Bushell's Best Bits

Breakfast sport presenter Mike Bushell swaps his suit for shorts to showcase the thrills and spills of alternative sports.

Click below for Mike Bushell's best bits.

BLOWN SKY HIGH - THE CHALLENGE OF AIRSPHEREING

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Mike Bushell has a ball when he gives airsphereing a go

Mike Bushell tries out airsphereing in Milton Keynes, an experience he compares to "being in a washing machine".

TREE CLIMBING FOR GROWN-UPS

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Climbing trees the grown-up - but still fun - way

Competitive tree climbing is becoming more popular across the world, and the UK has quite a good record in the sport.

Mike Bushell joined a group of grown-up tree climbers to rediscover the appeal of shinning up the branches.

ROUGHED UP ON ROLLER SKATES

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The London Rollergirls All Stars show off their skills

Roller derby is a sport dominated by women, but many a man may be intimidated by this fast-paced and often aggressive game.

Mike Bushell got his skates on to meet the inaugural European champions, the London Rollergirls All Stars, ahead of the new season.

THRILL OF FREESTYLE JET SKI

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Jack Moule is going to compete in the world freestyle jet-ski championships

Enthusiasts say it is like trying to ride a BMX or motocross bike on water. Freestyle jet-skiing requires immense balance and skill.

Jack Moule is the current British freestyle jet-ski champion and is only 15 years old. His mother, Suzan says his passion takes up most of their spare time.

HOW TO SWING ON A TRAPEZE

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Mike Bushell learns how to fly through the air on a trapeze

For those who are bored of the gym, there is now a different way to increase your confidence, fitness and most of all your upper body strength.

The BBC's Mike Bushell has visited the 'Gorilla circus' in London and has had a go at flying through the air on a trapeze.

LEARNING 'FORMATION' WING WALKING

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The BBC's Mike Bushell tries his hand at wing walking

The only remaining "formation" wing walking team in the world face an uncertain future as their sponsorship deal is due to run out.

Their routines are seen by more than six million people a year.

Mike Bushell went to try it for himself.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN?

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The BBC's Mike Bushell impresses Geoff Capes with his truck pulling skills

Mike Bushell meets Geoff Capes to find out what it takes to be the World's Strongest Man.

Geoff Capes won the title twice and now he's training a whole new generation in the art of strong man events.

TENNIS DATE WITH DEMENTIEVA

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Gearing up with Dementieva

At this years Wimbledon the women's draw looks wide open, and half of the top 10 seeds are Russian.

They include the new pin up girl, semi-finalist from last year, Elena Dementieva, who's number 4 this year.

When she arrived from Moscow for her first practice on grass this year, Mike was there to meet her, to whisk her off for practice and lunch date.

GAELIC FOOTBALL

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"Pretty much anything goes in Gaelic football"

Gaelic football combines elements of soccer, rugby and basketball.

Now a schools initiative in eight UK cities a year ago is reaping dividends with clubs reporting growing numbers.

Mike Bushell has been to train with the Round Towers club in London.

TOUCH RUGBY - RUGBY FOR WIMPS?

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Mike Bushell tries out touch rugby

Touch rugby may sound like rugby for wimps because it does not involve crunching tackles, but 12,000 people play it every week.

Mike Bushell joined some of the Super league teams and found out that it is a fast, furious and exhausting game.

VAN RACING WITH DAVID COULTHARD

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David Coulthard's virginal van race

Not content with causing mayhem on the roads, van drivers are doing it on the race track too.

Mike Bushell and David Coulthard find out how the grassroots sport of van racing compares to Formula One.

SUMMER SKIING SEASON BEGINS

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Mike Bushell tries his hand at rollerskiing

As the summer draws nearer, most people are turning from thoughts of winter sports in favour of frisbees, beach cricket and tennis.

But for some, the summer does not mean an end to skiing or skating - and Mike Bushell met some people who have combined the two.

CHESS GETS PHYSICAL

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The ultimate test of brain and brawn?

Chess has been given a new lease of life - in the boxing ring. The rules of 'chess boxing' allow opponents to move the board aside and punch each other instead.

'FOOTBALL FREESTYLER' GOES FOR RECORD

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Dan Magness makes 'keepy-uppy' into an art form and record attempt

Dan Magness is regarded as one of the world's top 'football freestylers'.

Mike Bushell catches up with him as he attempts to set a new world record by keeping a football airborne for 24 hours using only his control skills.

EXTREME SKIPPING DOUBLE-DUTCH STYLE

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Where's the rope? Speed skipping skills on show

Fiercely competitive and physically demanding, rope-skipping is not for the faint hearted.

Mike Bushell jumped over to Birmingham and roped in the British team to teach him a little double Dutch.

ADVENTURE SPORTS IN AN URBAN SETTING

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Mike Bushell joins the urban sporting adventure known as the Rat Race

Hundreds of people fed up of being stuck in the city at weekends are taking part in a new sporting challenge, known as the Rat Race.

The idea is to make use of all the nooks and crannies of a city to participate in various outdoor adventure sports.

TWO BY TWO ON A MOTORCROSS BIKE

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Sidecar cross is a growing sport in the UK

If you prefer racing in twos, then sidecar cross is a growing team sport that gives you the thrills of motocross, but with a bit more stability as you're on 3 wheels rather than 2.

The world championship season begins this weekend in France and Mike has been for a spin with one of the top British teams.

Click here to read more about Mike and contact him with sports ideas

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2008

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Highlights of Bushell's Best in 2008

Mike tried dozens of alternative sports in 2008 and is looking for suggestions of new pursuits for him to try in 2009.