COVER ULTIMATE LIST OF EXTREME ADVENTURE SPORTS

BY SAM TORRES

There has been an explosion in popularity in adventure activities over the last decade or so. With more and more people seeking to experience thrills from sports as an escape from the grind of daily life. Action sports are now more accessible than ever before, with clubs and centers popping up everywhere. Extreme sports are all about the thrill. For some people, it’s for pure fun, and for others it’s about testing the limits of what is humanly possible. To whatever degree, extreme sports all carry a certain wow factor, giving them a unique sense of appeal.

BASE Jumping

Jumping from a Building, Antenna, Span, or Earth (BASE) and free falling at over 100 mph is a thrill that is difficult to match. Unpredictable wind gusts, proximity to other buildings, and short period of time to deploy the parachute are some reasons why BASE jumping is a favorite to many adrenaline junkies. Not to mention it’s illegal. One of the most dangerous types of extreme sport.

Canyon Swinging

Here’s a different type of trust fall. Take a long piece of rope, attach one end to your harness and the other end to the edge of a cliff or bridge, then JUMP! You’ll enjoy a stomach-turning free fall, followed by a giant pendulum ride that swings you back and forth for several minutes.

Bungee Jumping

Jumping from a high structure and entrusting a large elastic rope around your ankles to break your fall is quite counter intuitive. But, if you can talk yourself into taking the plunge, you’ll have a near out of body experience to brag about.

Hydrofoiling

Hydrofoiling is a subset of a variety board water sports using an underwater wing that elevates the board above the water surface reducing friction and providing more control. It has been used in a range of sports such as kite foiling, surf foiling, SUP foiling, wake foiling, windsurf foiling and is even used in sailing.

Paramotoring

Combining a standard paraglider wing with a harnessed mounted motor. Also known as PPG, the two types of paramotors are foot launch and wheel launch.

Skijoring

Being towed on skis behind a horse. One of the more dangerous types of adventure sport.

Translated as ‘Iron Way’ it used fixed ladders, bridges, wires to assist climbing. Participants are protected by clipping onto a cable along the route. Via Ferrata is great fun and challenging and should be included on any list of adventure sports!

Wingsuit Flying

One of the most dangerous types of extreme sport! If you have a friend that is obsessed with flying and an addiction for adrenaline, buy them a wingsuit! These futuristic suits allow BASE jumpers and parachuters to more effectively steer their direction of travel and achieve maximum hang time in the air. Some people even use their wingsuits to “fly” along cliffs and hillsides, giving them a greater sense of speed and flight.

Zorbing

Take a giant inflatable ball, jump inside the middle, and roll down a hill. Some people have gotten very creative with zorbing, turning it into a giant game of bowling or reenacting the runaway boulder scene from Indiana Jones, better run fast!