2004 Extreme Sports

Throwing caution to the wind, people are defying Nature's extremes in the search for an adrenaline-packed, spine-tingling, often absolutely terrifying adventure and they're finding it in a tiny country that has become known as extreme New Zealand.

New Zealand's geography offers everything an extreme sports fanatic could ask for - huge skies, rushing rivers, pristine snow and much, much more. 

In 2004 NZ Post offered this five stamp issue that celebrated some of our daring extreme sports as well as providing a way of promoting these sports to tourists. People from all over the world have come here seeking the adventures New Zealand has to offer.

The Five Stamps.

I'm a bit of a thrill junkie myself, have done all of these except the skiing. Don't like the snow, too wet and cold. They were all fun and an adventure.

45c - 'Whitewater rafting.'

Travel to places throughout New Zealand and you'll find an ample supply of short, extremely fast-flowing rivers that offer superb whitewater rafting opportunities - from the easygoing grade 1 to the hardcore, ultra-challenging grade 5.

90c - 'Snowsports.'

New Zealand's extensive skiing and snowboarding season - from June until October - is proving an irresistible attraction for snow enthusiasts. Internationally recognised as one of the world's best skiing and boarding destinations, New Zealand offers 13 ski fields in both the North and the South Islands.

$1.35 - 'Skydiving.'

Skydiving takes people well beyond their personal comfort zones, as they step out of a moving plane thousands of feet above sea level then freefall towards the Earth at a breathtaking 200 kilometres an hour knowing that the only thing that can save them is their parachute opening in time.

$1.50 - 'Jet boating.'

Jet boating has become a renowned sit-back-and-scream extreme sport. Jet boat operators delight in daredevil antics, swerving between shingle banks, missing rocks by a hair's breadth and spinning in 360-degree circles as a stunning finale.

$2.00 - 'Bungy jumping.'

Bungy jumping has become a 'must do' adventure for tourists and Kiwis alike. People of all ages from anywhere and everywhere are taking death-defying leaps off platforms, from bridges, viaducts, stadiums and even helicopters.

Other Collectable Items.

First Day Cover - 1 December 2004.

First day cover with stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.

A collectable booklet containing a range of miniature sheets and further information on the stamp issue. 

You could read more about the history of extreme sports as well as the stamps themselves in the miniature sheet booklet. The booklet incorporated six unique miniature sheets which were only available in the booklet - five with one stamp and one incorporating all five stamps. It provided a fascinating glimpse of the danger and spectacle of life on the edge.

The front and back cover of the Miniature Sheet Booklet is shown at the top.

The six miniature sheets are also shown.

Set of five pre-paid postcards featuring a stamp on the front and artwork from the stamp issue.

Technical information.

Date of issue: 1 December 2004.

The number of stamps: Five.

Denominations and designs: 45c Whitewater rafting, 90c Snowsports, $1.35 Skydiving, $1.50 Jet boating, $2.00 Bungy jumping.

Designer: CommArts Design, Wellington.

Printer and process: Southern Colour Print, Dunedin by offset lithography.

Number of colours: Four process colours plus a metallic silver.

Stamp size and format: 45c, $1.35, $1.50: 40mm x 30mm (landscape); 90c $2.00: 30mm x 40mm (portrait). 
Paper Type: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor stamp paper.

Perforation gauge: 14.

Stamps per sheet: 50.

Period of sale: These stamps remained on sale until 30 November 2005.

Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ

You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Information & images for this post came from.

New Zealand Post (Stamps)