from the Kawarau Bridge.” Moderately Adventurous, 17 July 2023, moderatelyadventurous.com/new-zealand-bungee-jumping/.

Copeland, Carol. “Mountaineering Mental Preparation: Getting Your Mind Right.” The Trek, 14 Oct. 2018, thetrek.co/mountaineering-mental-preparation-getting-mind-right/.

Brymer, E., and L.G. Oades. “Extreme Sports A Positive Transformation in Courage and Humility.” Journal of Humanistic Psychology, vol. 49, no. 1, Jan. 2009, pp. 114–126, https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167808326199.

Gough, Christina. “Reasons for Participating in Extreme Sports Us 2022.” Statista, 28 Feb. 2023, www.statista.com/statistics/1366674/reasons-participating-extreme-sports/.

Health Fitness Revolution. “Health Benefits of Extreme Sports.” Health Fitness Revolution, http://www.facebook.com/hfrevolution, 19 Oct. 2020, https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/health-benefits-of-extreme-sports/.

Harding, Lizzy. “Wim Hof’s Extreme Approach to Human Potential - Lizzy Harding - Bookforum Magazine.” Bookforum, 31 May 2022, https://www.bookforum.com/print/2902/wim-hof-s-extreme-approach-to-human-potential-24965.

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5) Suggestions for Project #1 Ideas (Nik, Ameera, Ashley)

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5) Suggestions for Project #1 Ideas (Nik, Ameera, Ashley)

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Topic: Physical benefits

Research Question: In what ways can extreme sports actually benefit one's health?

Source: "Health Benefits of Extreme Sports", Health Fitness Revolution

Summary: Extreme sports not only provide a thrilling experience, but also contribute to overall well-being. These activities can lead to significant mental health benefits, since one must have a lot of courage and bravery to participate in such risky activities. Due to having to keep their cool during stressful situations, extreme sport athletes have better stress and anxiety management. These activities also allow people to work out many different muscles in the body, due to using them in unusual ways. There can be tremendous effects on joint mobility and heart rate. Another benefit is that extreme sports can trigger healthy adrenaline. Adrenaline received from these activities could replace the rush people seek from things like drugs.

Topic: Mental Challenges

Research Question: What mental preparation is required when mountaineering on high-altitude mountains?

Source: "Mountaineering Mental Preparation: Getting Your Mind Right", Carol Copeland

Summary: As one climbs higher up a mountain and begins to feel the physical strain, negative thoughts can decrease their strength. To overcome this, it's important to adopt a mindset that will refresh their attitudes towards the journey. This means having a clear understanding of why they're climbing, accepting the challenge ahead, staying alert to their surroundings and health, and remaining calm even in the face of fear. With these tools in hand, they know their willpower to reach the top overpowers everything.

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The woman in this photo is plunging herself out into the open air. This is an advertisement photo marketing a bungee jumping service in New Zealand. Instead of hesitating or showing fear, the woman seems to be wanting to get out into the open air. The photo's message is showing how although bungee jumping can be scary, it can be also be a fun and freeing activity, convincing the audience to participate and sign up.

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R4B Sports Ep 1: What are our experiences with sports and mental health?

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This graph shows the percentage of people doing extreme sports for different reasons. It highlights why a person would partake in an extreme sport. 46% of people, according to the graph, participate in an extreme sport to experience new things, while 41%, another significant percentage, participate to relieve their stress. Physical fitness, confidence building, personal growth, and thrill-seeking are other reasons as well. These factors seem to align with how our sources show participants exploring extreme sports for personal factors in being an adventurer, finding themselves, and relieving their minds.

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Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof, season 1 trailer, 2022.

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Source 4: The Guy Who Stayed out in the Cold

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Source 4: The Guy Who Stayed out in the Cold

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Wim Hof, also known as “The Iceman”, has become well known for pushing the boundaries of human potential. He holds over 25 world records for his extreme adventures, yet he believes anyone can be capable of doing what he does. He has run marathons across ice and snow, as well as through the Namibian desert without water. He runs a business called Innerfire, where he leads workshops and “expeditions''. Hof says that his methods can heal many illnesses and disorders, and can even manipulate the immune system. He believed the body could get used to most anything. Hof got into extreme sports due to the unfortunate fact that his wife killed herself. He believed that the only way to cope was to expose himself to the cold. Now Hof shares his story with others and inspires many people. He now has a reality TV show, a biopic, and has written a book called “The Wim Hof Method”. Hof received word from a Feinstein Institute researcher in 2008, who had been studying his techniques. The evidence showed that Hof had control over his vagus nerve which is responsible for regulating internal organ function. This information excited Hof, and he has proved to be a ready test subject over the years.