Extreme ironing has one simple goal… to give extreme exhilaration to those domestic individuals who have less than extreme meaning in their current lives. Never again shall the phrase, “I need to get my laundry finished,” be thought of in the same way. From this day forth, pursuing household tasks, while experiencing the thrill of death defying antics, shall be thought of as nothing short of the word… extreme.
Extreme ironing is rumored to have first begun in a small town in the UK, by a man who was returning home from his work in a knitwear factory. He entered through his front door overcome with the desire to pack up and go on a rock climb, but was discouraged by the pile of laundry crumpled in the far corner of his room. Not wanting to miss out on his favorite hobby, nor skip out on pressing his shirt for the next day. He brought his shirts, iron, and ironing board with him on the climb and thus began the sport of extreme ironing; which has since exploded into popularity across the globe.
One of the most popular questions that these thrill seekers is, “Where all have you actually ironed your laundry?” Although it should be, where have you not? These extremists have braved quite a number of interesting trips to the cleaners, so to speak. There is documentation of people base jumping and bungee jumping from cranes while ironing. Off the coast of Austria, there was a group of scuba divers who gathered in the dark depths of the abyss. People have pursued ironing on top of 4X4’s while scavenging rocky terrain, and they have also sat in the passenger seat of a rally car moving at speeds above 125mph.
What you should be asking is, “How can I get involved in this sport?” Well, before even thinking about taking something like this on, we feel the duty to warn you of the potential hazards. First and foremost is the always present danger of electric shock when you mix an appliance with the immeasurable possibilities of the weather. A sudden downpour while on top of Pikes Peak ironing your favorite flannel just may be the last shirt you ever iron. Of course, the most extreme danger is probably the stained ironing board cover, which would most likely lead to death by a disgruntled spouse.
Whichever terrain you decide to tackle with your ironing, we implore you to follow these simple rules:
Always remember to bring your video camera; and for your own good, please leave the whites at home!
(Photos via Moglik.com and Useloos.com)
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech