Extreme Ironing
No wrinkles in high places. (Kevin Krupitzer)
In 1719 in The Cobbler of Preston, Christopher Bullock stated, “’Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but Death and Taxes.” This idiom is still common phrase centuries later, but it could be argued that it is incomplete. Just as inevitable are chores.
Tedious, redundant, and designed to waste hard-earned free time, nothing is more vindicating than a perfectly manicured lawn or a clean pair of britches (underwear!) right?!?
No.
And that’s exactly what propelled Englishman Tony Hiam to get creative with his chores in 1980. Sick of the monotony and inspired by his brother-in-law who would iron his clothes while camping, Hiam began carrying an ironing board and iron in his car, always on the lookout for a (bizarre) opportunity to smooth out his clothes, such as a quaint mountain lookout or busy airport lounge . Over the next decade he would create quite a spectacle, causing many a passerby to do a double (and likely triple) take.
The practice was revitalized in 1997 by Phil “Steam” Shaw. Wanting to spend his time on hobbies and not on housework, Steam merged his disdain for ironing with his love for rock-climbing. His new craft would gain widespread attention (how could it not?) and thus the “sport” of Extreme Ironing was born.
Less than two years into it’s rapid ascension (pun!), Steam took his new hybrid international, traveling the globe to demonstrate and promote the sport. Soon it would blossom into a competition, begging the question, how extreme can you really get?
Even to the furthest extremes, the most important aspect is the ironing. The irons aren’t just props in a memorable selfie; you’ve got to keep them hot. Sure, taking to the skies or diving underwater is challenging enough, but it’s all for naught if you can’t the wrinkles out.
The rapid expansion of the sport ultimately led to the 1st Extreme Ironing World Championships in Germany in 2006. Six countries competed in five events: Urban (in/on a broken down car), Water (a on a surfboard or in a canoe situated in a fast flowing river), Forest (at the top of a tree), Lauda (scaling a climbing wall), and Freestyle (you name it). Ultimately Great Britain would come away the winner.
While some of the fanfare has since died down (sadly it was never formally sanctioned), that hasn’t stopped dedicated fans from trying to replicate or produce their own steam wielding stunts. Just last year, Italian Roland Piccoli ironed a T-shirt at a depth 138 ft at the bottom of the Y-40 pool at Hotel Terme Millepini, the world's deepest pool.
Extreme Ironing has even spawned new creations such as Extreme Cello.
And the legacy lives on.
(If anyone wants to fund an Extreme Ironing stunt, I won’t say no!)
Check it out for yourself on below!