LIFE TO THE FULLEST

1. Scuba diving

Some might not consider scuba diving to be an extreme sport. But think about it, you’re 100+ feet underwater and the only thing keeping you alive is that tank of oxygen strapped to your back. Not to mention all of the creatures lurking below… pretty intense.

2. Kiting

Also known as kitesurfing and kiteboarding. All you need is wind, a board and a big kite to harness into. On water, on sand, or on snow… it’s a rush.

3. Parasailing

Many probably think parasailing is just a relaxing tourist activity at the beach. But, when you’re being pulled by a piece of rope hundreds of feet above the water, the adrenaline rush definitely kicks in.

4. Wakeboarding / Water skiing

Wakeboarding and water skiing are very popular water sports, typically done at the recreational level. But, some take these sports to a whole new level, throwing fancy maneuvers and jumping the boat’s wake to do tricks in the air.

5. Mountain boarding

Also known as dirtboarding and offroad boarding, mountain boards take on all types of terrain, and are sometimes used to do tricks or even downhill races. Kind of a cross between skateboarding and snowboarding.

6. 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!

7. Barefooting

Just like water-skiing, but without the skis. Barefooters must travel at speeds up to 35-40mph to stay above the water. As if that isn’t enough, barefooting competitions include tricks, slaloms, and even jumps.

8. Parkour

Also known as free-running, parkour is the art of moving over obstacles as quickly and efficiently as possible. No equipment needed; parkour can be practiced practically anywhere. The bigger the obstacle, the greater the risk.

9. Skateboarding

There are varying degrees of skateboarding, but here’s the bottom line. Every skateboarder works to improve their skills, adding more difficult tricks every time. Crashing onto the pavement is to be expected, and getting back up to try it again is part of the process.

10. Surfing

The bigger the wave, the better the ride. Some surfers will ride waves up to 50 feet in height! Staying on the surfboard is critical, because a bad wipeout can be ugly.

11. White water rafting

Using an inflatable raft or kayak to navigate choppy “whitewater” that has an unstable, turbulent current. Rafters risk hitting sharp rocks, unexpected steep waterfalls, and being thrown from the raft. Hang on tight!

12. Paragliding

Same concept as hang gliding, but paragliding uses a certain type of parachute, and in some cases a propeller. Paragliders can reach great heights and soar for several miles at time. Due to gusts and shifting wind patterns, paragliding is rather risky.

13. BMX

There’s the traditional BMX racing and then there’s BMX freestyle, where riders attempt to gain massive air and pull off next to impossible tricks. Landing a big trick on a BMX bike brings a big rush, but crashing brings a big OUCH!

14. Bobsledding

Teams of two or four sled down a twisted, banked, iced track at speeds up to 90 mph. The only thing protecting you in the event of a crash is your helmet and the unforgiving bobsleigh, which is open cockpit.

15. Downhill skateboarding

Downhill skateboarders use hybrid longboards with longer decks, softer wheels, and wider trucks, enabling them to reach ridiculously high speeds. When there is a crash, the carnage isn’t pretty.

16. Downhill mountain biking

The name suggests it all. Get down the hill as fast you can on a mountain bike. Take special notice to protruding trees, roots and rocks along the way.

17. Alpine skiing & snowboarding

There seems to be a correlation between speed and adrenaline rush. Take a pair of waxed up skis or snowboard and rip down a steep, snow covered mountain side at speeds that approach 100 mph.

18. Waterfall kayaking

As if hitting raging rapids isn’t enough, some kayakers choose to push the limits of what a plastic boat (and human) can endure. Press your luck and dive head first off a waterfall.

19. Ice climbing

Scaling up massive ice formations either on frozen waterfalls or snow covered mountains. Ice climbing open’s itself up to all kinds of risks, broken chunks of ice, avalanches, even falling to a cold death.

20. Freestyle skiing & snowboarding

A type of snowboarding or skiing that includes tricks, jumps and flips on any type of terrain including boxes, rails, and even trees.

21. Cliff diving

We’re not talking about jumping from that big rock at your local swimming spot. We’re talking about big cliffs that are 10, 15, 20 meters tall. At those heights hitting the water feels like breaking through concrete; not much room for error here. By the way, the divers don’t wear any protective clothing, just a basic swimsuit.

22. Free climbing

What does this mean? It means you climb a rock formation without any other type of assistance or support besides your climbing harness. If you slip/fall, the only thing keeping you from tumbling down to the bottom is your safety rope and the clips anchored into the rock; better hope they’re secured!

23. Skydiving

Probably one of the oldest of all extreme sports, skydiving originated over 200 years ago. The sport has since evolved into jumping from aircraft and doing a variety of midair tricks before deploying the parachute. Although it is a widely practiced sport, it still carries a considerable amount of risk and produces an adrenaline rush that is described as addictive.

24. 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.

25. 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.