This post is collaboration with two of our partners.
Talk about extreme adventure sports and everyone’s reaction goes like “What! I can’t possibly do that. Just the thought of it makes me feel dead already.” Well, nothing’s further from the truth.
Undoubtedly, there is never a complete guarantee that things can’t go wrong while indulging in adventure sports just as there isn’t any guarantee with anything in life.
As they say, “the nearer we are to our deaths, the more alive we tend to feel.” Therefore, it would be so unfortunate to miss out on the rather chilly taste of an adrenaline rush as you conquer your fears.
Just like any other sport or leisure activity like sailing, these extreme sports also have remarkable advantages like:
Helps one gain the ability to stay centered:
Become more capable of staying calm and centered during stressful situations, which in the actual sense would make your life easy to manage in the face of the day-to-day challenges.
Enhance your fear management skills:
This is something that everyone struggles with from time to time but participating in extreme sports could turn this fear into a positive and fun experience. There probably aren’t too many people who wouldn’t be fearful the first time they jump off a plane or go bungee jumping, but doing these things and seeing that you can safely make it to the other side will help you reduce your fear response and also learn how to use coping mechanisms like meditation to your advantage.
Boost your self-confidence levels:
Accomplishing a task so physically daunting is something that every normal human should feel proud of thus the need to participate in and overcome the challenges that extreme sports bring about.
High calorie burns:
Due to the intense and rapid beating speed of the heart when participating in extreme sports, lots of calories tend to be burnt.
That being said, let’s take a look at some of the extreme adventure sports that will get your heart pumping in excitement or otherwise.
4600 ft sky walking in China
If you’re faint hearted, this glass walkway in China is your worst nightmare come true and you might want to look away, just saying. It is 4600 ft attached up the side of a mountain but the fact that it is made of glass is nothing short of terrifying. It is best known as the Coiling Dragon Cliff Skywalk and anybody who finds the zeal and courage to brave the walkway will be utterly rewarded with a rather breathtaking view that only few will ever experience.
The park is home to three glass walkways including a 1410ft glass bridge suspended 590 ft above the ground, therefore, if you’re looking for adventure or just an extreme selfie, then you know the right place to go to.
Night volcano trekking in Indonesia
With great fear comes great rewards and Volcano trekking is an awesome experience and usually not something to be afraid of. The guides would suggest to trek up at midnight in the pitch black darkness and climb into the crater to witness the magical blue fire and who in their right minds would possibly say no to that? Not until it becomes a hair-rising slippery slide in complete darkness into a volcano’s crater, edging over closer to the huge sulphur flames that it becomes a bit terrifying but people do survive and enjoy the magnificent volcano lake that appears as the day breaks.
Ride the fastest roller coaster in the world
The Formula Rossa is the world’s fastest roller coaster which rockets from 0-60 mph in 2 seconds and reaches a peak speed of just under 150 mph in 4.9 seconds, stretching to nearly a mile and a half. The ride is so intense that it requires goggles similar to those of skydivers and is a must for those adrenaline-seeking junkies.
Go cliff jumping
Forget about the highest diving platforms. If you’re going to do a cliff jump, you might want it to be the highest one in the world, right? With a healthy dose of adrenaline, you can expect amazing views and plenty of other travelers to help you pluck the courage.
Swim with sharks
Many are the times when sharks have been perceived to be the world’s deadliest creatures but getting a face to face time with these oceans’ most misunderstood beauties could be a great experience and the best possible way to overcome any childhood fears is to come nose to nose with them in their territory.
A good example for this are the Great White Sharks in South Africa. But if you consider this is not a high-risk enough for you, there’s always another option…scuba diving with Tiger sharks and Bull sharks in South Africa’s Protea Banks. But even for a shark lover, being on the bottom of the freezing ocean bed surrounded by the least- human-friendly creatures is more than scary.
Whether you are a speed junkie who gets his/her jollies from driving fast cars such as the Porsche Cayman gt4 or someone who prefers to go zip lining in tropical forests, skydiving, parachuting or bungee jumping it is that rush that makes life fun. All you need to do is find something that works for you and go for it.
This post is collaboration with two of our partners. All thoughts and options are my own.