By Dan Bingham
Extreme: When you type the word into Google, the number one search result is for the Extreme Sports Channel. The runner-up is a Wikipedia page for the band who sang the acoustic ballad "More Than Words." Sorry Extreme. As everyone knows, second place is the first loser, so this article won't be about you.
Thousands upon thousands of years before ESPN opened the world's first official X Games in 1995, human beings have been pushing themselves to the brink of destruction, testing their physical limits on land, air and sea. In many ways we have been called a jealous species, not only of other humans who can run faster or jump higher, but of other animals who can fly, climb, dive and swim with such grace that countless people have actually died in their attempts to "soar." It's taken a while before we called it a sport.
I prefer to think of us as a competitive species, constantly striving towards perfection. Extreme sports show human beings at the ultimate height of performance, mentally and physically. Not only do X-athletes need to be in top physical condition, not only does their equipment need to be state-of-the-art and in 100% working capacity, and not only are they competing with other awesome athletes with awesome equipment, but they are competing with the unpredictable, uncontrollable, and uncaring forces of Mother Nature. So why do we do we push ourselves to the extreme? Is it to fly like an eagle? To test our skills against insurmountable forces? Or is it because adrenaline is deliciousss and we wantsss it?
Offering respect for the death defying, the following clips have been put together to show the pull these feats have with the people. Based on views, here's a compilation of the most popular extreme sports videos on YouTube. If I've missed any, let me know and I'll get them in!
Extreme Skydiving
Extreme Base Jumping
You can't look for base jumping without finding the word "wingsuits" attached. Check out these guys coming as close to flight as humanly possible.
Extreme Kayaking
When you look for extreme kayaking, this is by far the most popular clip:
While 45 mph is an insane speed to be in a kayak, I find this to be much more extreme:
Extreme Skateboarding
Extreme Snowmobiling
Extreme Snowboarding
Extreme BMXing
Extreme Skiing
Extreme Surfing
Extreme Paragliding
Extreme Windsurfing
Extreme Mountain Biking
As is typical with human nature, this one is popular due to its extreme wipeout.
Extreme Parkour
