Student Selections

By CLAY MILLER

neighbors@vindy.com

One day in 1997, English textile factory worker Phil Shaw, an avid rock climber, decided he would take multi-tasking to an entirely new level. Shaw took an iron and ironing board with him on his climb. This incident is claimed by many as the origin of what Shaw describes as, “the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.”

Shaw felt that there must be others who shared his passion for unnecessarily dangerous garment pressing. This led to Shaw’s founding of The Extreme Ironing Bureau (EIB) in 1999. The EIB is responsible for keeping track of records. This body set forth a set of rules that outline record eligibility. One must photograph or take a video of oneself at a landmark with a metal iron and a 1-meter long, 30-centimeter wide ironing board with legs.

The EIB and other third-party organizations host Extreme Ironing Tours. A tour of this variety consists of the participants making their way across a country or continent and perching precariously on landmarks and famous areas in the country/continent. From the peaks of Everest to the depths of the Atlantic, eager ironers go to extreme lengths to gain their unique thrill. These feats can be as simple as standing in a fast moving river, or as complex as hanging suspended from a wire.

Critics of this alternative sport claim that this is not technically ironing because the iron is not connected to a source of power.

To counter this major flaw in the sport, the EIB released a statement saying, “There are occasions where the danger and the thrill of extreme ironing are more exciting than the actual ironing.”

While many do not accept this activity as a legitimate sport, it has a strong following by a multitude in the United States, Germany, Australia, Japan and other countries.

To the select few, Extreme Ironing will continue to thrive as the ultimate thrill sport on the face of the Earth.