Comments on: The Ultimate Athlete? http://www.searchfortheultimateathlete.com/2009/07/the-ultimate-athlete/ The Ultimate Sports Competition Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:41:47 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Josh Galt http://www.searchfortheultimateathlete.com/2009/07/the-ultimate-athlete/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Josh Galt Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:19:09 +0000 http://206.130.98.231/website/?p=97#comment-3 I think this is such a great idea. I have been around team sports (football, basketball, etc) all my life and recently started working in the adventure racing world, and I have had many arguments with friends about who is the better athlete, an NBA player or a world-class Adventure Racer. I think the AR people win - they can do so many disciplines, and in such hostile environments, and in such tough mental conditions. But the reality is, nearly all outdoor and extreme athletes have to be well-rounded. If you kayak waterfalls like the one pictured, you're going to have your share of rappelling and torturous hikes (while carrying a 90lb boat!)in order to even get to the place where you need your paddling skills. Just having one athletic skill is hardly enough to get by, let alone be among the best in your sport. SFUA is going to, I think, be the catalyst that makes people realize on a conscious level just how much work can - and should - go into the next generation of well-rounded athletes. And that's going to bring about record-breaking and mind-blowing performances in many sports...including ones we probably don't even have yet. I mean, who'd heard of Wingsuit Flying even just a few years ago? I think this is such a great idea. I have been around team sports (football, basketball, etc) all my life and recently started working in the adventure racing world, and I have had many arguments with friends about who is the better athlete, an NBA player or a world-class Adventure Racer.

I think the AR people win – they can do so many disciplines, and in such hostile environments, and in such tough mental conditions.

But the reality is, nearly all outdoor and extreme athletes have to be well-rounded. If you kayak waterfalls like the one pictured, you’re going to have your share of rappelling and torturous hikes (while carrying a 90lb boat!)in order to even get to the place where you need your paddling skills. Just having one athletic skill is hardly enough to get by, let alone be among the best in your sport.

SFUA is going to, I think, be the catalyst that makes people realize on a conscious level just how much work can – and should – go into the next generation of well-rounded athletes.

And that’s going to bring about record-breaking and mind-blowing performances in many sports…including ones we probably don’t even have yet.

I mean, who’d heard of Wingsuit Flying even just a few years ago?

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