Extreme ironing
{{Short description|Ironing in unconventional locations}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
File:Extermeironingrivelin.jpg, United Kingdom]]
Extreme Ironing (also called EI) is an extreme sport in which people take ironing boards to remote locations and iron items of clothing. According to the Extreme Ironing Bureau, extreme ironing is "the latest dangerous sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt."[http://teamsteam.org/iron/what-is-extreme-ironing/ "What is extreme ironing?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119013947/http://teamsteam.org/iron/what-is-extreme-ironing/ |date=19 November 2013 }}. Team Steam
Part of the attraction and interest the media has shown towards extreme ironing seems to center on the issue of whether it is really a sport or not. It is widely considered to be tongue-in-cheek.{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Nick |date=2003-12-14 |title=Jazz, giants and ironing boards |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2003/dec/14/bookreviews.travelbooks.bestbooksof2003 |access-date=2006-02-16 |quote=The idea, which combines the thrills of an extreme sport with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt, is thoroughly explained in this tongue-in-cheek manual...}}
Some locations where such performances have taken place include a mountainside of a difficult climb; a forest; in a canoe; while skiing or snowboarding; on top of large bronze statues; in the middle of a street; underwater; in the middle of the M1 motorway;{{Cite web |title=Man irons on the M1 |url=http://www.studentbeans.com/worldweirdweb/nutters/man-irons-on-the-m1154.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420035130/http://www.studentbeans.com/worldweirdweb/nutters/man-irons-on-the-m1154.html |archive-date=20 April 2011 |access-date=18 April 2011 |publisher=Student Beanskeirin}} in a keirin cycle race;{{Cite web |title=Keirin X Extreme Ironing |url=https://www.keirin-saitama.jp/exiron/ |access-date=7 October 2022}} while parachuting; and under the ice sheet of a frozen lake.[https://sites.google.com/site/wicmitchell/extreme-ironing-under-ice "Extreme Ironing Under Ice"]. Extreme Ironing Under Ice The performances have been conducted solo or by groups.
History
Extreme ironing was invented in 1997 in Leicester, England, by resident Phil Shaw in his back garden. Shaw came home from what he recalls as a hard day in a Leicester knitwear factory.{{Cite news |date=2003-02-18 |title=Worldwide extreme ironing competition launched |publisher=Extreme Ironing Bureau |url=http://www.extremeironing.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=43}} Shaw had a number of chores to do, including ironing. Preferring the idea of an evening out rock climbing, he decided to combine the two activities into a new extreme sport. In June 1999, Shaw, who uses the nickname "Steam", embarked on an international tour to promote the activity. The stops included the United States, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. An encounter with German tourists in New Zealand led to the formation of a group called "Extreme Ironing International", and the German Extreme Ironing Section or GEIS.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} This has yet to popularize in North America.
A more extreme form of extreme ironing has been developed that includes bungee jumping. Bungee ironing is what some would call the ultimate in the thrill of extreme ironing.{{Cite web |title=Extreme Ironing |url=http://averyj12.weebly.com/extreme-ironing.html |access-date=2016-11-03 |website=averyj12.weebly.com}}{{circular reference|date=September 2021}}
The first competition for extreme ironing took place in Germany in 2002. Eighty teams competed in an obstacle course in which the competitors had to iron different articles of clothing in different dangerous settings. These settings included hanging from a tree, scaling a wall, and climbing under the hood of a car. A common misconception would be that competitors are scored only on how dangerous the location of their ironing is. But, the most significant part of scoring is actually how many wrinkles are left on the clothing and how the competitor chooses to iron the clothes. Competitors are scored for the quality of the pressing, style, and speed. Quality of the pressing counts for half of the points scored.
The sport gained international attention in 2003 after a documentary entitled Extreme Ironing: Pressing for Victory, was produced for Britain's Channel 4 by Wag TV. The program followed the British team's efforts and eventual Bronze and Gold placings in the 1st Extreme Ironing World Championships in Germany. A side-story looked at the rivalry between the EIB (Extreme Ironing Bureau) and a breakaway group called Urban Housework who were trying to establish their own extreme sport based around vacuum-cleaning. The film later aired on the National Geographic Channel.{{Cite news |last=Wollaston |first=Sam |date=2005-06-06 |title=O brother, where art thou |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv_and_radio/story/0,,1499886,00.html |access-date=2006-02-16 |quote=That's because Phil is a star of Extreme Ironing (National Geographic, Saturday).}}
In 2003, John Roberts and Ben Gibbons from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and Christopher Allan Jowsey (boots) from Newcastle, Whitley Bay{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}, ironed a Union Jack just above Everest Base Camp. This is believed to be the world altitude record for the sport. The reported height was {{Convert|5440|m|ft|abbr=}} above sea level.{{Cite news |title=Pair steamed up on a mountain |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/2971339.stm |access-date=2015-11-09 |website=www.bbc.co.uk|date=23 April 2003 }}
In 2003, the Rowenta Trophy was won by a group from South Africa by ironing across a gorge at the Wolfberg Cracks.{{Cite web |title=UCT's Ironmen of the extreme sort |url=http://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2003-06-09-ucts-ironmen-of-the-extreme-sort |access-date=2020-12-13 |website=www.news.uct.ac.za |language=en}}
In 2004, the EIB traveled to the US on the Rowenta Tour to recruit additional ironists and ironed at Mount Rushmore, New York City, Boston and Devils Tower.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
On 18 April 2011, tenor Jason Blair was filmed ironing on the M1 motorway in London, UK, a section of which had been closed following a fire.{{Cite news |date=2011-04-18 |title=Extreme ironing: man presses shirt on M1 motorway |publisher=Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8458396/Extreme-ironing-man-presses-shirt-on-M1-motorway.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419180809/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8458396/Extreme-ironing-man-presses-shirt-on-M1-motorway.html |archive-date=19 April 2011}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/hnGlmt82Gt8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160426183830/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnGlmt82Gt8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite news |date=2011-04-18 |title=Manic monday Morning on the M1 |publisher=youtube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnGlmt82Gt8}}{{cbignore}}
In 2012, Extreme Ironing pioneer Steam came out of retirement to take on a new challenge and run the Hastings Half Marathon in March wearing an ironing board, pressing garments on the way.{{Cite news |date=2012-08-01 |title=Team Steam – Never say never |publisher=TeamSteam.org |url=http://teamsteam.org/iron/never-say-never/ |url-status=dead |access-date=1 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920083532/http://teamsteam.org/iron/never-say-never/ |archive-date=20 September 2016}}
=Underwater=
File:highlander411_extreme_ironing.jpg
In March 2008, a team of 72 divers simultaneously ironing underwater set a new world's record for number of people ironing underwater at once.[http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/03/31/12622_news.html St Leonards' divers set underwater ironing record], Michaela Farrington, Geelong Advertiser, 31 March 2008.
On 10 January 2009, 128 divers including six freedivers, attempted to break the previous world record, managing to confirm 86 divers ironing within a 10-minute period. The event took place at the National Diving and Activity Centre (NDAC) near Chepstow, Monmouthshire, and was organised by members of the Yorkshire Divers internet forum. In addition to breaking the world record, the event raised over £15000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7843208.stm UK regains 'extreme' ironing record], BBC News (2009-01-21)[https://web.archive.org/web/20090125214415/http://blogs.reuters.com/oddly-enough/2009/01/22/get-your-wetsuit-trixie-its-ironing-day/ Get your wetsuit, Trixie, it's ironing day!], Reuters Blogs (2009-01-22)
On 1 May 2010, a group of Dive Centers in Key Largo, Florida, attempted to claim the record. The event was part of the Conch Republic Days in the Florida Keys and was attempted by Keys Diver, Silent World Dive Center, and Captain Slates Atlantis Dive Center. The attempt took place at the historic site of the Christ of the Abyss at Key Largo Dry Rocks.{{Update inline|date=July 2014}}
On 28 March 2011, Dutch diving club De Waterman from Oss, Netherlands, set the new (official) world record extreme underwater ironing. A group of 173 divers set the new world record in an indoor swimming pool in Oss. De Waterman organized this event to mark their 40-year anniversary.[https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/119380/Wereldrecord-onderwaterstrijken-voor-duikers-Oss Wereldrecord onderwaterstrijken voor duikers Oss], Omroep Brabant (2020-04-02)
On 16 June 2018, a freediver, Roland Piccoli, ironed a T-shirt at a depth of 42 m (138 ft) in the world's deepest pool (Y-40) in Montegrotto Terme Italy.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ScaY_68q0w8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201106223721/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScaY_68q0w8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite news |date=2018-07-06 |title=Extreme Ironing freediving -42 m |publisher=youtube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScaY_68q0w8}}{{cbignore}}
=Related activities=
Extreme Ironing has inspired other forms of unusual extreme activity, such as Extreme Cello Playing.{{Cite news |date=2006-08-01 |title=Extreme Cello playing |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2006/07/27/extreme_cellists_feature.shtml}}
In popular culture
The activity rose high enough in the zeitgeist to land an appearance on the long-running soap opera EastEnders. The 2 August 2004 episode featured a reference to the then-current altitude record holders the Hot Plate Brothers. As the party-loving Kat and Zoe Slater are preparing to go out, they are invited to the launch party at Angie's Den where celebrities—including the brothers—are supposed to appear.
It is also mentioned in Netflix’s show Dino Girl Gauko Season 1, Episode 6.{{Cite news |last=Shaw |first=Phil |date=2004-08-03 |title=Extreme Ironing on Eastenders |publisher=Extreme Ironing Bureau |url=http://www.extremeironing.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=117}}
See also
References
- {{Cite news |last=Bullock |first=Pam |date=May 21, 2004 |title=Get Out Your Boards: Extreme Ironing May Soon Be Hot |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/21/us/get-out-your-boards-extreme-ironing-may-soon-be-hot.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 16, 2024}}
External links
{{Commons category|Extreme ironing}}
- [http://www.ironing.de/ German Extreme Ironing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050213063342/http://ironing.de/ |date=13 February 2005 }}
{{Extreme Sports}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Extreme Ironing}}