50 Extreme Sports Listed And Where to Try Them

Extreme sport is a term for athletics or recreational activities where you go to greater or exaggerated lengths.

This means that the activities involve higher amounts of physical struggles, speed, height, and hazards.

The term was first coined in 1995, thanks to the television show X Games, which was created by ESPN.

Since it started in 1995, it has become even more popular over the years.

And this helped raise the profile of the extreme sports we see and even enjoy today, such as snowboarding and mountain biking, to name a few.

How Do we Define What’s an Extreme Sport?

By looking at some sports, it’s easy to tell if they’re extreme or not, especially when it really looks deadly, such as skydiving, BASE jumping, and volcano surfing.

However, there are some sports that can be hard to tell if they’re already considered extreme or not because most of them are being offered to travelers in many tourist spots.

Some are even taught to toddlers even before they can walk. So, how can you tell which is which?

For a sport to be considered extreme, sports connoisseurs say that an activity should include more physical exertion, as well as a higher dosage of speed and height.

Therefore, scuba diving, freediving, and downhill mountain biking are considered extreme sport than recreational snorkeling; biking, and swimming.

However, extreme sports are also categorized like so because of the high amount of risk that it involves. And the types of dangers you’re prone to depend on the type of sport you do.

Usually, extreme sports can make you suffer from abrasions and lacerations.

Sports that involve more physical efforts, like American football, may put you at risk of fractures, as well as neck and back injury.

If the sport you play involves possible blows on the head, then, you’re at risk of concussions too.

Some of these injuries could even last long and could affect your whole career. Or worst, it could lead to death. 

History of Extreme Sport

It’s actually unclear where and when the term “extreme sport” was invented. However, it gained popularity in the 1990s.

Back in the early 1990s, the term extreme sports wasn’t actually a household term until 1995. This was when the cable network ESPN created the X Games, a TV show dedicated to sports fans.

For starters, X Games airs extreme sports events that ESPN either produced, broadcasted, or hosted. It got its name from a number of influences.

According to National Geographic, the program was named like so because most of its target market and athletes were in Generation X.

The X on the program’s name also stands for “extreme” due to what the program is all about.

Here, athletes are able to showcase their own tricks that no one has ever seen before.

This is where Travis Pastrana did the first double backflip in the history of freestyle motocross and where Heath Frisby did the first front flip while riding a snowmobile.

Basically, X Games witnessed a lot of firsts in the history of sports, which in turn, wowed many viewers.

Because of this, the show, as well as the sports it broadcasted rose to fame.  And it’s also one of the reasons why it’s still running today.

Additionally, this gave more recognition to many sports, as well as athletes; it’s also the reason why the term “extreme sports” became known.

People nowadays are practicing extreme sports in parks, It’s much more common.

What’s the Motivation of People Who Are Doing Extreme Sports?

There are actually many reasons why people are motivated to do extreme sports. Everyone is different – we have our own preferences and we come from different walks of life.

Because of this, there are many factors that could affect a person’s interest in doing high-risk sports.

Some of them are the physiological and physiological benefits of doing extreme sports, the advancements in technology, and, basically, the thrill and new perspectives.

Physiological Benefits of Extreme Sports

Doing sports, in general, is beneficial for the body. Because you move around a lot, you’re able to work different sets of muscles in your body without hitting the gym.

While this can make your muscles sore, doing sports can still be good for your overall fitness as it keeps them working. So, over time, your muscles become more toned and stronger.

Aside from that, sports can help you burn unwanted fats and calories. When you move, you sweat.

And when you exert more physical effort as it’s what extreme sports require, you’re able to lose toxins, fat, and calories. Skateboarding alone can help you burn about 500 calories per hour.

In addition to that, you’re able to increase your balance. Because extreme sports (such as downhill mountain biking, surfboarding, snowboarding, and skateboarding, to name a few)

require you to move more and to maintain your balance to prevent injuries and accidents, over time, you’re able to improve your balance.

Extreme sports sure can do make you scream and keep your heart pounding throughout the experience no matter how experienced you are.

But, believe it or not,

Doing Extreme Sports is Actually Good for Your Mental Health

Because high-risk sports require you to not lose your cool to avoid dangers, you’re forced to stay centered. Once you get the hang of it, you’re more capable of staying grounded even during the most stressful times.

Extreme sports can also help you manage your fear management skills. Doing high-risk sports is really scary – whether you’re high up the sky to skydive or under the sea scuba diving.

This is because you don’t know what things await you. And this is probably the scariest thing of all.

Because of the fear of the unknown, even experienced athletes can still feel daunted too. But, the good news is, extreme sports help you manage such fears better.

Seasoned skydivers, for instance, still feel scared before they exit the plane. Yet, they still jump anyway, right? It’s because they can manage their fears better now.

And you can do it too. With more exposure to the extreme sport you prefer, you’ll be able to manage your fears more.

Moreover, high-risk sports help you get a perspective – literally and figuratively. When you’re thousands of feet up, for example, the view sure is beautiful.

Over time, you won’t notice that you’re already able to appreciate everything around you more. And after conquering the biggest challenges of extreme sports, you gain more confidence, which also changes your views.

Advancements in Technology

Before, people can only do limited activities due to safety concerns. Hence, it can be more challenging to make the most out of the activities available back in the day. It’s even harder to travel.

But, thanks to the advancements in technology, it’s easier and safer to experiment and understand science better.

Thus, better pieces of equipment are available in the market today to help improve everyone’s safety when trying their hand at extreme sports.

Everyone can even buy high-tech gadgets to enhance their safety and make their experience better.

The Adrenaline Rush of Extreme Sports

Sometimes, it’s just the thrill that makes people do extreme sports regardless of the dangers that every sport involves.

The mix of stress and excitement results in an adrenaline rush. When this happens, your body will feel a rush of heightened sensations temporarily. It’s an addicting feeling that many thrill-seekers chase.

Because of this, many people always try to find something that will make their hearts pounding. Some even test their limits and try things that are beyond the usual.

Never-Before Sights

When you’re on the ground, you only see the usual things – cars, buildings, trees, etc. But when you try extreme sports, such as skydiving, rock climbing, volcano surfing, BASE jumping, scuba diving, freediving, and whatnot, you’ll see the world from a different perspective.

Some places can’t be seen if you don’t take risks, such as the mouth of the volcano and the ocean floor. But, if you do, you’ll be rewarded by views that you don’t get to see every day – and it’s not the type of sights that many people see on a daily basis too.

For that reason, many people brave nature and challenge themselves to see things from a different perspective.

Yes, it is risky, but you will be rewarded with a prize that you don’t always get to experience.

Its definition of extreme sport alone may already be overwhelming. Yet, it’s always worth giving a try for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will always remember.

And now, here’s a list of 50 extreme sports and where to try them, enjoy!

Inline skating

In-line skating is one of the oldest extreme sports that originated back in 3000 BC inspired by the concept of ice skating.

Later in the 17th century, the earliest primitive type in-line roller skates were invented by the Dutch.

During this time, roller skates were made as a tool for traveling faster from one place to another. The first-in-line roller skates for performances were first patented in 1819.

Eventually, in-line skating made its way to the Olympics in 1980 while the industry peaked in 1997 with billion dollars in revenue.

In-line skating is considered as the most popular extreme sport but where can you do it ?

The top 3 best places to jumpstart your in-line skating interest are in New York City with its indoor and outdoor skating rails, San Francisco with its amazing in-line skating view, and Minneapolis with its varied difficulty level of trails such as River Parkway and Elm Creek Trailway.

Skateboarding

Skateboarding was made by a curious group of surfers in California during the 1950s. It is said that skateboarding is the result of surfers that thought about the idea of ‘surfing on the streets’.

Yet, nobody knows the real inventor of the first skateboard prototype. Nonetheless, it remains a creative and unique sport born out of spontaneity.

Skateboarding competitions have a charm to them as they are held in ‘freestyle’ with obstacles to support the tricks that the player wishes to showcase.

Skateboarding is known as a ‘street sport’ and is also linked to a certain genre of music that encapsulates a rock n roll attitude.

The popularity of the extreme sport follows the density of participants in basketball and football. If you’re an advanced skateboarder looking for perfect places to maneuver, Barcelona is the best place to be.

With its iconic and unique skate spots, it is not surprising to discover that going to Barcelona is every skaters’ dream.

Paintball

Paintballs were used as a tool to efficiently mark trees or livestock from a long-distance during the 1960s.

After a decade, Hayes Noel and Charles Gains made a game out of it to practice their survivability instincts and focus.

This thought also came up after discussing the behaviors of city-dwellers in an outdoor environment.

It became a social sport played by a group of friends as time went by.

While it is not a sport included in the Olympics, many people enjoy the adrenaline, fun, and exercise it provides.

Aside from that, paintball can also foster a sense of teamwork and strategy within a group of people who are real working teams in companies or organizations.

If you’re playing only for the time being, signing up in paintball parks is better than owning your paintball gun.

The best places for paintball are in Skirmish USA and Hollywood Sports California that have actual movie sets from Godzilla, The Haunting, and more!

Artificial Wall Climbing

An artificial climbing wall is a structure made for enabling grip for the hands and feet. It is usually made with a sturdy multiplex board that has holes for the t-nuts.

These t-nuts are the colored ones that you usually see in a typical artificial climbing wall. It has industrial fastener placed for safe grips.

The rest of the board has sandy and rocky textures to mimic the elements of an actual rock climbing course.

It recently earned its spot in the Olympics last 2020 and a popular sport among enthusiasts.

Some of the known climbing gyms all over the world today include Allez Up in Canada for its unique and modern structure and Sportgebouw in the Netherlands for their enthusiastic gym community.

Snowboarding

Snowboarding, like skateboarding, is an extreme sport that was born from surfing. Sherman Poppen is a surfer that found interest in surfing on a different medium, which, in this case, is snow.

He built the first snowboard and called it the “snurfer”. The first batches of this board came out in the years 1965 to 1975.

It was in the 1980s when snowboarding earned a part in local competitions such as snow racing or skiing and freestyle events that highlights the number and uniqueness of tricks in determining the winner.

From a single board known as the “snurfer”, the snowboard developed into a “split type” at the beginning of 1991 to the early 2000s.

This allowed the surfer a wider variety of tricks and improved accessibility.

Some of the best and proven-tested board brands where you can get the most out of your performance are Burton Snowboards, K2 Snowboarding, and Ride Snowboards.

Sandboarding

Sandboarding is an all-year-round sport in contrast to its similarly well-known sibling which is snowboarding.

The history of this fun yet extreme sport have originated in Ancient Egypt when people would use clay to slide down a sandhill.

In the 1960s, hikers used niche and metal boards for a quicker way to get down gigantic dunes.

The sport gained massive interest in the snowboarding community.

When snowboarding was not offered during the off-season, snowboarders would turn to sandboard in the sandy slopes of Colorado and Utah.

If you’re interested in sandboarding, pick the right deck first. One of the boards that you might already have at home is skateboard decks, a well-waxed wooden surfboard, and laminate base sand skis.

The best place for sandboarding in Colorado is the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Reserve.

Now you know where to get off when it’s off-season for snowboarding!

Trail Running

The story of trail races began in 1040 when King Malcolm Canmore held a race to find the person to fill the position as his messenger.

In modern times, trail running appeared a few times in the Olympics and gained its popularity through marathon and triathlon events.

In contrast with road running, the terrain and the struggles you have with each environmental hurdle during a run greatly vary.

Many believe that trail running requires more focus, strategy, and mental stability than skill.

Although speed and endurance are an important part of any running competition, finding the right strategy in ascents and descents is significant in finishing a trail based in nature where everything is quite uncertain.

The best thing about trail running is the fact that you can do it anywhere and anytime, as long as you are outdoors.

If you’re looking for an adventure, you can try checking out the trails in Oregon Trail Reserve in Boise, Idaho.

Mountain Biking

Mountain is biking but across different terrains and obstacles created by nature. Mountain ascents, tree roots, rough surfaces, downhill areas, rocks – obstacles by mountain bikers.

Nature is their gym, as many would say. This sport gained traction, as early bikers first had to explore terrains in their “Klunkers” before the technology of today’s mountain bike was discovered and completed.

Interestingly, this complements the rate of bikers in the community that is composed of 40% college graduates according to a study by SGMA International.

If you’re down for a trip, you might want to try mountain biking in the Old Ghost Road in New Zealand, Mejfellet in Norway, in Lupra Pass in Nepal, or 401 in Colorado.

Have your mountain bike, protective gear, water bottle, and a few friends ready, and you’re good to go! Mountain biking can be dangerous so make sur to have the right gear to do mountain biking.

Surfing

Riding the waves is how surfers would describe surfing.

But that’s not all there is to surfing – you need to have good swimming skills, an instinct for timing, and great balance. Surfing is not new.

This sport we call today began as an old practice in ancient Peruvian and Polynesian cultures. The Polynesians brought surfing to Hawaii as a religious practice.

Surfing became an official extreme sport in the area, and It’s considered as a dangerous sport. This also rose to the origin of sport or modern surfing in Oahu, Hawaii.

Until today, Hawaii is still the best place to live if you are an avid surfer or enthusiast.

Next to that are surfing beaches in Southeast Asia, including Bali, Mentawai Islands, and the Philippines in that specific order of popularity.

In the western part of the world, we have Cardiff of San Diego, Newport Beach in Orange County, and Santa Barbara in Malibu County.

Wakeboarding

“Skurfing” is what most people used to call wakeboarding since it is a combination of three sports that we know so well: skiing, snowboarding, and surfing.

By now, you might be surprised by how many sports are born out of surfing, but wakeboarding is the first sport to transform from three variations.

The only difference from its roots in the fact that it is tied to a boat or a cable to enable movement.

Riders usually enjoy this water skiing activity by learning sets of tricks and passing man-made obstacles.

The main parts of the body that you should focus on protecting are the head and the neck as these are the areas that are vulnerable in wakeboarding.

Common injuries include concussions and ruptured eardrums due to a sudden impact on the head. This can all be protected and minimized by using proper protective gear during the ride.

You can jumpstart your journey by approaching your local wakeboard parks. If you live in the US, you might want to try Elite Cable Park or Terminus Wake Park.

BMX Bicycling

The popularity of BMX bikes started after a biking documentary inspired current bikers to add modifications to make their bikes “slightly off-road”.

This innovative motivation brought the community of bikers to a whole new extreme sport, in which the BMX or bicycle motor cross was born.

It is almost like a middle ground for both road racing and off-road bicycling as it combines the elements of both.

Astonishingly, BMX biking has a lower percentage of head injuries than other groups of bikers. This includes riders that have minimal protective gear on.

The best places to ride your BMX are in skateparks and official BMX parks such as 9th Street BMX in Austin, Texas, and Green Indoor Park in Barcelona, Spain to name a few.

If you can’t travel far from home, you can opt on building your dirt jumps or dirt trails in legal spaces in your locality.

Kayaking

Kayaking first originated from the use of a canoe. A canoe is a primitive watercraft that was utilized in transporting goods for trade and for distributing supplies during the war.

It is usually made of logs, animal skins, and tree barks that are 3 meters to 30 meters in length.

While it was sturdy enough to carry the weight of a person and few heavy carriages, the quality was not durable.

It was only in the 1800s when the canoe was developed into a kayak to use for water sports and eventually in the Olympics.

Because it gained popularity as a competitive sport, the quality of kayak boats became progressive in time.

Today, kayak boats are made of heavy-duty polyethylene plastics that have a lifetime of 10 to 15 years.

One of the best places to kayak is in Blazin’ Paddles Colorado, where you can see a grand view of the Black Canyon as you ride the kayak.

Rafting

Modern rafting all began with curious minds to explore the Platte River in Colorado. This was pioneered by Lieutenant John Fermont and Horace H. Day with their rubber raft.

Early in the days of whitewater rafting, the raft they used was not ideal for the activity and most of the time people had no choice but to hold on tight when the water got crazy.

Eventually, it became a recreational sport in the 1960s and then made its way to the Olympics when the kayak was accepted on the list.

Today, rafting provides a whole experience for tourists that go in groups, if you’re searching for the best white water rifting experience in the USA check our guide.

Aside from the spectacular views they get from their trip, they get hands-on with nature with the help of a rubber boat, paddles, and a few good friends.

The best places to go rafting in the US are the Colorado River, Gauley River, and Snake River in Wyoming.

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is a developed sport that is derived from primitive practices.

Our early ancestors that lived by a large body of water embodied the skill to dive in deep areas of the sea to search for food to eat.

However, it is only recently that this extreme recreational sport was discovered.

It has only been less than 50 years since the first intentional dive into the depths of the sea. This was pioneered by an adventurer who wished to explore the underwater world.

During that time, the open-circuit scuba regulator was not yet invented. The adventurer only used goggles and Corlieu fins.

Today, scuba diving is enjoyed by everyone, including amateurs, with the assistance of scuba diving instructors and professional scuba diving equipment.

If you’re up for a unique adventure, hit the Barracuda Point in Malaysia or explore the history hidden behind the Yongala in Australia.

BASE Jumping

Have you ever thought skydiving is the most dangerous freefall sport? While BASE jumping is linked to skydiving, there is no doubt that this is more hazardous than any other freefall sport.

BASE jumpers are required to have an experience of 100 skydives before stepping on this level.

This is because jumping bases are only up to 2,000 feet below the ground.

In contrast to sky diving, the parachutes deploy at 2,000 feet.

So if the starting point is already at 2,000 feet, the jumper should have correct proximity and their parachutes deployed quicker.

One wrong move puts your life at stake. But if you’re a professional seeking greater gratification and adventure, why not? If you’re up for the fall, check out The Troll Wall in Norway.

The base is up 3,600 ft from the ground, giving more time allowance and enough challenge for both climbers and base jumpers.

We actually did a ranking on the top 10 most extreme sports in the world and base jumping is considered as the most dangerous.

Windsurfing

Although the roots of windsurfing go down to ancient and primitive practices. It was only in the 20th century when it was discovered by S. Newman Darby.

A few years later, the original design was revised by aeronautic engineers. The windsurfer was made with polyethylene, like the modern kayak, which is more durable.

The joint was also made universal to enable the sail for flexible movement. It gained its place in world championships in 1973.

Today, although it is still practiced as a competitive sport, windsurfing remains a recreational sport for those who enjoy extreme water adventures.

The top places for windsurfing are Surfers Paradise in Greece, Vela Resorts in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, and Windsurf Asia in Boracay, Philippines

Luge

If you know how to speak french, you would know what composes a competition of Luge. Luge is a french term for “sled”.

In a game of Luge, players are required to lie their backs on the sled in standard form. They slide down a “spiral” course that covered by an ice-covered track.

Lugers start by powering up from the handle release and stride themselves forward before coming into a full lying stance.

Lugers make use of their calves and shoulders to turn, maneuver or increase the speed of their sled. A luge sled can move at a most speed of 80 miles per hour.

There are only two Luge parks in the US and 15 others globally. If you want to test this sport, check out Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, which is a 3-hour ride from Chicago.

Gymnastics

It was believed by our Greek ancestors that gymnastics not only exercised the body but also the mind. It was a sport that encapsulated the concepts of art, philosophy, and music.

Even then, men who asked to go to war included gymnastics in their training, to build a strong body and intellectual thinking.

Because of the Greeks’ and Athenians’ love for gymnastics, It found its way to the Olympic games even before modern times.

Today, gymnastics is still considered a sport that combines art and mental strengthening.

If you’re looking for a place to train, you can check out Dynamic Gymnastics in New York, owned by two former Olympians Sorin Cepoi and Teodora Ungureanu.

The USA is the country with the most participants in world championships, followed by Russia, Romania, and China.

Big Wave Surfing

Before you ask, big wave surfing and surfing are different sports.

They have the same concept, but to verify a surfing activity to be “Big Wave Surfing” the wave should be at least 20 feet high, with an average speed of 80 km per hour.

A wrong move can lead to wipeouts and accidents that cause the surfer to fall like a pebble from the topmost part of a big wave.

Despite the potential accidents, many surfers find intense gratification and satisfaction in succeeding.

The most recent largest wave surfed in 2020 was 70 feet by Brazil surfer, Maya Gabeira.

Following the women’s place, Kai Lenny won the title for the men’s big wave winner.

The top places for big wave surfing include Ferrel Surf House in Portugal, Moana Surf Camp in France, and Calima Surf in Spain.

Rugby

Rugby is a well-known sport, especially in the UK. It grew traction in popularity when a boy picked up a football and kept it in his arms during a football match.

Since then, this has become the rugby style of playing. In 1847, the game developed a structure – compromising it with a fixed number of 17 players.

Today, it envelops a culture of resilience, discipline, and teamwork among children in schools. It also continues to be a sport in world championships.

Along with that, new instituted rules and regulations like drop goals and the establishment of game positions took place.

You can play rugby on any open field such as a football field. But if you’re seeking a change of environment, one of the best places to throw a rugby ball is at Royal Davui Resort in Fiji. Where is a better place to play rugby than on a beach?

 Bull Riding

Bull riding is an extreme sport that originated in the old ranches and haciendas of Mexico back in the mid-1800s.

This tested the skill of horsemanship, coordination, and balance by keeping a tight grip on a bull’s back with one hand until the bull stopped bucking.

Bull taming was also a sacred ritual done to honor the bull, which is a symbol of power and strength in the ancient Minoan culture.

During the start of the 20th century, the sport gained a spot in the Olympics but soon came to a fall because of the risk that was put at stake.

This included the life of the bull rider and the bull itself. Today, rodeos are still offering rides to people with expertise in the sport.

If you’re interested in getting into this sport, check out Reno Rodeo, Prescott Frontier and, Greeley Stampede. These rodeos are all located in the USA.

Helicopter Skiing

Let’s bust the myth before diving into this misunderstood extreme sport.

Believe it or not: helicopter skiing does not need you to jump off a helicopter and ride the powdery mountains from there.

Instead, helicopters provide accessibility to adventurers who are willing to ski from the top of snowy mountains.

It gives the adventurer freedom to choose a place beyond the capabilities of a ski park.

Although the pricey tickets that most helicopter ski accommodations need, often, you get a worthy experience more than the price you pay.  

If you’re looking for a wide range of terrain and stable weather conditions, you might want to check out accommodations in Alaska such as Todrillo Mountain Lodge, Valdez Heli-Ski Guides, and Chugach Power guides.

If you’re looking for a variation or want to tick an item off your heli-ski bucket list, you might want to go to the “holy land of heli skiers”, British Columbia.

One of the best accommodations in the area is Bella Coola Heli Sports.

Mountaineering

Mountaineering is like mountain hiking but on snowy mountains.

People in the past had all their reasons for climbing the mountain whether for adventure or for transporting from one place to the other.

Back then, our ancestors didn’t have the luxury of a helicopter or other means of transportation.

But why would adventurers choose to go on a mountaineering trip? 

Mountaineering provides gratification and spiritual meaning in one’s life. It allows a link between one’s soul and the spirit of nature.

Yet, like any other extreme sport, the hazards glued to mountaineering cannot dissociate.

If you’re up for the experience, you might as well want to add these heights to your bucket list: Mt. Fuji in Japan, Teapot Mountain in Taiwan, Mt. Ngaruhoe in New Zealand. 

Bodyboarding

Did you know? Bodyboarding is an extreme sport older than surfing.

It originated in the islands of the Pacific where Polynesians rode their paipo boards in the sea. In time, these paipo boards developed into a 33” by 46” bodyboard made of durable polyethylene and were later called “boogie boards”.

Tom Morey, the inventor of the first modern bodyboard, says that bodyboarding enables you to feel the current of the wave more than you would if you surfed.

As opposed to the typical surfing get-up, bodyboarding requires a full suit and a pair of fins to help the rider maneuver through the waves.

Even more, bodyboarding is safer than surfing as it allows more control in movement. Some of the beaches with the best breaks include Porthtowan and Tolcarne Wedge in Europe. If you want a faster break, check out at La Graviere, also located in Europe. 

Bungee Jumping

Bungee jumping started as an illegal sport pioneered by a group in Oxford named “The Dangerous Sports Club” in 1979.

They performed a bold jump from an 80-meter high bridge that had caught the attention of the general public.

The members involved in this valorous act had to administer their time in prison, but the act gained traction over time.

Today, bungee jumping is a recreational sport to many enthusiasts.

It involves an elevated area or high platform and a durable elastic cord that recoils your body after the duration of the jump.

Bungee jumping is permitted only in nationally-approved towers, mountains, cranes, and helicopters. 

One of the places you should try as a beginner is Stratosphere Sky Jump in Nevada.

Instead of being jerked from the top of the tower, you decelerate down by a rubber cable.

Beginners who are aiming for high-adrenaline jumps can start from here. 

Canyoning

Canyoning is an extreme sport activity and very competitive.

It allows the adventurer for a wider variety of rare undertakings and views out of a sightseer’s reach.

By swinging into an active waterfall, you flow down to the underwater world with curves, sights, and beautiful encounters.

Despite the dangers of diving into a waterfall, Spanish and French considered this as a light tourist activity in the 1980s.

Today, enthusiasts treat canyoning with caution similar to hiking or mountaineering.

Requirements now include a protective wetsuit, strong grip shoes, anchoring skills, and a fit body.

A lack of these can lead to unexpected hazards. 

In some places in the world, bodies of water are well-preserved, maintained, and kept away from pollutants.

Some of these places include Zion Natural Park in the USA, Kawasan Falls in the Philippines, and Tara Canyon in Montenegro. 

Extreme Pogo 

A pogo stick is a jumping device that has a pair of the elevated footrest and a pole with a spring to activate its jumping capabilities.

Pogo started as a toy that only kids can ride on.

The original design only carried the weight of an average teenager and these kids often grow out of these toys, leaving them in dark garages untouched for years.

Later on, a couple of friends thought about revising the original model that carried the weight of an average adult. This rewrote the history and potential of a pogo “toy”. 

Over time, pogo became a street sport like skateboarding and bicycle motocross.

The variety of tricks that a pogo player determines their success in the competition. 

Extreme Skiing

For the most part, extreme skiing is still skiing. The only difference is the fact that it’s extreme. 

How is it extreme? Skiing allows you to glide on a powdery fluffy downward slope.

Meanwhile, extreme skiing requires obstacles and slopes that are greater than 45 degrees. 

Yuichi Miura became the first to ski Mount Everest, which had an approximate altitude of 26,000 feet and a limitless amount of obstacles along the way.

Yuichiro continued his legacy by skiing great summits in the world including Mt. Fuji, Mt. McKinley, and Mount Popocatépetl to name a few.

Before you hit the rocky slopes, master your skiing first.

Head to your favorite resort, master the art of skiing, and later on, ask the instructors’ permission to ski on an ungroomed route.

You can jumpstart your adventure by checking out the advanced trails in Vail Ski Resort in Colorado. 

Free Skiing

Freeskiing is another type of skiing that highlights certain tricks and the use of man-made obstacles such as rails, jibs, and boxes.

Because of the higher risks of freeskiing than of regular skiing, riders use extra protective avalanche gear to cut the impact of falls. 

In freeskiing, there are two types of riders: those who compete and those who prefer to create content.

The freedom of freeskiers gives them limitless opportunities to recreate and revise already existing tricks.

This also provides current skiers a chance to express themselves in their community and balance skill with creativity. 

The only downside to freeskiing is finding a resort that provides the obstacles for a freestyle rider.

Top recommended resorts in the US that provide obstacles include Mainline Park and South Park located in the peaks of Mammoth Mountain. 

Free Diving

Freediving is an extreme activity that excludes the use of scuba gear when plunging into the deep parts of the sea.

It requires an ample amount of pool training with a certified instructor.

In the world of freediving enthusiasts, they may choose to compete or keep it as a hobby.

Some people apply this as an applied skill for survival.

Tribes in selected parts of the world still use this to search and collect food in a deep body of water.

Competitive freedivers, on the other hand, apply cross-training, mental training, diet, and rest in line with freediving.

These competitors commit to long hours of in-water practice, challenging the real limits of the physical human body. 

The top places to visit for sightseeing and freediving are Koh Tao in Thailand, Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas, and the Great Blue Hole in Belize. 

Free Flying

Free flying is a freefall sport that falls under the category of skydiving that requires advanced expertise in the discipline.

Free flyers can only be called such if they prove the ability to skydive in positions that have less surface area such as the head-down or straight dive.

Falling on your belly is acceptable considering you change positions while on air. 

Freeflying is a grave sport because of the instability that goes with typical free-fly positions.

Divers who fly with others must also stay cautious of the velocity and rapid movement changes while on air.

In most cases, you will also need a skydiving license to do free flying. 

Despite the dangers of this extreme skydiving sport, its popularity is still gaining popularity today.

Some of the most recommended places for free-flying include Palm Jumeirah in Dubai and Waialua in Hawaii, USA.

Gliding Air Sport

Air Gliding is an extreme air sport in which pilots or competitors fly an unpowered plane called a “sailplane”.

The goal of gliding is to stay in the air as long as possible with the help of the wind currents to control the movement of the plane.

Pilots’ skills in maneuvering a plane, especially in fortuitous events, are also tested in this sport. 

Who can ride a glider plane? Anyone who is of the right age, weight, and height can learn how to fly a glider plane.

The only matter is finding efficient funds to score an instructor or accommodation.

To gain an instructor and maintain your license, you need at least $4,000 as base capital.

Ice Diving

Ice diving is a type of scuba diving discipline that takes place in icy regions.

The experience takes the diver to a lot of different varieties of sea creatures such as sea lions, leopard seals, fur seals, penguins, isopods, jellyfish, and other mystical breeds of small fishes.

This activity can also bring you experiences that are not experienced by most scuba divers such as sea cave exploration, whale watching, and in-land historical excursions. 

Before starting your ice diving journey, you must first learn the basics of scuba diving by attending proper training by certified instructors.

Drysuits, gloves, hoods, vaseline, BCD, and a torch are one of the basic pieces of equipment that you will need in your first ice diving expedition.

Jetskiing

The origin of jetskis started when motorcycle companies brainstormed a scooter concept that can expand and work on water.

It then developed into an improved water vehicle that requires the rider to stand during the whole excursion.

This concept gained a position in many competitions because of its similarity to water skiing.

“It’s like skiing without a boat,” says Kawasaki, the person and company who christened the term “Jet Ski”.

Today, jet skiing remains a recreational activity on many beaches and reservoirs around the world.

The most recommended places for jet skiing are Lake Tahoe, Miami Beach, New York Harbor, and Lake Cumberland.

If these places are not accessible to you, try inquiring about jet ski rentals and accommodations on the beaches around your locality.

Kite Ice Skating

Skating is a sport with prehistoric roots. Long before it became a sport and a recreational activity, people skated to commute and travel across the lake during the winter season.

This saved people’s energy in long journeys.

On the other hand, the beginning of kiteboarding was a desperate attempt to combine kites with small boats, skis, and skates for propulsion.

The development of these two sports resulted in the birth of kite ice skating. 

A massive controllable kite propels the ice skater in the whole detour.

The kite feature adds speed and faster momentum as opposed to regular ice skating.

Protective gear such as helmets, elbow, and knee pads are important to reduce strong impact crashes and long-term injuries.

Kite Surfing

Kite surfing or “kite-boarding” is an idea that bore from old and Chinese canoes made with a kite for extra propulsion.

This 13th-century concept followed George Pococks’ four-line systematic boat with larger kites.

In the first place, George thought of this idea to avoid the in-land taxes needed to transfer goods. The kite-boats he made were more efficient and easier to maintain. 

Many recreational and competitive sports applied this concept such as parachute skiing, and kite skiing.

During the 1990s, Bill and Corey Roeseler patented the first modern kite surfing equipment.

All-terrain Boarding

All-terrain boarding, sometimes called “dirt boarding”, “mountainboarding” or “offboarding”  is a board sport inspired by snowboarding. Some people call it the jack of all trades. 

This sport started with a thirst for creativity and curiosity to expand the capabilities of existing sports boards.

An all-terrain rider can use their board in sloped parks, manmade obstacle courses, streets, BMX courses, skateparks, and even in ski resorts.

Today, the all-terrain board developed newer models powered by electricity. These e-boards became the norm for riders who prefer riding on flat ground. 

Paragliding

Paragliding is the closest you can be to flying. Unlike other extreme freefall sports, paragliding provides a window for viewing allowance.

This is because the canopy attached to the seat allows for a larger surface area.

During the flight, your goal is to stay in the air for as long as you can by maneuvering the paraglider with your weight, speed bar, and brake handles.

As of today, there are 200,000 glider pilots in the whole world.

The best sites for paragliding are as follows: Interlaken in Switzerland, Pokhara in Nepal, and San Gil in Columbia.

If you’re up for a unique, extreme but slow-paced adventure, paragliding might be the one for you!

Parkour

Parkour is a non-competitive extreme activity that originated way before the first world war.

School curriculums even included the intention of pioneers to enable proper training at a young age.

This sport crossed across all terrains and required nothing but the trainer’s body. Later in history, the military included parkour in their training. 

In the early 2000s, parkour spread throughout the globe as a form of training but international sports enthusiasts, groups, and organizations debated on its inclusion in the championships.

Because of this, official groups sprouted to finally give structure to worldwide championships and gain acceptance in the sports industry. 

The good thing about parkouring is training anywhere, anytime you want.

The best places to practice your parkour skills are playgrounds, beaches, gyms, and forests. 

Power Bocking

Power bocking is a sport that utilizes a pair of “pogo-like” leg extensions that can increase the jump height and running speed of a rider.

The large springs attached to each piece of extension can allow you to jump up to 6 feet! 

Yet it may look like a light and fun activity, to begin with, the hazards of this extreme sport are not minor in degree.

Because the rider takes on an incredible height, the chance to land safely is rare.

When caught off-balance, there is a possibility for a dislocated knee or broken legs. Power bocking competitions measure success with speed and mastery.

Mountain/Rock Climbing

People have different reasons for climbing the mountain. This could be because of spiritual, scientific, survival, or simply recreational.

One of the earliest recorded climbs was of “Ice Man’s” whose body got discovered within the Austrian Alps.

In some mountain peaks, ancient objects like arrows and spearheads were also left behind by early climbers. 

Rock climbing is the foundation of many climbing activities such as top-roping, lead or sport climbing, traditional climbing, big wall climbing, and bouldering.

The variety that stemmed from rock climbing is because of the wide range of rock formations found in mountains around the world.

One of the best places in the US to start your rock climbing journey is in Yosemite National Park, which is often known as the “Center of the Universe”.

Today, the climbing community has 65 percent millennials of which 67 percent are men and 33 percent are women. 

Rallying

Humans are instinctively competitive beings. Rallying is one of the straightforward sports that stemmed from that innate behavior.

In earlier times, this started as a game of horseracing. This was before cars and more efficient modes of transport set foot in our world.

Yet it did not take long for humans’ competitive drive to recreate a race that involved cars. 

In rallying, riders can choose a variety of cars to use in local and world rally Championships but still must follow legal street rules that pass the requirements of the national government.

This means that a car made for rallying can also drive on the street. Riders can sometimes stretch the rule capacities to no success.

World rally officials always check the cars to ensure the racer fits the judges’ standards before any race.

In the context of injuries and accidents, only one out of four races needed medical intervention according to ClinMed Journals.

Roller Hockey

Roller hockey is a type of hockey game played on a hard surface or on ice.

The goal of the game is to block the opponent from hitting the base of the team with the puck.

In the beginning, roller hockey was played on ice. John Joseph Merlin invented the first pair of roller hockey and set the trend in 1760.

Hockey enthusiasts showed devotion to this game that they never stopped playing even after the peak of the winter season. 

Roller hockey, as opposed to other team sports such as volleyball, basketball, football, and fencing, is considered an extreme sport because of the speed pace that leaves great chances of impacted physical contact.

This sport is closely linked to forms of skiing such as snowboarding, in-line roller-skating, and freestyle skiing.

Special protective gear is crucially needed to avoid serious injuries on the field.

Ski Jumping

The aim of ski jumping is to ski from a heightened ramp called the “in-run” and land as far as they can from the point of origin.

Skiers must land near, on, or beyond the “K line” below the ramp.

The measure of the scoring gets judged by observing the form, style, and length of the jump.

The judges penalize players who weigh below the ideal minimum weight because lighter players tend to jump further than heavier players.

Weather conditions are one of the struggles that ski jumping competitions face.

Despite the uncertainty of the weather, players get scored equally by the judges.

If competitions are not your jam, there are resorts that cater ski jumping for recreational purposes.

Some of the popular resorts in the USA with ski jumping ramps are Pine Mountain Jump in Michigan, where it held the continental cup, and Park City in Utah, where it once held the world cup.

Sky Diving

Sky diving is a sport from which several variations stemmed.

Freefall sports such as sky surfing, paragliding, free-flying, bungee jumping, speed flying, and wingsuit flying are among them.

Unlike the severity of these later variations, sky diving requires a height of 7,000 to 15,000 feet or 2,000 to 5,000 meters above the ground.

Bungee jumping only requires 2,000, so how is sky diving safer than most types of freefall sport?

With a freefall drop of more than 2,000 feet off the ground, you have a greater time allowance to open your parachute before landing.

In turn, this makes the basic sky diving form the safest freefall recreational sport to date.

However, divers are open to vehement forms of skydiving after a certain length of experience. 

New Zealand, Hawaii, Switzerland, Australia, Nepal, Thailand, and the United States are the top-recommended places for sky diving.

Sky Surfing

Sky surfing is a sport born from skydiving and surfing. It was also an attempt to build a bridge between the sky and the sea.

Instead of riding the waves, a sky surfer rides the wind right after a fall.

The minimum height for sky surfing is 13,000 to 15,000 feet above the ground.

This is to ensure enough time allowance for trick and surfing applications. 

The skysurfing board is akin to a typical surfboard deck that has smaller profiles for maneuvering on air.

Skydivers eject themselves from a helicopter along with their board, protective suit, and chute. 

Despite the interest of skydiving enthusiasts to expand their experience, the skill set needed for this extreme sport is hard to meet.

Before a diver becomes permitted to sky surf, he or she must have numerous free fall experiences.

With the limited movements you can do with a board glued to your feet, it is understandable that this sport requires a high level of expertise.

Speed Flying 

Speed flying is a hybrid extreme sport from the former parachuting and paragliding.

This was born out of the curiosity and interest of skydiver enthusiasts to add an exhilarating and thrilling variation combining the two disciplines. A flyer uses an inflated wing to launch from a heightened slope.

As compared to paragliding and parachuting, the goal of this discipline is to maintain a gradual speeding pace before landing on the base.

This evident difference rose to the invention of “hybrid-wings” used in harsher wind conditions.

All types of speed flying wings include hybrid wings for pilots focusing on training their foot launches, mini wings for pilots wanting a straightforward experience, and speed rider for pilots who are practicing speed and coordination.

If you are a beginner, you must first consider the chance of close proximity of the body to obstacles and hazardous rock formations. Never forget to wear proper clothing and sufficient protective gear. 

Speed Skiing

Speed skiing is a skiing variation that combines speed, form, and coordination. This is a skiing discipline that bore from an advertising stunt in 1930.

The skier’s “need for speed” also motivated the continuity of this extreme sport. Compared to basic skiing, speed skiers can go from 0mph to 120mph per hour.

According to statistics, that’s faster than any freefall sport without mechanical assistance! In 2016, 156.978mph became the fastest speed recorded.

Most competitions and events happen during March, during most winter peaks. One of the similar speed skiing sports includes downhill skiing which is the fastest type among the rest of the variations.

The second is Supergiant Slalom which is an event that highlights turns and jumps. In speed skiing, weight is crucial in gaining and increasing one’s speed momentum.

If you’re looking for a more recreational-focused sport, you can opt for snowboarding or regular skiing.

Wingsuit Flying

Wingsuits are often called “bird suits” and “squirrel suits”.

These suits provide the body larger surface area to enable the wind to lift the body while on air.

Unlike other freefall sports, you must consistently lie on your front body for the wings to work.

Yet, the chances of spinning and messing up your form on-air are still possible even with proper deployment. 

Wingsuits have special technology that can bear intense wind resistance at high descent velocities.

This makes greater heights for pilots achievable.

Today, the highest recorded height flown by a wingsuit pilot is 37,265 ft above the ground. 

The most common sport linked with wingsuit flying is BASE jumping.

This type of wingsuit flying appeals most to people who “hike and fly”.

Others prefer the help of a legal skydiving drop aircraft.

Wingsuit BASE flying is an unregulated sport done for recreational purposes.

Extreme Zorbing

A zorb is a giant orb made out of transparent plastic with enough space for one to two persons to fit in. A passenger occupies the giant orb and gets pushed on a downhill slope.

Some zorb parks put zorbs on the water to imitate the ability to walk on water. Others developed flat open fields for passengers to have better control of the zorb.

Soon after the invention of recreational zorbing, extreme zorbing was born. The difference between recreational and extreme zorbing is the involvement of speed in the game.

Extreme sports zorbing takes place in groomed downhill slopes and permitted bodies of water.

Some of the places where you can bring your friends for recreational zorbing are Roundtop Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania, Richardson Farm in Chicago, and Amesbury Sports Park in New England.