Top 10 Extreme Sports (and How to Get Into Them)

Extreme sports are all about pushing boundaries – whether that’s conquering the highest peak, surfing a massive wave, diving deep to explore the unknown, or shredding down a mountain. Extreme sports provide tons of benefits, from building physical strength and improving mental resilience to fostering a sense of accomplishment. In short: they’re pretty awesome. 

We’ve compiled an extreme sports list, but don’t let the term ‘extreme’ intimidate you. Many of these awe-inspiring extra-curriculars are accessible to beginners and increase in intensity (if one desires) with time and skill. Let’s get into it! 

What Is Classified As Extreme Sports? 

What is an extreme sport? Is it what sport has the most adrenaline? Is it which one is the least accessible to the masses? What about money … is an extreme sport classified as one that is super expensive? Nope, none of the above! 

An extreme sport is classified as an activity that typically involves significant risk, physical challenge, and technical skill. Plus, they generally take place in pretty demanding environments – such as mountaintops, the sky (our fave, of course), or in water. Extreme sports are designed to push the boundaries of human endurance, both mentally and physically. 

Now that we’re all on the same page, what are 10 extreme sports? Here’s our breakdown list of dangerous sports. (Note, when we say dangerous we’re not talking about being reckless, but simply understanding the heightened risk that comes with finding our limits. All of these activities should only be attempted with experienced guides who consider safety first.)

1. Skydiving 

Skydiving is the epitome of extreme sports. The entire process of skydiving – riding up in the airplane, leaping out, freefalling, and gliding around under the canopy – can be a truly life-changing experience. Despite skydiving being one of the most extreme sports out there, the progression is designed to allow accessibility to total novices, and this is achieved through tandem skydiving. 

Is skydiving dangerous? Well, it requires doing some pretty wild tasks, which are inherently dangerous. This is why choosing to go skydiving (or do any extreme sport) is a deeply personal decision. We do everything in our power to mitigate the risks associated with jumping – because we love skydiving and are passionate about sharing it with others – but there is an undeniable amount of risk. Let this excite you or intimidate you – or both – it’s up to you! 

Your first step in skydiving is to book a tandem skydive with a reputable dropzone that prioritizes safety. Then, if you’re bitten by the skydiving bug, pursue your solo skydiving license. 

2. Free Climbing 

Free climbing is a form of rock climbing where the climber ascends natural (or artificial) rockfaces. They utilize the unique features of the rock and their own strength and technical skill to move upward. Spotted by a belay partner, if they fall they’re caught by a rope attached to their harness. Free climbing ranges from beginner bouldering to multi-pitch routes that really push climbers to their physiological and physical peaks.  

To take it to the next level, you could pursue free soloing, which eliminates the use of any ropes. If someone slips while free soloing, they will fall with only good fortune to catch them. (Gulp!)

To start free climbing, you’ve got to learn the ropes from a class or mentor – consider visiting your local rock climbing gym as a first step! 

3. Mountain Biking 

Mountain biking entails zipping a bicycle through rough and uneven terrain. This typically takes place on specially-designed trails that have steep descents, rocky obstacles, mud, and a whole lot of unpredictability. Mountain bikers must be agile in both mind and body – they need to be able to tackle whatever comes around each turn.  

There are various types of mountain biking – downhill, cross country, and free riding are a few. Each of these categories have respective competitions, with focus on various skills, from speed to technical tricks to score points. 

What bike should you get? What about basic gear? Talk with your local cycling store and do some research to get some insight.

4. Skiing & Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding gives the perfect opportunity to soak in a gorgeous Alpine glow, marking the end (or start) of a perfect powder day. We’d also like to throw sandboarding into the mix! These sports are pursued leisurely or at an extreme level – they’re in the Olympics! 

If you want to get into these adrenaline-packed sports, but don’t live near the mountains, it’s time to book a trip! Plenty of resorts have beginner classes you can get plugged into. 

5. Kitesurfing 

Kitesurfing is a sublime combination of wakeboarding, surfing, and paragliding – all powered by the wind! There is an unpredictability that comes from the wind. 

Sort of like in skydiving, we may know the strength and direction, but gusts are somewhat randomized. When kitesurfers get more advanced, they can do aerial tricks 

Kitesurfing isn’t just for those who were born already shredding the gnar, there are plenty of kitesurfing schools! 

6. BASE Jumping 

We’ve all heard the term BASE jumping, but what exactly is it? BASE is actually an acronym that stands for Building, Antenna, Static, Earth, each referencing the objects BASE jumpers often use to jump from. 

BASE jumping and skydiving are cousins, albeit BASE being from the side of the family that throws a lot more caution to the wind. In BASE, you have one parachute (skydiving has two parachutes, as well as other backup systems). You have one shot to get every facet of a BASE jump right – the exit, the opening, the canopy flight, the landing – it all comes down to millimeters, and the stakes are extremely high. 

Skydiving is the first step to get into BASE jumping, as many BASE coaches won’t even talk with a prospective jumper who has sub-200 skydives. 

7. Cave Diving 

Diving is more of a social sport than a competitive one, but that doesn’t make it any less extreme – especially when it comes to doing it in the dungeons of the water – CAVES. 

Cave diving is the most extreme form of scuba diving, as it combines the thrill of underwater exploration with the difficulty of navigating through enclosed spaces – eek! As skydivers, we prefer our spaces to be bright, sunny, and wiiiiide open, but to each their own! 

The first step of learning underwater cave exploration is getting SCUBA certified! 

8. Skateboarding 

Have you ever stood at the top of a halfpipe and had your knees shakin’!? Skateboarding can be intimidating! Skateboarding is a sport and recreational activity that ranges from cruising (or longboarding) down the boardwalk to performing tricks in the air. 

Getting a board and going to your local skate park to find a mentor is your first step to learning to skate! The skating community is known for being welcoming and encouraging. Like many less-organized sports (at least until you get some experience under your belt), you’ve got to start with that first small hill. 

9. Speed Flying 

Many people see paragliding as an introduction to speed flying … and it is, but it’s not a required prerequisite. Speed flyers are all about adrenaline — zipping through the air at wicked speeds, and hugging the terrain as they carve their way down fast, exhilarating courses. 

On the other hand, paragliders take a more laid-back approach, soaring high above, gliding gracefully for long distances and soaking in the views with plenty of time to relax. While paragliding is like a serene adventure with a touch of excitement, speed flying is intense and demanding of quick reflexes and a love for thrill. 

Enrolling in a Speed Flying Course is the first step to getting your “S” rating and learning to speed fly with a safety-first mindset!

10. Parkour 

Parkour may be joked about as being the martial art of running away, but it is a highly-intense extreme sport! Parkour involves rapidly moving through urban or natural environments – it’s all about running, jumping, leaping, climbing, and vaulting. A unique skill that many parkour practitioners (called traceurs) must carry is adaptability – that’s a huge theme of any extreme sport, right? 

A quick history lesson: the original motto for parkour (it’s obviously an extreme sport if it has its own motto) is etre fort pour être utile which means be strong to be useful. Parkour is all about finding a unique and creative, yet efficient, way to get from one place to the next. 

The World Freerunning Parkour Federation has awesome tips on how to get started in the parkour world. 

If you’re ready to kickstart your journey into extreme sports – or add another one into your repertoire – book your tandem skydive today!