The 10 Extreme Sports Every Man Needs To Experience
For many people, regular sports just aren’t exciting enough. Kicking a ball around an oval or hitting a tennis ball simply doesn’t get the blood pumping. If that’s you, then get ready to have your mind blown and your adrenaline pumping. We’ve rounded up the best 10 extreme sports you need to experience in your lifetime.
Whether you want to try skydiving, volcano boarding, or rap jumping, you’re sure to find an extreme sport for you to try here. Not even sure what they are? Well, you’re soon going to find out, and prepare to be excited.
Some of these are well-known ways for adrenaline junkies to get their fix, but hopefully, there are a couple you’ve never heard before. You’ll probably be looking at where you can book your next vacation to try out one of these extreme sports.
For now, all you need to do is read on to find out which activities you want to try first. Let’s get started!
1. Volcano Boarding
Want to get your heart rate moving with volcano boarding/volcano surfing at an active volcano? Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Strap yourself to a makeshift plywood sled and race down an active volcano.
The sport was invented by an American and is becoming increasingly popular. When you try it a couple of times and become more relaxed with it, you can reach insane speeds of 62 mph. It works due to the fine volcanic ash on the slopes which gives a smooth surface to board on.
Is it safe? Yes, as there have been no reported deaths and only a few accidents related to it. There are dangers, of course, as volcanic ash can be quite rough and there are plenty of poisonous gasses around a volcano. You also have the dangers of a flying piece of molten lava if the volcano starts erupting!
So what do you wear? The important thing is to go prepared to protect your body against the rough gravel. On a volcano boarding tour, you receive goggles, gloves, the board, and a jumpsuit. You need to wear hiking boots and bring a liter of water with a bandana wrapped around your face. For breaking and steering, you use your heels. It’ll be the adventure of a lifetime!
2. Bungee Jumping
Who hasn’t heard of this extreme sport yet? We are sure you have but maybe you’ve never given it a try. You can find bungee jumping in countless places worldwide where you can jump from a bridge, crane, tall building, or even a dam.
You can even follow in James Bond’s footsteps and jump off the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland where you’ll probably be too terrified to take in the stunning surroundings.
So why not give it a try? Nothing like attaching a large elastic rope to your ankles, jumping off a perfectly good surface, and hurtling headfirst towards the ground. Enjoy an adrenaline rush like never before as the freefall provides you with thrill and excitement before the cord absorbs the energy of your fall. It then oscillates until it consumes all the energy and you will go flying up and down before coming to a standstill.
So if you do want to enjoy this infamous activity, all you need to do is find your nearest spot and muster up the courage to jump off the edge!
3. Kite Surfing
Do you want to learn to kitesurf? With this extreme sport, you enjoy the wind’s power using a board and a kite to move across the water. Standing on a small kiteboard that looks similar to a wakeboard, the large parachute propels you across the ocean.
However, you don’t need waves as the wind powers you along the water. With calm seas, you can perform freestyle as the water surface is smooth, making taking off and landing jumps easier.
Why is it extreme? Well, the kites used can generate a huge amount of power and pull you well clear of the water. It can be hard to control for novices, but after you’ve learned the ropes, it can be a great thrill with some speeds recorded of up to 60 mph.
4. Skydiving
Along with bungee jumping, this is one of the most well-known extreme sports. The sport is well-liked, and if you’re scared of heights, this is one adventure you can experience to overcome your fear.
Enjoy jumping out of an airplane using a parachute to land on the ground safely. You can get your pulse at a higher rate by jumping out of the plane at 12,000 feet, or even do so without a parachute like Johnny Utah in Point Break (we advise against this). You’re not going to be short of options as many places offer skydiving experiences.
Due to its popularity, there are now many different versions of skydiving which you can try. Variations such as wingsuit flying, cross-country, skysurfing, and base jumping. All provide a unique thrill with the common feature of free falling to the earth.
Today it’s one of the most popular recreational activities you can participate in.
5. Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting is a breathless thrill where you can navigate through rapids on a river with an inflatable raft. Usually armed with just a life vest, helmet, and paddle, you’ll battle against the water to stay afloat and keep facing forward.
How extreme the whitewater rafting is often depends on a wide number of factors such as the speed of the water and the obstacles you’ll need to avoid. Often you’ll be with an expert instructor who can help guide you through the treacherous water and give advice as you go.
There’s also plenty of variety in the number of people in your raft and what type of vessel you’re traveling in, as you can also do it on boards, kayaks, or canoes.
You also don’t need to whitewater raft on a river either. There are plenty of places that are man-made to give you an authentic rafting experience. These can give you a huge thrill but can be a little more convenient and a little less dangerous.
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6. Downhill Mountain Biking
Enjoy an adrenaline rush downhill on two wheels with this rapid biking sport. All you need is knowledge, discipline, a solid technique, and a machine to ride with athletic strength. Every time you tackle a downhill track going at full speed, the adrenalin runs free through the veins and will have you pumped.
You’re going to need body armor with the correct clothing, including a full-face helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, back protector, and a non-removable chin guard. Finally, put your goggles on your face and make sure you have a pair of shoes to fit the flat or clipless pedals.
Tracks are built on all types of terrain and may even include drops and jumps. You’ll need a strong bike to do it and one that can absorb a lot of shocks. Once you get comfortable on your bike then you may even be able to make videos as stunning as this.
7. Rap Jumping
Compared to freestyle rope work, rap jumping takes it to a new extreme. The adventure sport involves rappelling and forward abseiling. You’ll descend from a vertical surface using ropes in a standing position while you face the ground.
Also known as Australian abseiling, angel jumping, and deepelling, you’ll enjoy an ultimate thrill to get your heart rate pumping. As you get more comfortable, you can take a running leap off a high building like Tom Cruise or perhaps off a cliff face.
You can walk at your own pace while taking in the smells, sounds, and sights traveling down the side of a building, or run out and see if you can make it down in less than 30 seconds. With this sport, you need no experience, just plenty of courage. You’ll receive a helmet and gloves to keep you protected along with the rope system. Then you’re on your own.
8. Cave Diving
Descend into a hole in the earth to explore a cave system for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Just cross your fingers it doesn’t turn out like The Descent.
Here you can escape the crowds and explore places other people have never seen. The daunting thing is there’s no overhead environment, direct vertical access to the surface, light, or open air.
Some of the scariest caves found are in Texas (Jacob’s Well), Thailand (Samaesan Hole), and Australia (The Shaft Sinkhole), however, before you can start with this extreme sport, you need to at least have some basic scuba experience as some caves require a great knowledge of exploring under the earth.
It can be technically challenging and particularly daunting when you can’t see the surface of the water or you’re in total darkness. It requires plenty of bravery but also the ability to stay calm. Once you get comfortable with it then it’s an experience like no other. You’ll feel like a genuine explorer and as though you’ve been transported to another planet.
9. Slacklining
Slacklining is a sport combined with art, moving meditation, recreation, and balance training. Remember those tightrope walkers in the circus? Well, this is what extreme sports are all about. You walk on nylon/polyester webbing between two anchor points. It’s the same premise as tightrope walking but with a line that has a lot more slack.
Slacklining has taken on other forms in different variations from the waterline, Highline, trick line, yoga line, and rodeo lines. There are many ways you can do it with each of them giving you a thrill that will test your nerve and get your heart racing.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you will find the Highline one of the most extreme activities to take. While many people see it as thrilling, it takes a calm approach with self-control and focus. You walk on a line that is way above the ground but usually with many safety backups in place should you fall off.
If that makes you a little nervous at the start then you can use a slackline quite close to the ground at the beginning. If you want the greatest thrill, however, you can master the technique with time and try to do the slacklining without any safety equipment.
10. Canyoning
What is canyoning or canyoneering? Never heard of it? The sport is traversing from a canyon or a gorge and combines hiking, swimming, abseiling, and climbing. You explore hard-to-reach areas of natural landscapes following a water route through a rock formation.
These also include navigating streams, waterfalls, and pools. As a canyoneer, you jump, slide, and descend the gorge using technical equipment for your safety. You can do it for fun or to gain experience, as the course will be challenging and difficult.
Canyoning can be enjoyed by all age levels, with the number of vertical obstacles and the amount of water in a canyon determining the skill level required. However, it all comes down to the rush of diving or jumping into the pools, something that needs no advanced skills.
The equipment needed depends on the program. Generally, it will be canyoning shoes, a wetsuit, helmet, gloves, static/dynamic ropes, rope bag, waterproof bag, a belay system, harness, sling, and carabiner.
Of course, you will need your communication device, swimwear, knife, sun protection, and do not forget to take your camera, as you’ll probably be surrounded by incredible natural beauty.
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