Thank you for sharing. At first, before reading, I thought to myself, what I always think, let people do what they need to do to feel alive. I still stand by that, but the article brought up such interesting points, like the danger the team is also exposed to that surrounds the star athlete.
I know many athletes who have died doing their sport. Sometimes I think that most of us need an escape and for some extreme risk provides the same outlet that drugs or alcohol or any other dangerous pattern. I still like to think that the experience adds enough to the life lived to justify the risk of dying or permanent injury.
Unlike driving a little too fast or looking at the phone and taking out strangers, the participants, even the auxiliary crew know the risks very well and made the conscious choice to participate.
Our own love of skiing, though controlled and recreational at commercialized resorts, places patrol at great risk to prepare the slopes for our enjoyment. I keep that in my mind too as our presence in most daily activities has an impact or potential for impact on other people's lives.
I have seen extreme athletes in my home mountain town slow down after kids, but also seen others up the ante even more. Mothers and fathers have died and many call them selfish. I refrain from that judgment as tempting as it is. Most of us don't hold poor eaters or non exercising parents to the same standard or berate their unhealthy choices that same way.
I do think hearing about he thoughts and decisions extreme athletes make, as this article does, is important though. They are the models used in the ever more powerful media and marketing campaigns. I wish more stories would accompany the perfect images and videos that sell us on the fun of risky activities.
I thought the final paragraph was telling when he mentions not wanting to ski 8000 meter peaks, especially in light of Hilaree Nelson's recent death under exactly that scenario.
www.theguardian.com
