Emma Radebaugh Adrenaline junkies have another name for risking life and limb: “fun.” There are a lot of ways to experience a natural high, and the best adventure sports for adrenaline junkies reliably bring the thrills. Oh, and some of them can also kill you—just so you know. Training and proper use of safety gear and confirming the qualifications of guides and tour operators are essential if you’re even thinking about trying any of the following activities:
Jousting
Weren’t expecting this one, were you? Jousting has come out from the middle ages into the modern world, and competitions happen all over the globe. Two people dressed in armor charge at one another on horseback, carrying long heavy sticks (lances). The object of the game is to knock the other person off the horse using the lance. To start, you should probably know how to ride a horse.
Bobsledding
You can take a bobsled down the US Olympic course in Park City, Utah. After an hour of orientation and a professional driver, you could end up hurtling down the course and around curves at 70 mph and up to 5Gs. The list of requirements and restrictions (age, weight, health conditions, etc.) is as long as your arm; however, if you meet the prerequisites you might have the ride of your life—all 50 seconds of it or so.
Flyboarding
A short, water-jet powered skateboard sends you up in the air over the body of water hosting activity. Jetpack versions are also available.
Mountain Biking
Readers of RadNut are familiar with the thrills of mountain biking. Adrenaline junkies will head for the top of the trail to ride down fast, navigating steep drops, rock gardens, and on some trails, snaking along narrow, cliffs-edge trails. The extreme downhill trails are for experts only, but beginners choosing milder trails still get the reward of incredible views and varied terrain.
Ice Cross Downhill
This is similar to downhill skiing but on hockey skates. Vertical drops and hairpin turns add to the excitement. Pads and helmet required. The first person to cross the finish the end of the frozen track (preferably in one piece and not bleeding profusely) wins.
Wing-walking
You might think of wing-walking as something from one of these old black-and-white newsreels, but there are places around the world that will strap you to the top of a bi-plane and take off—with you attached.
Zip-lining
Vertical drop and speed on the course define how heart-pumping a zipline adventure is likely to be. Courses range from beginning to you’ve got to be kidding. The longest zipline in North America is in the Catskills, dropping 600 feet over 3,200 feet of cable, and reaching speeds up to 60 mph.
Waterfall Rappelling
It’s rappelling, but down a waterfall. You’ll become soaked and feel stoked.
Tour companies exist for the specific purpose of planning every detail of adventure travel, or you can find your own fun at places close by that provide adventure sports for adrenaline junkies. Do your research, triple check your safety gear, and proceed at your own risk. Because, as we mentioned, some of these sports can cause serious injury or death.
