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.

THE ASSAULT COURSE FOR BIKES

Imagine doing an army assault course, but on a bike. Also throw in a bit of mud wrestling with the occasional hurdle, and you have the essence of cyclo-cross.

CRACKING THE WHIP IN WALES

Cowboys have been cracking their whips for centuries, but it is now proving a popular pastime in South Wales.

Mike Bushell went to Barry Island to meet the locals, including a whip-cracking World Champion.

TREE CLIMBING FOR GROWN-UPS

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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