Extreme Hobbies: Unusual & Dangerous Pastimes

Heli-Skiing

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In the sport known as heli-skiing, either skiing or snowboarding, participants are dropped down by a helicopter in inaccessible regions in order to ski or snowboard on untracked powdery slopes. The possibility of avalanches, crevasses, and other dangers makes the environment extremely dangerous.

Volcano Surfing

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Volcano surfing, sometimes known as volcano boarding, offers an adrenaline rush comparable to that of traditional surfing but without the need for large waves. When volcanoes are involved, hazardous substances like poisonous fumes and molten lava, should they be erupting, must be taken into account.

Wingsuit Flying

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Base jumping with a wingsuit is called "wingsuit flying" and it's essentially jumping out of a plane but soaring like a bird instead. There is obviously high rates of fatalities because of the risk involved. The pilot's skill and the type of parachute worn are major factors in accidents.

Running of the Bulls

Image Source/ Scientific American 

As part of this hobby, participants let loose a herd of bulls in the middle of town. Then you have to outrun them without getting gored. Exciting, huh? You can probably imagine how dangerous this is, and how frequently people get seriously hurt or even killed because of it.

Extreme Ironing

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Since when has it been cool to take up ironing while doing crazy things? Well, you've clearly never heard of extreme ironing. This hobby takes ironing to a whole new level and people will go to ridiculous lengths to get a good photo of them ironing in absurd locations.

Geocaching

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In comparison to the other activities on this list, this one stands out as truly special. As part of this pastime, participants may employ satellites to track out hidden containers containing valuable items. The smartphone is an integral part of the pastime. Although, some have been known to hide in dangerous places!

Train Surfing

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One of the riskiest extreme sports is definitely train surfing. It basically involves people jumping on and off of moving trains to hitch a ride. Even if you think you're an extremist, you shouldn't try this. Forty Germans tried to learn how to surf and were sadly killed in 2008.

Ghost Hunting

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Ghost hunting isn't just a fun movie activity; it's also one of the few unusual pastimes only the courageous should try. As a ghost hunter, if you have faith in the existence of ghosts, spirits, and the like, it will be your job to collect evidence of these phenomena. Although it might not seem dangerous, it attracts people to unsafe places.

Canyon Swinging

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In canyon swinging, rather than bouncing up and down like in bungee jumping, participants swing back and forth like a pendulum. The extreme height, the challenge of keeping one's balance on the swing, and the very merciless rock cliffs around are the primary threats here.

Ice Climbing

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Climbing icy cliffs, glaciers, or other similar structures is what some thrill-seekers enjoy doing. The risks associated with this exercise include the potential for injury from a fall, the collapse of ice onto the climber, and hypothermia from inadequate clothing.

Spelunking

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You probably shouldn't go spelunking if you are uncomfortable in confined spaces. Extreme cave exploration is the goal of this extreme hobby and many go missing or die each year. Making your journey below to large, unexplored caves often requires navigating ridiculously small spaces.

Powerbocking

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Even if it's on the list of safer hobbies, it can still become fatal. As Samuel Koch discovered in 2010, the stakes are much higher when it crosses over into the realm of stunts. On live TV, he tried to leap across five moving cars. He was unable to avoid hitting one of them, and the subsequent vehicle accident left him crippled.

Highlining

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Slacklining is the attempt to walk across a tightrope without holding on. While it is a great way to test your equilibrium and focus, you are placing yourself in far greater danger by highlining when you place this rope between two cliffs. Despite the lack of a safety harness, there are some people who love this hobby.

Base Jumping

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Base jumping entails leaping with a parachute from places such as cliffs, buildings, or bridges. It is regarded as one of the riskiest pastimes globally, with a fatality rate of roughly 1 in 60 jumps. Apparently, there were 22 fatalities in 2021 and 12 fatalities in the first half of 2022. The countries with the greatest fatality rates include Switzerland, the United States and France.

Hand Gliding

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Recreational hang gliding is accomplished by piloting a hang glider, a lightweight aircraft without a motor, through the air. Extreme weather or an inexperienced pilots can increase the risk of fatality. In 2020, police in the US were looking into 4 deaths.

Freerunning

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Like powerbocking, freerunning (also known as parkour) poses the most risk in specific contexts. Things can get quite serious if you're over confident in the leaps you make. Jumping on and off moving train cars, known as "train-surfing," has also been incorporated into the hobby.

Motorcycle Racing

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Until you watch professional racers on television, you might not realize how risky motorbike riding actually is. These motorcycles are killing machines, reaching speeds of up to 186 miles per hour. Then there's motocross, where riders risk their lives by performing dangerous tricks.

Cave Diving

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Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which thrill-seekers investigate cave systems underwater. It is regarded as extremely dangerous because of the numerous risks that are involved, such as the possibility of becoming disoriented, of running out of oxygen, or of being crushed by rock formations.

Scuba Diving

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Depending on how deep you go, scuba diving can be a risky activity. If you're looking for more of a challenge than conventional scuba diving can offer, deep-diving may be the way to go. When scuba diving, "going deep" means going deeper than 98 feet. In this area, you are more likely to encounter dangerous marine life or run out of oxygen.

Cliff Jumping

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Cliff jumping may seem like a daring and exciting sport for young people, but it actually poses serious risks. The greatest risk is of making a high-velocity impact with the water and being injured as a result of the surface tension. Also, things may go ugly if the water isn't deep enough or if there's something hidden under there.

Ski Jumping

Image Source/ The Denver Post

In essence, you'll be tethered to skis and sent speeding down a huge slope. You fire into the air, do several tricks, and then try to land without getting hurt. This is an insane pastime with significant potential for bodily harm. Broken bones and internal traumas are possible if you don't land properly.

Big Wave Surfing

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Big wave surfing is basically the activity of surfing or riding waves that are at least 20 feet in height. Because of the high likelihood of getting pulled under by a strong wave or suffering major injuries, this activity is regarded as really dangerous and only huge adrenaline-junkies take part.

Bodysurfing

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This one is accessible to anyone with a basic understanding of swimming and does not necessitate any special equipment. It's basically surfing without the board. The waves will carry you to the shore, and all you have to do is catch them with your body. A good pair of flip-flops can be helpful, but they aren't required.

Rock Climbing

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Rock climbing is a common hobby, but it can be hazardous if the right precautions aren't taken. The most vulnerable areas to a fall are the head, neck, and chest, but every part of the body is at risk. When rock climbing outside, snow and ice greatly increase the risk of death.

Free Solo Climbing

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Free solo climbing is going up a rock face without using a harness. With no safety equipment or anybody around to assist, you're on your own. Your hands and maybe some chalk are your safety features and if you let go, it's over. Several people, including John Bachar and George Gardner, have tragically lost their lives in the sport.

Whitewater Rafting

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Whitewater rafting is a popular activity that may be done all throughout the US. Its widespread participation belies the reality that serious harm can be done, or even death. Many people get hurt, from concussions to broken bones, as they are thrown from the raft as it travels over the rapids.

Bungee Jumping

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Those seeking a thrill without too much danger are likely to partake in this risky extreme hobby. The possibility that the cord may snap and you will go plummeting to your death is always there, but it *probably* won't happen. It's a great hobby for thrill-seekers on a low budget.

Mountain Biking

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It's risky enough to ride a bike in the city; doing it on a mountain presents an entirely other set of dangers. These paths typically slant downward and are somewhat confining, so you'll need to preserve your speed while you hurtle through trees, puddles, and sharp turns.

Skydiving

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Skydiving is a popular sport in which participants jump out of an airplane while wearing a parachute and then make their way back down to earth. However, don't be fooled by the safety procedures. There is a risk involved because to the possibility of malfunctioning technology or mistakes being made by humans.

Horse Riding

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This is a hobby that's enjoyed widely around the world, and understandably so. Although, despite horse-riding being a great activity to enjoy, it doesn't come without the risk of danger. Many people get into horse-riding accidents each year and often they can be fatal.