Five Most Thrilling and Dangerous Sports Globally
In the world of adrenaline-fueled pursuits, some activities are more hazardous than others. Here's a look at some of the most dangerous extreme sports and recent daring feats that have caught the attention of thrill-seekers and onlookers alike.
Valery Rozov, a Russian daredevil, made headlines earlier this year when he wing-suited out of a helicopter and plunged into the mouth of the active volcano, Mutnovsk, on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. This death-defying stunt added another notch to the list of extreme sports, a category that includes BASE jumping, mixed martial arts (MMA), skydiving, white water rafting, bungee jumping, and more.
Among these, BASE jumping, originating in 1981 with jumps from Buildings, Antennae, Spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs), is widely considered the most dangerous extreme sport. With nearly 450 deaths recorded since its inception and a peak death toll of 37 in 2016, BASE jumping offers a very little margin for error.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a blend of multiple combat disciplines, is another extremely dangerous sport. Its origins can be traced back to earlier martial arts competitions and its prominence in the late 20th century. The intensity and variety of attacks in MMA make it dangerous, though fatalities are lower than in boxing.
Other extreme sports that carry substantial risks are skydiving and white-water rafting. Skydiving, involving jumps from planes, carries risks especially without proper certification. White-water rafting on extreme rapids like Class 6 presents challenges tied to the sportive challenge on water.
Sports like bungee jumping and scuba diving (especially deep dives over 60 feet) are also risky, with origins in thrill-seeking practices that have become popular tourist activities.
Meanwhile, in Australia, crocodile bungee jumping, an extreme sport that involves jumping headfirst into crocodile-infested waters, has gained popularity. In Germany, train surfing, a dangerous activity that involves climbing onto the side or top of a moving train car or subway train and "surfing," gained popularity as an extreme sport in 2005.
Limbo skating, an extreme sport popular in India, is defined by roller-skating underneath cars. Rohan Ajit Kokane recently set the Guinness World Record for the longest limbo skating distance at 126 feet 11 inches last February.
Thrill-seeking adventurers also practice the extreme sport of volcano boarding on Nicaragua's Cerro Negro Mountain, reaching speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Volcano boarding participants wear protective suits and ride on boards constructed of plywood and Formica while descending the volcano's slope.
The extraction of Valery Rozov from the crater was a challenging part of his volcano diving stunt. His daring feat, along with Rohan Ajit Kokane's record-breaking limbo skating, serve as a testament to the allure of extreme sports and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to push the boundaries of human endurance.
[1] http://www.extremesportsrisk.com/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37457276 [5] https://www.statista.com/topics/1161/extreme-sports/
Traveling to distant lands and embracing a lifestyle of adventure-seeking has led some individuals to engage in extreme sports, pushing their limits and testing their courage. Among these thrilling pursuits, travelers have ventured into death-defying activities like Valery Rozov's wing-suited jump into the Mutnovsk volcano or Rohan Ajit Kokane's record-breaking limbo skating in India. These daring feats not only captivate the attention of adrenaline junkies but also serve as a testament to the allure of adventure-travel and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to push the boundaries of human endurance.
