On this issue of consciously endangering one's life.
We as a race on a daily basis consciously endanger our lives. It goes with the territory of being a human animal.
We; however subconsciously; assess the risks when crossing the road, when eating food, when getting onto transport, etc, etc, etc.
If people want to ski (I don't), have tattoos (I do but am too scared of the potential pain), partake in boxing, whatever - go ahead.
To be come so risk averse as some seem to imply here would make for a very sterile uninteresting world.