Extreme Ironing is a humorous activity that parodies extreme sports. Extreme ironing athletes take an ironing board and iron into remote locations and dangerous urban situations and proceed to iron at great heights or while moving at high speed. Although it isn’t certain how the sport began, it’s believed that an English fellow called Phil Shaw was the first extreme ironer. Shaw didn’t relish the idea of ironing in the evening, preferring to go rock climbing, so one evening he combined the two activities and Extreme Ironing was born. The sport has now been taken up by atheletes from around the world who perform tongue-in-cheek ironing stunts such as ironing while in a canoo, in the middle of a motorway or while skiing or snowboarding.
Phil Shaw, who as earned himself the nickname “Steam”, says “Extreme ironing is the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.” Learn more about extreme ironing on the Teamsteam website.
