Canyoneering a sport?

[boryaa]

Just outa curiosity. Do you guys consider canyoneering a legit sport? Personally, as a canyoneer and climber myself I see it being somewhat close to rock-climbing. But what do you guys think?

[Bootboy]

No. At least not for me. It's more of an activity or persuit. For many, it's a life style.

I cringe when someone refers to it specifically as an action or adrenaline sport, or even worse, EXTREME sport.

[ilipichicuma]

I think of it as a sport, at least to some degree. I definitely think of it as being different from rock climbing, though I enjoy both. I think the main difference is that in rock climbing you are going up and in canyoneering you are going down. Also, I think a lot of the moves in canyoneering are different from climbing. Being good at climbing can help, but it's not everything.

[Iceaxe]

I have always considered canyoneering and mountaineering to be very similar in terms of sport. YMMV

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

[kiwi_outdoors]

If you set a bolt or a piton, its construction, and should be permitted, and is no longer a sport, IMO. That said, I really like canyoneering.

[moab mark]

My kids think hiking with ropes if alot funner then just hiking. More of an adventure then a sport.

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[deagol]

I think of it more as a "pursuit" or "activity" but not a "sport". The difference may be subtle, or may be semantics...

[Mojave Silence]

Depends on how ya define "sport." My dictionary has it as "to amuse oneself, frolic...a source of diversion, recreation..." By that definition I'd say Yes, it's a sport.

[mzamp]

If you set a bolt or a piton, its construction, and should be permitted, and is no longer a sport, IMO. That said, I really like canyoneering. :facepalm1:

[mzamp]

Just outa curiosity. Do you guys consider canyoneering a legit sport? Personally, as a canyoneer and climber myself I see it being somewhat close to rock-climbing. But what do you guys think?

What do you think? And what does it matter? Far as I know there are no canyoneering competitions. Is hiking or mountaineering a sport? I would put canyoneering in the same catergory. I wouldn't group it with rock climbing, unless you are talking trad climbing and not sport climbing.

[Slot Machine]

I think of canyoneering as a fun way to teach my friends how to tie overhand knots. :haha:

It's also a fun way to fool my wife into thinking that she made a wise choice by selecting me as a mate... like she seems to believe every time I slide down a long rope and survive. :naughty:

But no, canyoneering is not a sport. That would involve competition.

One could argue that this forum is a sport however... :duel:

[phatch]

I have a brother-in-law who defines sport as those activities requiring a defense. I don't particularly agree with that perspective, but it does help me think about things in a new way.

[Iceaxe]

Defense required would eliminate a lot of sports.... including about 90% of all Olympic Sports....

Defense required might better define a game....

YMMV


Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

[boryaa]

Well I personally believe it is a sport. You do it because you love to, and if you take it seriously like I do than its much more than an activity. :nod:

[phatch]

There's some of the new arrivals to the Olympics I wouldn't call a sport. Synchronized anything, rhythmic gymnastics...

Physical difficulty alone does not a sport make imho.

[mzamp]

Well I personally believe it is a sport. You do it because you love to, and if you take it seriously like I do than its much more than an activity. :nod:

According to the Oxford Dictionary it is NOT a sport: noun

1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment:

[pikan]

According to the Oxford Dictionary it is NOT a sport: noun



1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment:



Not disagreeing, but one could argue about the competition part of canyoneering! :nod:

[Renatomic808]

Not disagreeing, but one could argue about the competition part of canyoneering! :nod:

Then I see it as a sport.. I'm competing with other local canyoneers, on who can bag the first descents and give ridiculous canyon names. :lol8:

During our canyons, we also have guava wars. So maybe Utah canyoneering isn't a sport.... but Hawaii canyoneering is :bootyshake:

[Iceaxe]

According to the Oxford Dictionary it is NOT a sport: noun



1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment:



:nono:

You didn't provide the complete quote from the Oxford Dictionary....

[mass noun, usually with adjective] success or pleasure derived from an activity such as hunting or fishing:

There is a lot more: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sport

:popcorn:

[Felicia]

It's a sport - Wikipedia says so!

"Canyons can be very easy or extremely difficult, though emphasis in the sport is usually on aesthetics and fun rather than pure difficulty."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyoneering

:mrgreen:

Felicia

[hank moon]

Wrong question. Canyoneering is whatever it means to you personally. Whether it is a sport or not raises questions of style, ethics and intent. Traditionally, sports have a competitive component and since anything can be made to be competitive, it follows that any activity can be engaged as a sport.

Consider these sporting metrics:

- time spent doing a canyon
- distance covered
- number of repeats
- anchor preferences
- other style points (ghosted it, did it nude, etc.)

If you find yourself highly interested in your "performance," and compare yours with others' on a regular basis, and especially if you try to better your performance based on that of others,

Canyoneering may be a sport to you, at least sometimes.

[mzamp]

:nono:

You didn't provide the complete quote from the Oxford Dictionary....

[mass noun, usually with adjective] success or pleasure derived from an activity such as hunting or fishing:

There is a lot more: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sport

:popcorn:


True, but there are hunting and fishing competitions. :fishing:

"success or pleasure derived from an activity" - That makes my GF a sport. :naughty:

And Felicia, Don't believe everything you read...unless I wrote it. :fitz:

[Iceaxe]

There are also official canyoneering competitions. The most recent I can think of is the North Wash race to benefit Wayne County SAR.

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

[mzamp]

Wrong question. Canyoneering is whatever it means to you personally. Whether it is a sport or not raises questions of style, ethics and intent. Traditionally, sports have a competitive component and since anything can be made to be competitive, it follows that any activity can be engaged as a sport.

Consider these sporting metrics:

- time spent doing a canyon
- distance covered
- number of repeats
- anchor preferences
- other style points (ghosted it, did it nude, etc.)

If you find yourself highly interested in your "performance," and compare yours with others' on a regular basis, and especially if you try to better your performance based on that of others,

Canyoneering may be a sport to you, at least sometimes.

I agree that canyoneering is whatever it means to you. I don't agree that simply loving canyoneering makes it a sport. Personally, I don't do it to be competitive. In fact I would rather not canyoneer with the macho "let's put our junk on the table and measure" BS. :stud: I love to challenge myself and test my mettle. I love the outdoors and the beauty of nature and I love to share that with friends, family, and other "fun" people that I meet. YMMV!

[mzamp]

There are also official canyoneering competitions. The most recent I can think of is the North Wash race to benefit Wayne County SAR.

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

That's why I said in my original post. None that "I" know of. That's cool. In that case it "can" be a sport. :cheers:

[Stray]

In order to get rid of calling ballet, diving, gymnastics, high jump, running, etc. a sport, I long ago accepted this definition:

"A sport is anything with a team and a ball"

I am willing to accept that most athletic activities, even competitive ones like fencing :duel:, climbing, golf, :2gun: and :naughty: are not sports.

Does canyoneering have a team and a ball: Nope! Not a sport.

[hank moon]

Does canyoneering have a team and a ball: Nope! Not a sport.

Depends. On this day we had multiple teams and balls. :2thumbs:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hCvBUnM2sA0/SFDC3DbXQlI/AAAAAAAAQLI/Ny27E_A2rQ0/s512/IMG_9284.JPG


http://www.bogley.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=21256&stc=1&d=1213149011

http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?30659-08-Zion-Noobfest-Share-the-photos-share-the-love&p=312857&viewfull=1#post312857

[Iceaxe]

Looks like a sport to me any way you slice it :-)

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

[mzamp]

:popcorn:

[tjdowling]

Like many things, I think what canyoneering "is" falls on a spectrum. It has sport like elements. It also has non-sport like elements. If a sport is on one side of the spectrum and an activity is on the other, I'd say it falls closer to an activity since there is no competition per se. On the other hand, it requires talent, skill, and practice to be good at it... kind of like a sport.

[Bshelton]

KEYHOLE
http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69181

I believe this would count as competition or a race.