The first ever Women’s Moto X Racing contest will adorn the dirt at the next X Games.

The 10 women will, of course, be seeking some MX glory and on the Supercross-style track just like the dudes.

These ladies bearing bikes have been tearing it up and we have video proof for you:

Ashley Fiolek

Hometown: St. Augustine, Fla.
D.O.B.: October 22, 1990
Years Riding: 14

Ashley Fiolek Video courtesy of Red Bull

Jessica Patterson

Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.
D.O.B.: September 14, 1983
Years Riding: 17

Jessica in the Ride4AT Charity @ Bremen Motocross Park

Sarah Whitmore

Hometown: Cheboygan, MI
D.O.B.: July 26, 1984
Years Riding: 16

Sarah Whitmore Motocross Video

Tarah Geiger

Hometown: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
D.O.B.: September 18, 1985
Years Riding: 12

Tarah Geiger & Others - Video from May 2008

Sherri Cruse

Hometown: Bakersfield, Calif.
D.O.B.: March 2, 1989
Years Riding: 10
No Video available. Here’s her profile at the WMA: Sherri Cruse

Tune in to ESPN’s X games on August 2 for a 6-lap showdown that will determine the next chapter in Motocross @ the X Games.

by Michael Baker

Skydiving helmets are the most basic and most necessary skydiving equipment that one must get on a top priority before going skydiving. The skydiving helmets are usually made from Carbon fiber. It is a protective gear that protects the head of the skydiver from injuries in case of accidents during the fall or during landing.

Where the odds of landing safely and alive is greater than the odds of being killed in skydiving, the odds of being killed is greater than being paralyzed during an accident in skydiving. The bones in the body recover with time, but only a few people recover from a skull damage. So, one must always get a proper skydiving helmet.

While selecting a helmet, one must make sure that he is very comfortable with it. Because during skydiving, one must feel at ease with what he is wearing and so that the movements are not restricted in mid air.

The skydiving helmets are to protect the head from bumping in the plane and mid air collisions. They also protect the head from bumping into the objects or tree branches on which one may land amidst.

While some people like wearing their helmets, some of the people prefer very lightweight helmets and some people prefer no helmet at all. The jumper must be aware of the protection promised by different helmet styles and he must be comfortable and non complaining with the risks associated.

Before one goes to purchase a helmet, he must learn about its workings. It may also be helpful in his selection. An important characteristic of a good helmet is that it should absorb as much impact force as possible and must not break with a comparatively smaller force.

The uppermost part of the helmet, called the shell is designed to break when hit with a sufficiently hard impact. The shell and the liner work in such a way to distribute the force and the energy of the impact. The liner of the helmet should be designed to absorb a greater amount of impact energy. A good helmet has the same sort of hard liner that a motorcycle helmet has.

Sky diving helmets are available in many types in market. As a fact, there are number of helmets available in the market which do a lot more than just protecting the head. Some of the skydiving helmets are available with an inbuilt video camera which records the scenery while you are heading towards the earth and it has become very popular with the community.

Normally, the type of material used to make the skydiving helmet determines its price. If one wants to get the best skydiving helmet available in the market, then it is highly recommended that he does a quick survey of the helmets that are available in the market.

Understanding all the different aspects of the skydiving helmet can help to make choosing one a little more simple.

Exhilarating. The ultimate rush. Thrill of a lifetime.

For those who have jumped out of an airplane and plummeted toward earth in a skydiving freefall, words seem to be inadequate to describe the experience.

You just have to try it they say. And, who has not thought of doing just that? You’re never too old. Former President George H.W. Bush did it to celebrate his 75th birthday, then again on his 80th.

There are a few things to consider before taking that first big step, to make sure that the experience is rewarding and that you get everything out of it that you can.

1. Choose a certified instructor

Go online and do your research. Make sure that all instructors at a diving club or commercial skydiving establishment are certified. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions to help you be comfortable with the idea of that first jump.

2. Check the safety record of instructors and pilots

Before you do your skydive, you want to make sure that they have a good safety record, and that you know everything you can about them. Don’t be afraid to hang around for awhile and ask experienced jumpers what they think of the airplanes, the pilots, the instructors and the rental equipment.

3. Decide whether to jump tandem or solo

Beginners are encouraged to take a tandem jump( as President Bush did with a highly qualified instructor). Tandem jumps are a great way to get an introduction to the sport.

They allow the learner to gain an understanding of the sport with an experienced jumper. A tandem jump consists of an experienced jumper called a “Tandem master” and his or her passenger - you.

The passenger and tandem master each wear a harness. The passengers’ harness attaches to the front of the master’s harness and the two of them jump together from approximately 14,000 feet above the ground, free fall together for 65 seconds, open the parachute together, and land together under one really big parachute. A tandem jump requires anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of additional ground preparation.

Tandem jumping avoids the time, expense and effort of the more in-depth training required for solo jumps.

If you decide you want to do a solo jump for your first experience, you will have to take an instruction course and you will probably be required to use a static line. A static line is attached to the airplane and to the jumper’s chute. The line pulls open the parachute as soon as you leap out of the plane.

If you do a tandem jump, you jump with an instructor who is going to do all the work. You will just go along for the ride.

4. Make sure that you understand everything

Before you decide to sign up for your first jump, be sure you understand every instruction you are given.

Don’t go up without a full understanding of the steps to the jump. You certainly won’t gain an understanding of the thrill and rush of the experience, but you should be well aware of the sequence of events in your jump, the timing, how to land and whether or not it helps to scream on the way down.

Take your time. Assure yourself that the person who is instructing you is answering your questions fully and not rushing you.

If you don’t feel comfortable with the way it’s going, don’t go. Wait awhile, go to another jump school, or just keep asking questions of those who are already experienced jumpers. They are such an enthusiastic bunch, you’ll probably have a hard time shutting them up.

5. Then what?

If you enjoy that first skydiving experience , think about getting instruction and personal certification.

You should be aware, though, that it can be a very expensive sport. That is something you will really want to consider before paying for training, jump gear, parachute, airplane time and many miscellaneous charges.

If you take the big step, you will probably be the one searching for superlatives to describe your experience.

For more information visit the web site below.

Jay Marsh is a writer-researcher with more than four decades of journalistic experience. His publishing company, Info Innovations LLC, offers in-depth information about everyday matters and concerns. There’s a lot more skydiving information for you at his web site: www.info-innovations.com/skydiving You can learn much more there to help you decide whether skydiving is for you.

Guest post by Lucas Baier

With the harsh winter months winding down it’s time to get off the couch and get ready for some extreme mountain biking. And one of the most popular forms of extreme mountain biking is cross country or XC.

Just imagine pumping up steep inclines, gliding down grassy hills and flying over all types of harsh terrain; it’s no wonder cross country mountain biking is an Olympic sport.

Just because it’s popular, don’t be fooled into thinking that XC mountain biking is only for the weak. To become a professional on the XC circuit, competitors train for years; peddling through multiple, grueling courses. Fortunately, getting started in this form of extreme mountain biking is fairly simple. But finding the right gear is vital to the safety and progress of the cross country mountain biker; with the mountain bike being the most important investment.

The Bike

Finding the right mountain bike and having it set up properly are extremely important to the XC mountain biker. The weight and suspension of your mountain bike are essential to get the most out if this form of extreme mountain biking. The weight of the bike should range between 20 and 30 pounds, with the front suspension travel between 60mm and 120mm. The suspension travel is the movement that the shocks can absorb; the more travel you have the smoother the ride.

While many mountain bikes come ready for the XC circuits right off the rack, you may need to make a few alterations to help make your bike the ideal tool for extreme mountain biking. For cross country mountain biking, you may need to make the following adjustments:

• Remove all unneeded accessories. This includes rack, bells and lights.

• Set your seat height and position. For proper seat height, raise your seat until your leg is straight when the pedal is at the six o’clock position. Seat position is based on rider comfort. Start with the seat level and move it accordingly.

• Position the handlebars. For XC mountain biking, the handlebars should be about 2 ½ inches below the seat. The lower the bars, the more control you will have during your climbs; higher bars give more control when your coming down.

The Rider

For extreme mountain biking, the condition of the rider is just as important as the condition of the mountain bike. Being in good physical condition will help you on the steep inclines and over the rough trails associated with XC circuits. But just because you’re a little soft around the middle, don’t let it discourage you from hitting the trails. Start slow and work your way up to more difficult courses, and incorporate strength conditioning into your workout to get the most out of this form of extreme mountain biking.

Many people choose cross country mountain biking because of the freedom they feel as they navigate XC circuits. XC racing is often considered the least extreme form of extreme mountain biking and can be the easiest form to get started in. All you need is a mountain bike, protective gear and the little bit of nerve required to rush through the rugged trails.

Check out more cool Cross Country Extreme Mountain Biking info and join the extreme sports community at http://www.sackupsports.com where you gotta sack up to go downhill hard!