Outdoor Recreation News — Page 2 of 3 « Outdoor Recreation

Pomparkour: What if Ladders Were Used in Parkour?

New Zealand energy drink V creates a new imaginary sport coined Pomparkour to promote their product.

14-Wheeled Skateboard: Is More Better?

I'm no skateboarding pro, so I'm curious. In the case of the 14-wheeled skateboard, does the saying "less is more" apply? Flowlab's unconventional skateboard has been around since the early '90's, and has yet to replace the conventional 4-wheeled model. It boasts that it can "carve to 45 degree angles with no resistance and fluid transitions edge-to-edge", but how does it handle an ollie? Those in the know, please comment below.

News: No Beach? No Problem. Go Surfing With a Tarp and a Skateboard

It's the newest craze to hit the web and it's called "tarp surfing". Somehow it is out and out ingenious. Simple and infectiously fun (for some reason, the resourceful silliness of it is right on par with CD-R bubble blowing).

Tony Hawk: Still the World's Best Skateboarder at Age 42

Tony Hawk may very well be the greatest skateboarder of all time. At age 42, the legendary Hawk can still pull off a 900. For those who don't know, a "900" refers to a 900 degree aerial spin off of a skateboard ramp. This is one of the most insane skateboarding tricks, and Hawk is one of only four (in the world) who have ever pulled it off.

News: Feeling Suicidal? Try Eating Pavement on this Big Boy

World's biggest skateboard. World's dumbest skateboard. Whichever you find most fitting. You pick. Crowned by the Guinness Book Of World Records as the world's biggest, Joe Ciaglia and California Skateparks' creation stands at 3 feet 7 1/2 inches tall, 8 feet 8 inches wide and 36 feet 7 inches long.

News: Ew. Those Ain't Apples He's Bobbing For

Man, I can't tell you how sorry I am that I missed this year's 14th Annual Summer Redneck Games, a competition held yearly in East Dublin, Georgia. Fiercely proud hillbillies from across the deep South compete in the following contests: the Armpit Serenade, Bobbin’ for Pigs Feet, the Mud Pit Belly Flo, and Watermelon Seed Spitting.

SKATEISTAN: The Skateboarding Culture of Afghanistan

Photographer Noah Abrams traveled to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009 to document the emerging skateboarding scene there. The results are (frankly) incredible:

News: French Imbécile Rollerblades Down Eiffel Tower

Daring or just plain stupid? French X-game medalist Taig Khris sets a new world record, jumping from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. The rollerblader dove from a height of 131ft onto a massive quarter pipe ramp. There is some controversy over his newly earned title, however.

News: Believe It Or Not, These Dogs Are "Serious" Surfers

As silly as it may seem, Loews Resort's annual dog surf competition is indeed real. These pups aren't just props on a surfboard, they actually DO ride waves.

News: Um, Did That Just Happen? Parkour Master Gets Dressed Mid-Stunt

We've seen lots of amazing parkour stunts on WonderHowTo. And you'll see in the video below that gymnastics/parkour/freerunning stuntman Damien Walters is probably one of the best in his field.

News: The 10 Most Dangerous Jumps EVER

Amazing compilation video of thrill-seeking junkies making insane jumps. The top ten covers everything from base jumping to skiing to motocross to finally, what might just be the most insane: back in 1960, Joe Kittinger jumped from the edge of space in a giant helium balloon. Previously, Supersonic Space Diver With Death Wish.

News: Russian Billionaire Drops $300 Mil on James Bond Style Yacht

Today's WSJ takes a tour of Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko's 394-foot insanely luxe yacht, coined "A".

News: Motocross Madman Gambles With Life

Motocross world record holder Robbie Maddison recently jumped a 278 foot wide ravine, 330 feet above the water. More than a little risky, to say the least.

News: DIY Backyard Roller Coaster Does 360° Loop

When John Ivers grew tired of the long lines at amusement parks, he decided to build his very own roller coaster - in his backyard. Called the Blue Flash, the roller coaster is said to have the same safety standards as official park coasters, and even has a 360 degree loop.

News: Ice Diving in Kazakhstan For Underwater Forests

Quick, winter is coming to a close, time to catch the tail end of the winter sport season. This could potentially include ice diving in Kaindy Lake (if you happen find yourself in Kazakhstan, home of Borat). Kaindy Lake was created by an enormous limestone landslide, and as a result, a forest was submerged. In the summer, half drowned trees emerge from the water, creating a dramatic effect. In the winter, ice divers brave the freezing waters to explore the depths.

News: Wall of Deaaaaaath (Indian Style)...is AWWWWWESOME

Uh...I'll say it again. One word. Awesome. Via YouTube,

News: World's Largest Dodgeball Game Shatters Former Guinness Record

More than 1,200 students and staff from the University of Alberta set a Guinness World Record for the world's largest dodgeball game in early February. The group nearly tripled the former record of a 450-person game. Awesome aerial footage of the event below.

News: Stunningly Beautiful Slo-mo Surfer

BBC captured jaw-dropping HD super slow motion footage of surfer Dylan Longbottom in a 12 foot monster barrel.

News: India's Human Powered Ferris Wheels

We have seen it before (previous post: Human Powered Ferris Wheel), but it never gets any less amazing. Talk about resourcefulness. No need for electricity. Use humans to power your ferris wheel (if you had one sitting around... I wish I had one). Via Make,

News: Supersonic Space Diver With Death Wish

Felix Baumgartner plans to leap a record 120,000 feet, breaking four world records. If all goes well, Baumgartner will set records for highest altitude freefall, longest distance freefall, highest manned balloon fight, and fastest speed freefall (he will actually break the sound of speed!).

Wake-Skate: Winch Madness

Amazing footage shot of some highly skilled wakeboarders, entitled "Winch Madness". According to Wikipedia, Wakeskate winching involves "an engine, spool, rope, handle, frame, and some sort of simple transmission. The person being towed walks (or swims) away from the winch and pulls out all of the rope." When the winch lets loose, the boarder can go 15-25 mph.

News: 2009's Craziest Adrenaline Junkies

The Telegraph presents 2009's most spectacular stunts. This year's roster of adrenaline junkies include the craziest daredevils of their fields: wingsuiting, parkour, motocross, climbing, sky diving, auto racing, and more.

Danny MacAskill: World's Greatest Daredevil Cyclist

The world just can't get enough of the amazing, amazing Danny MacAskill. Back in September, we featured the incredible cyclist, and today he's been written up in the New York Times.

The Art of Trout Tickling: Myth or Reality?

Trout tickling is the mystical art of rubbing a trout's underbelly until it goes into a lax, trance-like state. The fish is then scooped out of the water and thrown onto land. Similar to catfish noodling, the sport is lauded for its lack of equipment or tools of any kind, as used in traditional fishing.

News: Winter Sledding Gets Extreme

Backyard sledding can be more than just kiddie fun. These guys take it to new levels. Unfortunately, total wipe-out is the outcome of every run.

News: Mudhole + Trackhoe = Ultimate Redneck Waterskiing

As said in the video below, "In South Carolina, you don't need no bass boat. All you need is a trackhoe and a mudhole." Those rednecks. So resourceful.

News: Roxy the Parkour Dog

We've seen lots of great parkour in the past - we learned how to front flip, we watched David Belle outrun bullets and bad guys, our jaws dropped at Cyril Rafaelli's amazing skills.

News: Horsesurfing (Swear, No Photoshop Used!)

The Brits have contributed a new sport to the world, coined Horsesurfing. Yes, it is just what it sounds like: the combined skill of horseback riding and surfing.

News: World's Most Badass Swing Set

My stomach is doing somersaults just watching this. Looks fun, albeit incredibly dangerous. Take it down a notch (or fifty) and build an indoor swing this winter. Previously, Deeply Trusting Female Volunteers Bod to Redneck Science: First Human Slingshot.

News: From Dying To Flying

Dean Potter, one of National Geographic's Ten Adventurers of the Year, set a world record for base jumping in 2009.

News: Who Needs Jump Rope When You Have a Flexible Friend

Breakdancing. Acrobatics. Gymnastics. Human jump roping fits in all. And why not? It's frickin' awesome. (Image credit: Flickr user envycleopatra.)

News: Indian Spiderman Defies Gravity (and Death)

Real life spiderman, Jyothi Rai of India, spends his time entertaining tourists by scaling walls of the Chitradurga Fort. The daredevil works completely harness free.

News: Human Powered Ferris Wheel

According to Google's (albeit rough) translation from French to English: "A big wheel in India that does not work with an engine but using human power. Men throw themselves in front of the wheel to rotate due to their weight."

News: Deeply Trusting Female Volunteers Bod to Redneck Science: First Human Slingshot

Well, maybe these folks aren't redneck. That is a pretty nice house, and that slingshot doesn't look too jery rigged. But the idea of a human slingshot is certainly redneck (and lotsa fun). Previously, Build a Redneck Roller Coaster.

News: Slackline Record Holder Very Nearly Buys the Farm

Slacklining is an *extreme-nut* sport of balance. It is a version of "tightrope walking" across great heights (note: distinct difference from tightrope: the rope is not as taut, but more elastic, trampoline-like).

News: Egyptian Vulture Navigates Paraglider Through Thermals at 4250 Feet

Gliding + falconry = parahawking, a unique and exhilarating experience. Birds (vultures, eagles, hawks) are trained to "guide" a paraglider

News: Thrillbilly-Tricycle-Flip

Travis Pastrana is an extreme sports nut, competing (and winning) X Games events such as motocross, freestyle motocross, supercross, and rally racing. In this Thrillbillies clip, Pastrana flips a big wheel at incredible speed over a 50-foot stretch (while donning a pinstripe suit). What an insane dude!