It was an interesting read, but I had the hardest time reading this.
Here is my take on this topic; a lot of people have approached me about the risk taking behavior. Some have predicted loosing my knees, mind or body completely. So far, in over 10 years of deliberately putting myself in high consequence situations; I have never gotten hurt seriously. I want to attribute the fact that skill and technical ability always trumps sheer luck, although we do get lucky...very lucky. Shane made it to 40. That is along time that the odds were running against him every day. Shane was good, he was better than anyone else in what he did. I just want to remind everyone that skill and ability makes crazy situation less crazy and keeps you more in control.
The second is the self discovery I have made about myself and people surrounding me. I get to see the best and worst in people in stressful situations. Its how you perceive yourself in the tough time and the lessons learnt from both success and failure. Risk taking has given me more insight on how life can be reduced to seconds in front of you, to appreciate the times that you are not trying to keep calm and remember the times of extreme sensations. I love to balance the down time with friends and the superman times in the air. Risk taking is not selfish behavior, its being in a moment of comfort, where comfort can be pulled away a any time.
The last is how I relate high risk activity experience with safety all around me. At work, it seems I can see the dangers of the job easier and I can protect myself and others around me. Climbing, skiing, DHing is all about planning a course and following through. Timing is a factor at high speeds, but when I get the time to think it through, it seems I am the only one to see 3 steps ahead. Even walking down the street or driving, my situational awareness is always active. Feels like I am more aware than the average person of my surroundings.
There is a spiritual aspect I like to see in high risk sports. I always feel humbled by fate and experience the laws of physics at the greatest. I study physics a bit and being in nature, feeling the forces on the body and mind makes me understand what I am studying. I am studying the work of God, by experiencing the creation. Most questions about the divine come to me in intense times. I can gather these strokes of wisdom and share with people around me.
There is so much more than hucking for cash. Thank you