Simmeringfrogs.com

As it turns out, plenty! I went to a IPL T20 cricket match final in mumbai with my friends and, in between buying outrageously priced food, I thought about what cricket (or any sport) has in common with internet marketing. I know, you may think it’s a bit of a stretch, but these simple analogies will make all of us to consider internet marketing to be an extreme sport.

1.Enter the ground with determination – Let’s start with most apparent. You need to have sheer determination to rich the finish line or score the winnig run. You’ve got to have the same kind of determination to your business and your marketing efforts.

2.Take proper stance and be ready – It takes an intense focus and concentration to hit a 100 mile-per-hour fastball.You must be on you toes, ready to respond, and completely ready for anything that might be hit his way. Are you paying attention in your business? Are you nimble, prepared and ready to react?

3.Give it a real go – It’s not the half-hearted shots that wins you matches, you need to swing hard for that. In your marketing efforts and in your business in general, you’ve got to take big swings. If you want to hit winning runs, you’ve got to swing for the fences!

4.Have a game plan – Just as an australian cricketer may make it look effortless, they never take the field without a game plan. Business, like cricket, is a game of strategy. Plan ahead. Study the competition. Know your strengths and weaknesses. And most important, execute.

5.Team game - No matter how good the individuals in the team are, it’s the team that wins cricket matches. While this is painfully obvious,  you need to ask yourself how teamwork can benefit you. How can you use the combined efforts of your team to win?

6.Life lesson - The players we most admire are the guys who are as great off the field as they are on the field. You’ve got to bring your  “A”  game every day, both in business and in life!

7.Never give up - As they say in cricket “No game is over till the last ball is bowled”, to succeed as an entrepreneur, you’re going to need that same kind of dogged persistence and determination.

8.Be aggressive - Good players always plays agressively. They run hard. They stretch full. They don’t let up. How are you playing in your business? Can you put in even more effort? Can you push a little harder?

9.Use a variety of “weapons” – A champion team uses many different ways to win.They have a variety of weapons in their arsenal. Are you using an assortment of marketing weapons in your business? Look for ways to add some depth to your armoury and don’t rely on just one or two methods.

After considering these nine points, i am sure many readers will agree with me and apply things to their marketing campaign if they haven’t yet.

For more on internet marketing visit www.thebrandsaloon.com

Extreme Nicaragua: Extreme Sport Just Got Crazier

When you think of Nicaragua what is the first thing that comes to mind? For many, it’s the Sandinistas, the left-wing revolutionary party that dominated the political landscape in the last part of the 20th century. For others, it’s images of romantic white sand beaches or lush tropical rainforests. But, did you know that Nicaragua is quickly becoming known as the world’s hottest extreme adventure destination for one of the craziest sports ever imagined?

In fact, adrenaline junkies from all around the globe are discovering that Nicaragua is home to some of the best rushes available, everything from windsurfing to crocodile safaris, extreme diving and mountain biking. However, one sport in particular is gaining worldwide attention…

You’ll never find it in the Olympics. Mothers won’t want their kids to take part in it. And, if you can escape a day of it without cuts, bruises, broken bones, or mild concussions, you’ll be one of the lucky few.

What is this insane sport, you ask? Volcano surfing, of course!

Volcano surfing is quickly becoming the latest craze that extreme sportists are flocking to Nicaragua to experience.

After heaving, huffing, and scrambling up the face of some of the country’s most rugged volcanoes – many of which are still very active, like the popular Cerro Negro – volcano surfers take a few minutes to view the amazing panoramic vistas, say their prayers, and then strap war-torn snowboards to their feet and hurl themselves right down the volcano.

Taking advantage of the ashen mountainsides – many of which are still smoking hot – surfers carve up the volcano and soar down the mountain like a blast of molten lava…careful to avoid (or attempt to do so, at least) the countless shards, rocks, and hidden obstacles that make the downhill experience more like trekking through a vertical minefield than a pleasant day in the snow.

Many veterans of this topsy-turvy sport say it’s an unmatched burst of adrenaline. Even when the going isn’t so fast and furious – often you’ll be knee-high in silt-like ash and moving slower than a turtle – the fact that you’ve chosen to ride down the face of an active volcano with only a little board between you and certain danger has a sexy quality all its own!

If you’re asking yourself what the draw of such an insane sport is…it’s probably not for you. But, if you’re that one in a hundred who, once they’ve heard of it, have to do whatever it takes to get on that volcano…you don’t need anybody to explain the appeal. Pure adrenaline, total excitement…and, often some wickedly good scratches and scars that will provide years of fireside story-telling of that one summer when…

So, if you’re headed to Nicaragua, take time to enjoy the timeless romance of the Caribbean Sea or the calm peacefulness of the white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Take in the remarkable magic of the tropical rainforests, jungles, and wildlife reserves. Check out the amazing real estate bargains that can be found in every corner of this beautiful country. But, when you’ve had your fill of these more placid experiences, take a bumpy ride west over toward Cerro Negro way and – even if you don’t do it yourself – check out the thrill seekers and action heroes who are defying gravity (and sanity) as they tear it up down the face of an active and ready-to-rumble volcano.

It’s an experience you (and your body) won’t soon forget!

BASE jumping is not a sport for the faint of heart. Athletes who practice this extreme sport climb to the top of tall buildings, canyons, or other structures; jump off; enjoy a period of free falling; then open a parachute and coast to the ground.

The acronym BASE stands for building, antennae, span, and earth; which make up a comprehensive list of what kinds of fixed objects BASE jumpers plummet from. Span is a term that includes all sorts of bridges, or any other structures that span over a valley or chasm. Earth means anything from cliffs to mountains to canyons.

BASE jumping is very dangerous for a variety of reasons, but the most common causes of injury and death have to do with failure to maintain a clear area around the athlete during the jump and/or the landing. If the wind is against them or if they make a mistake during the launch of their jump, athletes sometimes collide with the object that they have jumped from. Because BASE jumping areas are usually not designated for this guerilla-style sport, the makeshift landing targets that jumpers aim for are rarely large enough to allow for a safe jump. As a result many BASE enthusiasts meet with serious and sometimes fatal injuries because they haven’t been able to steer themselves to the landing area in time.

Many people compare BASE jumping to bungee jumping without a bungee cord, but it is actually much closer to skydiving without an airplane. Jumpers practice many of the same techniques that divers use to maintain stability and altitude awareness while they are in the air. Before becoming a BASE jumper, an athlete must complete a full course of skydiver training. Once they have their full skydiving certification, the next step for anyone interested in BASE is to find a mentor in the jumping community who can teach them how to take on these ambitious freefalls. Only experienced divers can even contemplate a BASE jump because this kind of unguided and somewhat unpredictable activity requires razor sharp awareness of altitude, along with stellar free fall technique.

BASE jumping is one of the most dangerous sports practiced today. Every year, BASE jumping leads to several fatalities, and most major BASE societies and clubs have seen at least one member perish in pursuit of the sport that he or she loved. Because no two jumps are alike, it is very difficult to predict what will happen once you start plummeting towards the ground. This means that to survive a BASE jump you need to have a very level head, an ability to react to surprises without panicking, and lightning speed reflexes that will allow you to make instantaneous adjustments in your position or your trajectory. However, no amount of experience can guarantee that you will complete your jump without mishap, so even very accomplished jumpers are taking serious risks every time they prepare to hurl themselves off of a building, antennae, span, or natural cliff.

Copyright (c) 2008 Wendy Tendys

Tradition, myths from ancient times and death defying leaps are all part of the ancient birthplace of extreme sport. The most spectacularly frightening religious ceremony is repeated every year. Crowds stood in silent awe as the 75′ fragile looking tower collapsed, taking everyone on it to the ground.

It is one of the world’s most spectacularly frightening religious ceremonies, on Vanuatu’s Pentecost island, the land dive. The home and ancient birthplace of extreme sport and the pre-runner of all modern bungee jumping.

Perhaps it is just secret women’s business, or just legend from the mysterious myths of ancient times, but it is whispered that the first land diver was a woman. In a desperate bid to escape her husband’s abuse she tied a vine to her ankle and dived off the top of a tree. She survived. Not to be outdone by a woman, her husband dived after her without the aid of a vine. He died.

This turned to an ancient ceremony, celebrating the yam crop showing its first green tips in early April. At least one huge wooden tower is built in each of the southern villages of the island. Towers often reach as high as 23m (75ft).

This year, each Saturday from April to June, is to be a jump day, where the men of all ages will line up to take the plunge. Unfortunately it could be their last act on earth.

The islanders believe the jump is necessary to guarantee the bounty of the yam harvest. The divers’ back or shoulders must brush the tilled earth, in order to make the ground fruitful. Hopefully all rocks have been removed from the area.

It has now also become a ceremony to show the men’s acceptance into manhood. What a potential death jump proves of manhood, however, is beyond our civilized minds’ comprehension. Bearing in mind, the jump is now taboo to women.

Each man psyches himself to dive from the precarious looking platform, held only by two vines his friends have tied to his ankles. If there is too much moisture in the vines, the vines will stretch with fatal results. However, a participant died during a filming, when the Queen of England was present in 1974, because of an extremely dry season. The vines did not have enough elasticity ‘ they tore instead of stretching.

When he is ready to jump the diver raises his hands to the people below to stop their singing, dancing and whistling. Just before he jumps he shouts out his most intimate thoughts, whatever they may be. They may be his last words on earth, so it is time to let it all hang out.

He claps his hands, crosses his arms over his chest and leans forward until he topples over the edge of the platform.

Barely conscious, the diver is hastily aided to his feet as male relatives rush up to remove the vines from his ankles. The crowd roars its approval.

This year the platform collapsed before the first dive took place. Reasons: Were the holes dug deep enough into the ground to carry the weight of the climbers. Maybe there weren’t enough supporting vines at the back to keep the tower upright.

“What was the camera man doing climbing the tower, anyway?the local islanders ask.

This is the 21st century, yet tradition still has its place, rightly or wrongly. Haven’t they heard of workplace safety? Short answer. NO! It does not exist in places like the outer islands of Vanuatu.

Neither does free education in accordance with the Rights of the Child, as ratified by the General Assembly of the United Nations, 1989.

Many of the students will never have the opportunity to go to high school without outside assistance, though the males of Pentecost will annually make a death defying jump. These children will be left behind in the 21st century, with nothing but their traditional way of life. You can make a difference in these children’s lives and the lives of their village. Ancient traditions will not be challenged, but the children of this Lesser Developed Country, have the right to be given the opportunity to fulfill their own dreams and ambitions.

In a national survey commissioned by the American Kite Surfing Association (AKSA), kite surfing, a relatively new sport in North America, is ranked as the top Extreme Sport. Among the sixteen hundred athletes participating in the study, 71% listed kite surfing as the most exciting and dynamic extreme sport. Only a third had actually attempted the sport yet nearly all indicated that intended to “give it a try” before the end the year. Participants were between the ages of 18 – 35 and all were self-identified sports enthusiast. The margin of error in this research is +/- 2%. Other extreme activities were far distance in ranking including skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, inline skating, BMX, MotoX.

This dramatic interest in the athletically demanding sport has given AKSA founders encouragement about the value of their newly founded organization. Logan Long, co-founder of the association was not surprised by the results; “It’s just simply the biggest adrenaline rush available. The combination of air, water, land, wind power, physical strength and balance the force of nature are the qualities that attract Kite Surfers.”

American Kite Surfing Association is the leading organization for kite surfers in North America. Founded in 2006 by two extreme sport enthusiasts, membership is anticipated to exceed 30,000 before the end of the year. The purpose of the enterprise is to bring heightened awareness to this fast-growing, dynamic, and fun sport. A vast array of information, products, and techniques are available to the visitors of the AKSA website, www.kite-surfingusa.com. After more than a decade of popularity through Europe and Australia, active North American extreme sport athletes are recognizing the maximum adrenaline rush through kite surfing. According to Cathi Long, co-founder of AKSA, “The exhilaration of hang time in kite surfing is unbeatable…kite surfers are simply the sexiest athletes.” AKSA will select 50 leading industry product manufacturers to highlight and profile throughout an extensive national media outreach campaign.