Wrinkle Warriors: Quite literally ironing on the edge

Have you ever been ironing your clothes and thought: I wish I was having more fun right now. Perhaps you thought: I wish I was hanging off a cliff right now. You could kill two birds with one stone, satisfyingly smoothing all of the wrinkles out of your beloved clothes while participating in a thrilling and impressive activity. Extreme ironing is the name of the game. In this extreme sport, athletes put themselves in dangerous conditions: cliff jumping, riding horses, flattening in the forest, kayaking, canoeing, skydiving, paddle boarding, scuba diving, and skiing. Invented in 1997, extreme ironing has now evolved into a national sport. In 2002, the first extreme ironing national championships was held in Germany, where 12 teams competed to be the most extreme ironer in the world. You might be tempted to mock these athletes, even thinking that they shouldn't be considered athletes. However, there are many skills that tie into this sport. The athletes are judged on their ironing techniques, creativity, and the difficulty of the activity they are participating in. While extreme ironing is not as popular as, say, soccer or football, it is a constantly growing sport for those who enjoy humor and adventurous action. So, next time you notice a wrinkle in your clothes, maybe, along with your iron and ironing board, grab your bike, a horse, or plan a hike or a ski trip to add a little extra fun to a simple house chore.

Sophie Watson