Every athlete shares a common fear of strains and sprains. They know too well that one small malfunction can easily lead to their downfall on the field or court. Although ligament tears, joint injuries, and the aforementioned casualties are the most familiar inuries, even amongst professionals, there exists another category of injuries that takes it out of the park. From snake bites during cross-country runs to shark-infested waters during the surfing season, these unconventional and life-threatening sport casualties are not as recognized as they deserve to be. Some of these injuries can be sustained from extreme sports such as rock-climbing, skydiving, and snowboarding, athletics that are popular among daring risk-takers.

Throughout the winter season, snow days consisting of skiing and snowboarding are very common. These are the two most popular forms of extreme sports and can provide hours of intense entertainment. They are often accompanied by sore limbs and muscle cramps after a long day, and if one is unfortunate enough, a broken arm, but otherwise nothing too serious. But another danger lurks right above. According to Avalanche.org, in just the winter of last year, there have been 30 reported avalanche-related deaths that resulted with poor ski-goers buried and ultimately suffocated under the snow. Snow sport enthusiasts should be wary of the possibility of an avalanche, no matter how unlikely it seems.

For nature lovers, mountain biking, rock climbing, ziplining, hiking, and even just a quick run through the nearest wilderness trail are all great options to experience firsthand the majesty of Mother Nature. However, the dangers that follow such thrills are endless. Crashing while mountain biking is no light matter, and CHS junior Zack Bohler has had his fair share of the painful experience.

“I broke my collarbone mountain biking. I over shot a jump and landed on my shoulder and it snapped in half,” Bohler said. “It changed me a lot… I was planning on playing football that year but because I broke it I couldn’t.”

Just the idea of slipping while climbing a steep rocky surface and plummeting several thousands of feet down to the void below is a frightening thought. Hiking and jogging through the forest seems safe and harmless, until one careless step into a snake’s territory results in a venomous bite, or worse: getting ambushed by a mountain lion during the middle of a peaceful run. It would be wise to tag along a companion rather than tackling the wilderness alone.

Other dedicated athletes like to take sports to new heights by partaking in the thrill of skydiving, bungee jumping, and hangliding. Parachute malfunctions are a common inclination for the reason of most sky-related sport accidents, but fortunately this frightening idea does not happen as frequently as expected. The United States Parachute Association recorded only 21 skydiving deaths out of 3.5 million jumps. As for bungee jumping, a miscalculated jump or an equipment malfunction could mean death, but the chance of such an event happening is two out of a million. Both sports are safer options than hangliding, which has a death rate of about one per thousandth trip. For sky sports, casualties extend as far as to the point of imminent death, deeming it as the perfect stunt for the bravest thrill seekers.

Summertime arrives in just a few more months, and with it comes the long-awaited beach days full of cool ocean waters and warm sun as well as an abundance of water sports. The most popular water activities include surfing, scuba-diving, and jet-skiing. Surfers and divers obviously take into account one of nature’s most terrifying underwater creations: sharks. However, their lack of mindfulness easily places them in danger. According to the Shark Research Community, out of 108 recorded shark attacks, 38 percent were surfers while 46 percent were divers. As for jet-skiing, the worst that can happen is a hard collision with an object that could hurl and injure the rider. And of course, for any water sport, there is always the risk of drowning.

The athletics listed above were just the tip of the iceberg. The world of sports in general presents a variety of potential accidents, both serious and minor. Disclaimer aside, extreme sports are a great recommendation for those who are willing to risk their lives in unorthodox ways just for the taste of exhilaration and adrenaline. For the rest of us, maybe the risk of sustaining a sprained ankle or a strained hamstring while playing soccer will suffice.