Leaping from cliffs, racing down mountains, or soaring through the air – these are not activities for the faint-hearted. Yet over 490 million people across the globe put themselves in these dangerous high-risk high-reward sports. From wingsuit flying to downhill mountain biking, extreme sports continue to grow in popularity across all age groups and backgrounds.
Cliff Diving
Photo by Romina Amato for Swimming World Magazine.
This gut-wrenching sport sees divers launch themselves off 27 meter platforms into the abyss. Divers must have the mental as well as physical endurance to preform angelic acrobatic movements in the air whilst plummeting up to speeds of 80km/h to their finish line, the unpredictable ocean.
Divers are scored by five judges who observe every movement from take-off to entry. Each dive is rated out of ten, based on execution and the degree of difficulty. Precision is everything when aiming for a perfect score. David Colturi talks about his dive down Ibiza’s cave of light “I think honestly one of the trickiest parts is committing to the take-off, because you’ve got this wall right in front of you and although you won’t hit it, you really got to commit as you will come close”. From 27 meters above the water, the diver must block out fear and focus solely on performing dives with the maximum amount of twists, flips and turns to achieve the end goal, a perfect ten.
September this year, the world’s best divers competed in the conclusion of Red Bulls 2025 world series. A competition only offered to 24 of the most elite divers (12 male, 12 female) across the globe. The divers had to complete four different dives from five possible directions each day of the series. It’s a sport where split-second hesitation can cost not only points but safety, demanding an extraordinary balance of courage, precision, and mental focus.
The mental preparation such as controlling their fear and mindful breathing is just one more reason why this sport is so extreme. Before every jump athletes have got to face unpredictability’s such as high winds, rain or waves. These can throw the divers off there game, so having mindfulness techniques to ground themselves is vital before any jump. On Instagram Molly Carlson explained how even with the right mindset things can still go wrong. “I was fully locked in—mentally calm, physically ready, completely in the zone. But one small mistake on my last dive knocked me from 2nd place to 9th. Just like that.”
Freestyle BMX
Image: Sergio Layos competing in BMX Freestyle Park — © Tristan Shu / ESPN Images, via Flickr.
This sport is unlike any other on two wheels. Riders must endure flipping, spinning and twirling ten feet in the air and between platforms equivalent to two stories above the ground. Athletes must stay balanced, focused and completely fearless as they perform their routines. If a rider loses their momentum between jumps or changes their mind as they are balancing on the rail they will end up in hospital.
There are two major competitions that celebrate BMX athlete’s: The Olympics and the X games.
X Games BMX is one of the biggest and most exciting showcases of BMX riding in the world. Organised by ESPN, the X Games brings together the best riders on the planet to compete in a series of jaw-dropping events that push the riders to their limits.
There are four main disciplines featured in the X Games. These are: street, park, Dirt and Vert. Each discipline highlights creativity, skill, and daring stunts on ramps, rails, and jumps. With electric crowds, music, and legendary athletes like Dave Mirra and Mat Hoffman, it’s freestyle biking at its most thrilling.
BMX Freestyle at the Olympics is one of the newest and most exciting additions to the Games, a perfect blend of creativity, athleticism, and adrenaline.
It made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021), becoming an instant fan favourite. In BMX Freestyle, riders perform a 60-second run in a specially designed park filled with ramps, bowls, and jumps. Each rider is scored based on the complexity of tricks, execution, height, creativity, and overall flow. Although there has been a general positive reaction about this new sport including a comment from former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan “BMX racing is bloody brilliant… Love it… Well done Bethany and Kye.” There has also been backlash from those who do not believe BMX should have necessarily made the cut. Cyclist Phil Liggett criticises Olympic organisers stating that “It is absolutely disgraceful what they have done. They have devastated the track with the new events and taking out the iconic events of the Olympics,”
For some athlete’s BMX Freestyle is not about how well they score in a competition but a way to express themselves. Parks can be found from the city to the countryside giving riders the freedom to practice their craft wherever they are. Being involved in an outdoor community gives these adrenaline seekers a chance to feel like they belong away from their regular lives.
Paragliding
Image sourced from an article published in Adventuro, authored by Ermin.
Paragliding combines skill, risk, and adventure. Pilots throw themselves from cliffs or mountains using wind currents to stay airborne, often soaring thousands of meters high. The sport’s changeability makes it dangerous: sudden weather changes, strong winds, or equipment failure can quickly turn deadly. The most recent tragedy saw the loss of 44 year old Bram Declercq who died earlier this year during the FAI Paragliding World Championships in Castelo. Lode Spruyt, a friend and teammate told Cross Country that “He was low above ground level when his wing fully collapsed, after which Bram did not regain control before hitting the ground.” Bram died seven days after is accident at São Lucas hospital in Vitória.
It demands physical endurance and mental focus, as pilots must hike to the launch point then control the parachute in a variety of conditions making split-second decisions midair. The combination of height, speed, and exposure to mother nature creates a beautifully intense environment for the pilots.
One of the most challenging and prestigious paragliding events is the Red Bull X-Alps held once a year. In this race, athletes must hike, fly, and run up to 150 kilometres a day across the Alps, enduring harsh weather and ascents of over 4,000 meters. It’s a true test of endurance, navigation, and determination. Competitors push their limits both physically and mentally. The event draws hundreds of live spectators and millions of online viewers, showcasing human courage and adventure.
Steve Bramfitt once told Red Bull that “Paragliding feels like you’re teleporting. Sometimes you’re 50m off the ground, and you’re just about to land, and then you find this little lift somewhere, and all of a sudden, you’re back in the clouds again.”
