Most of us are content to choose stagnation over progression until we get a glimpse of what it’s like to get outside our comfort zones. Extreme adventures are about setting new goals and overcoming them. Here are some of the most exhilarating adventures you can dive into with family and friends, or on your own. Go on . . . live a little.
Wingsuit Base Jumping
Wingsuits are a heart-stopping take on skydiving. You’re not just falling, you’re navigating space. It’ll show you what it’s like to engage your fears as opposed to just bracing yourself in the midst of them.
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’re been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.” – Nike
Bungee Jumping
Bungee jumping is about letting go of all the control you think you have and trusting the fall.
“I love that pursuit of progression. Trying to overcome something that scared me, and accomplishing what I had set out to do. Succeed or fail, it’s about getting outside of your comfort zone. The only way to go forward is to be willing to take that next step.” – Danny Harf, Sports Video Producer
Skydiving
Skydiving teaches us we can face our fears and dive into the unknown.
“Passion overcomes everything because when you truly love something, it’s hard to stop you from doing it and it’s hard to stop you from doing your best at it.” – Mark McMorris, Canadian Professional Snowboarder
Downhill Mountain Biking
Downhill mountain biking is about embracing the fall. We all stand on edges every day; you can either fearfully peek over the edge, or ride and push your mind and body to the limit.
“If you want to experience all of the success and pleasure in life, you have to be willing to accept the pain and failure that comes with it.” – Mat Hoffman, American BMX Rider
Extreme Kayaking
Extreme kayaking is a solo adventure. It’ll teach you the daily balance between going with the flow and embracing the dangerous undercurrents of life.
“But if anybody knows me, I don’t need anybody to motivate me. I hate losing. I hate losing period.”- Sunny Garcia, American Professional Surfer
Extreme Canyoning
Canyoning teaches us how to navigate obstacles by diving into them. People who get a rush from solving difficult problems learn what it’s like to be inside the puzzle.
“When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Via Ferrata
Via Ferrata (Italian for “iron path’) is about clearing your mind of all the clutter and executing what’s right in front of you. It teaches you to fully embrace the moment.
“Stop staring at mountains, climb them instead. Yes, it’s a harder process but it will lead you to a better view.” -Anonymous
Zero Gravity Flight
Zero gravity flights leave you weightless and a little breathless. They also teach you the freedom of letting go of the things that are weighing you down.
“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot
Extreme Caving
When you go underground, all your senses heighten and you have to embrace what you feel as opposed to relying solely on logic. Caving will teach you how to embrace your instincts.
“Security is a kind of death.” -Tennessee Williams
Heli-Skiing
When the helicopter drops you in the middle of the mountain, you have no choice but to forget everything and just focus.
“You know it’s funny what’s happening to us. Our lives have become digital. Our friends are now virtual, and everything you could ever want to know is only a click away. Experiencing the world through endless second-hand information is not enough. If we want authenticity, we have to initiate it.” – Travis Rice, American Extreme Snowboarder
Wing Walking
Wing walking is about seeing old lands with new eyes. It’ll remind you that you have a limited view of the world and there’s always more to experience and learn.
“You might not make it to the top, but if you are doing what you love, there is much more happiness there than being rich or famous.” – Tony Hawk, American Professional Skateboarder
