Adventure Sports

All of us have some sort of a hobby, be it reading, sports, gardening and so on... Some of these hobbies have scope to be pursued seriously as a career. However, for a full –fledged career, one needs to develop expertise in it. Here let us discuss about an adventurous hobby which can be a part of enjoyment as well as good career choice. i.e a career in an adventure sport

Career in adventure sports is a broad and generalized term. Adventure sports may be divided into three types broadly – Air Sports, Land Sports and Water Sports.

Air Sports: Bungee Jumping, Paragliding, Sky Diving, Sky Surfing etc.

Land Sports: Rock Climbing, Skateboarding, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, Trekking, Adventure Racing, Land and Ice Yachting etc.

Water Sports: Scuba Diving, White Water Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Cliff Diving, Snorkeling, Yacht Racing, Powerboat Racing, Wind Surfing etc.

This is mostly a male dominated career field as the work necessitate to spend a lot of time away from home, in remote locations. But today more women are coming forward to participate in adventure sports. To promote interests of women, schools like 'Indian Institute of Skiing & Mountaineering, Gulmarg', has started courses exclusively for women.

Eligibility

Talking about personal attributes, main trait required for a career in Adventure Sports is physical and mental fitness along with sporting spirit. Also required is team spirit and leadership qualities, high levels of responsibility and a strong sense of commitment. To secure employment in this field, certification from any Adventure sport institute is enough. Proficiency in swimming is mandatory for water based sports. For getting jobs in Excursion agencies and Holiday resorts proficiency in any foreign language is necessary as the candidate might have to deal with tourists from across the world. There are lot of courses available for both beginners and experienced sports people. Institutes like Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Nehru Institute Of Mountaineering offers Basic mountaineering, Advance mountaineering courses which are of 28 days duration. National Institute of Water Sports, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports are the other prominent institutes that offer courses in various adventure sports.

Job prospects in adventure sports

Adventure sports is gaining popularity throughout the world specially in the tourism sector as part of Adventure Tourism. Due to the involvement of the media (National Geographic, Discovery, AXN etc), people have become more aware of adventure sports activities around them and want to plan an adventure holiday. (Adventure holiday destinations in India)

There are a number of career options to choose from, one can either specialise in one particular sport or a number of them. These specialists may work as free lancers or may be recruited by specific agencies. Career options in adventure sports sector can be as Adventure Sports Instructor, Adventure Sports Athlete, Outbound Training Facilitator & Trainer, Adventure Sports Photographer, Adventure Tourism Facilitator, Adventure Camp Counselor, Extreme Sports Specialist, Water and Aero Sports Specialist, Trekking & Mountain Guide, Adventure Tour Guide and so on.

Opportunities for adventure sports professionals exist in Excursion agencies, Holiday resorts, leisure camps and commercial recreation centers, Sports centers and athletic clubs. You can set up your own adventure sports centre offering services and impart training in your area of specialization. They can work as instructors to teach students in institutes. Another option is to work in a training organization specializing in outdoor training. One can also opt Adventure Sports Photography as a career.

Institutes offering courses in adventure sports

Some notable institutes are

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute 

Jawahar Parvat 

Darjeeling-734 101 (WB), India 

Phone: 0354 2254087, 2254083 

Fax: 0354 2253760 

Email : Contact I

Website : www.hmi-darjeeling.com

Offers Basic mountaineering course, Advance mountaineering course which are of 28 days duration. It also offers special courses for females.

Nehru Institute Of Mountaineering 

Uttarkashi - 249193 

Uttarakhand 

Phone: +911374-222123, 224663, 223580 

Fax:+911374-223344 

Email: Contact I

Website : www.nimindia.net

Offers Basic mountaineering course, Advance mountaineering course which are of 28 days duration. It also offers courses like special rescue training, specila mountain Guide course, sport climbing etc. of few days.

Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering 

IISM, House No 183, Kursoo, Raj Bagh, 

Srinagar, J & K- 190008 

Tel / Fax: 0194 – 2312749

IISM, Near Golf Club, 

Gulmarg, J & K- 193403 

Tel / Fax: 01954 – 254480 

Mobile: (0) 9419604990, 9419034449, 9419076335 

E mail: Contact I

Website: iismgulmarg.com

Offers courses in skiing, trekking, water skiing, parasailing, mountaineering ballooning etc.

Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM & WS) 

C/O JIM & WS, Nunwan, Pahalgam 

Distt: Anantnag (J&K) Pin-192126 

Nunwan Pahalgam (J&K) 

Ph.: 01936-243002 

Fax: 91-01936-243129 

E-mail: Contact I

Website: www.jawaharinstitutepahalgam.com

Offers Mountaineering Courses, Adventure Courses, Aero Sports, Water Sports, Rescue Courses and Skiing Courses.

Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, 

Manali, HP – 175131 

Phone: 01902-250377, 252342, 252206 

Fax: 252137 

Email: Contact I

Website: dmas.nic.in/

Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports conducts adventure activities for Indian participants and Foreign participants separately. In addition to following courses, the DMAS also conducts special activities mentioned below.-Mountaineering Expeditions, Mountaineering Courses, White Water Rafting Expeditions, Summer Skiing Courses/ Camps.

Regional Mountaineering Centre, McLeodganj 

Trail to Triund Hill from Main Square, McLeod Ganj, HP 176219 

Phone:0189 222 1787

Winter Sports Skiing Centre 

PO Palchan, Manali, Kullu, HP 

Phone: 01902-256011

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, 

Manali 175131. 

Phone No-(01902) 252342-253789 

Fax No- 01902-252139 

E-Mail : whmi_manali@yahoo.com

Courses offered : Skiing & Outbound Adventure including trekking, camping, river crossing, rock climbing, rappelling.

High Altitude Trekking & Skiing Center, 

Narkanda , Distt. Shimla (H.P) Pin- 171213 

Phone No: 01782 - 242406

Regional Water Sports Centre, Pong Dam (Kangra) 

Pong Dam, near Talwara. 

Phone: 01893-288956

Courses offered: Water Sports Courses - Swimming, Kayaking, Sailing, Rowing, Boating, Water Surfing & Skiing

Regional Adventure sports Centre, 

Hatkoti, Distt. Shimla (HP) 171206 

Telephone : 01781-238839, 

E-mail: Contact I

Mountaineering Sub Centre 

Jispa, Distt. Lahaul and Spiti (HP) 175132 

Telephone: 01900-233230 

Mountaineering Sub Centre 

Bharmour, Distt. Chamba (HP) 176315 

Telephone: 01895-225036

The Ballooning Club Of India 

8-B, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002. 

Phone: +91 11 2371 6665 +91 11 2331 7947

Contact I

National Institute of Water Sports 

Aivao, Near Dona Paula Circle Caranzalem, Panjim, Goa 

Phone: (0832) 2453898 

Website : www.niws.nic.in

Offers courses in windsurfing, water skiing, kayaking, river rafting, diving etc.