5. Volcano Boarding
Racing down an active 2,380 ft volcano at speeds of 50 mph with only a board for protection is considered by many thrill-seeking sports fanatics as the coolest sport around.
Thousands of travelers head to the foothills of Nicaragua’s Cerro Negro mountain every year to take part in the new sporting craze. Surfers, dressed in protective jump suits, knee-pads and helmets, can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h (50mph) on their specially-constructed plywood boards. Since its creation, in 2005, the volcano boarding has attracted more than 10,000 participants.
4. Limbo Skating
For what may appear to be near-impossible, limbo-skating — roller skating under cars — is the latest rage in India, requiring the flexibility, strength and balance of a gymnast. Wonder-kid Aniket Chindak holds the unofficial world record for ‘limbo-skating’ beneath 57 cars.
3. Train Surfing
Usually an illegal sport, train surfing involves riders climbing or “surfing” on the outside of a moving train or subway. The practice is a serious issue in South Africa, where many young people have been killed or injured. The ‘sport’ was made popular in the 1980s in Germany, where it was called “S-Bahn Surfing”. The phenomenon was then forgotten, but in 2005 it was rediscovered by a gang from Frankfurt, Germany. The leader of the crew who called himself “The Trainrider” famously surfed the InterCityExpress, the fastest train in Germany.
2. Crocodile Bungee
Feeling jaded by garden-variety bungee jumping? You might consider imitating how these Aussies spice up the sport: bungee jumping into a body of water containing live crocodiles. The video below is a must-see.
1. Cliff Diving
Adding a new dimension to the sport of diving, cliff diving is defined as the acrobatic perfection of diving into water from a high cliff. Braving the rough rocks, divers take a plunge in the hard-hitting water beneath to experience a thrill to last for a lifetime.
This dangerous sport originated from the Hawaiian Island of Lana´i in 1770. Kahekili, the king, demanded that his men leap off high cliffs and enter the water feet first without a splash, to prove their courage and loyalty. Today, after centuries, the activity has expanded into a sport that is marked by immense courage, focus, thrill and risk.
Cliff diving is one of the riskier kinds of diving; hence, extreme caution is a must. To the benefit of the divers, certain standards have been set to minimize the risk factor. Some of these include determining the height of the jump (23 – 28 meters for men, 18 – 23 meters for women), an ideal entering speed of 75 – 100 km/h, and a free fall time of 3 seconds.
