Careers in Adventure Sports

Would you like to live life on the edge, full of adventures? A career in adventure sports may be the right option for you. The best thing adventure sports is that you get to spend most of your time outdoors; you will also get the rare opportunity of converting your hobby into your profession.

Adventure sports involve activities which are unusual, risky and exciting. Examples are mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing, river rafting, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, scuba diving etc.

Eligibility
Like in many other fields, basic education is enough to build a career in adventure sports too. Candidates having a bachelor's degree in any discipline will, nevertheless, have an advantage over others. Proficiency in at least one foreign language is necessary as you will have to deal with tourists from different parts of the world.

Personal skills
In this field, your attitude counts as much as your aptitude.

You must be filled with the spirit of adventure. It is essential to have some sporting talent and a lot of interest in outdoor activities too. Since you have to deal with people of different cultures, it is necessary to have a hospitable and sociable nature. Considerable physical fitness and immense mental toughness are the other necessary traits.

Training
Several institutes provide training in adventure sports. Some of the prominent institutes offering training in mountaineering skills are the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, the Western Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in Manali. Training in various kinds of water sports is imparted by the National Institute of Water Sports in Goa.

A number of professional associations across the country also offer courses in adventure sports. The course duration varies from a few days to a few months.

Prospects
You can find jobs with travel and tourism agencies as Liaison Officers. You can also find jobs in several agencies like sports centres, athletic clubs, sports clubs, holiday resorts, excursion agencies etc. Those who have enough experience in this field can also set up an Adventure Sports Center of their own where they can offer services and impart training in their area of specialization.