Adventure Sports gives you an opportunity to transform
your hobby into an exciting, fun-filled and rewarding career option. India has a sizable amount of young
population, thus adventure tourism stands to gain momentum over the next few
years. Global and Indian Adventurists
and Tourists are keen to explore the harsh terrain of the Himalayas, the cool
beaches of Goa, the wonderful Indian Coastline and Ocean.
Personality Traits:
For a career in Adventure Sports, in addition to interest
and aptitude, the candidate should possess the right attitude and a risk taking
ability. Personality traits required to be build a career in Adventure Sports
are:
- Physical and mental fitness, and sporting spirit
- High degree of risk taking ability
- Team spirit and Leadership Qualities
- Highly committed and responsible
- First Aid Awareness, Compass Reading, Map reading, Survival Training, and Camp Management
- Highly hospitable and sociable by nature
- Ability to deal with people of different cultures and traditions
- Willingness to spend good amount of time outdoors
- Courage and Fearlessness
- Strong knowledge of the technical details of the given sport
Eligibility:
- Basic Education is sufficient (such as 12th pass or graduate)
- Strong physical fitness
- Proficiency in swimming is mandatory for water based sports
- Proficiency in English and at least one other foreign language is helpful
Careers Options in Adventure Sports:
- Adventure Sports Instructor
- Wildlife & Travel Photographer
- Adventure Sports Athlete
- Outbound Training Facilitator & Trainer
- Adventure Sports Photographer
- Adventure Tourism Facilitator
- Wildlife & Forest Tourism
- Naturalist & Conservation list
- Adventure Camp Counsellor
- Summer Camp Counsellor
- Gear Designer
- Extreme Sports Specialist
- Water and Aero Sports Specialist
- Trekking & Mountain Guide
- Adventure Tour Guide
- Liaison Officer
- Camping Cooks
- Camp Nurse
- Cleaning Staff
For Example – To establish a Career as an Adventure
Sports Instructor, one can specialize in one or more of the following sports:
- Air Sports: Bungee Jumping, Base Jumping, Paragliding, Hand gliding, Ski Jumping, Sky Diving, Sky Surfing
- Land sports: Mountain Biking, Speed Biking, Trekking, Outdoor Climbing, Rock Climbing, Sand Boarding, Mountain Boarding, Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Extreme Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Aggressive Skating, Adventure Racing, Land and Ice Yachting
- Water sports: Barefoot Water Skiing, Jet Skiing, Cliff diving, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Powerboat Racing, Yacht Racing, Kayaking, Canoeing, White water Rafting, Speed Sailing, Wind Surfing
Job Avenues:
- Sports Centres
- Athletic Clubs
- Travel and Tourism Agencies
- Commercial Recreation Centres
- Start own adventure sports centre
- Holiday Resorts
- Excursion Agencies
- Leisure Camps
Job Role:
- Understanding, researching the geographical area and activities in that region
- Analysing the risks involved in the excursion
- Setting up goals, plans and disaster management for sporting activities
- Help in route planning, navigation and creating details for the activity
- Briefing the participants or trainees on skills and correct techniques needed for the particular sport
- Performing administrative activities at the training and camping sites
- Accompanying participants for the sporting activity
Courses:
Several institutes offer short term courses for both
beginners and experiences sports people.
- Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling
- Tenzing Norgay Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling
- Regional Mountaineering Centre, McLeodganj
- Mountaineering Sub-Centres, Bharmour and Jispa
- The National Institute of Water Sports in Panjim, Goa
- Winter Sports Skiing Centre, Kulu
- Adventure Sports Centre, Hatkoti
- Water Sports Centre, Bilaspur
- Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering, Batote
- Regional Water Sports Centre, Pong Dam
- Balloon Club of India, New Delhi
- High Altitude Trekking & Skiing Centre, Narkanda
- Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali
- Himalayan Adventure Institute, Mussorie
- India Outdoors, H20, National Education Foundation (NEF), Pune
Salary Remuneration:
- Starting salary of Rs. 10,000 to 12,000 per month
- With experience one can earn up to Rs. 40,000 per month.
For information Chocolatier as an offbeat career, refer to my blogpost http://farzadminoodamania.blogspot.in/2012/09/offbeat-career-chocolatier.html
Farzad Minoo Damania
Career Counsellor & Corporate Trainer
