You don’t need to be an Olympian to compete for eternal glory. Around the globe, athletes are constantly training for the most hair-raising and adrenaline-pumping sports on the planet, whether or not that lands them with a medal on the world’s stage. We rounded up the most extreme sports ranked by danger level, which we measured by how quickly things go from “bad” to “dead” in a worst-case scenario situation. Do you agree with our list? Take a look below.
5. Mountain Climbing
The perils of mountain climbing vary significantly depending on weather conditions, experience level, and which mountain you’ve decided to ascend. Severe exhaustion, dehydration, avalanches, falling rocks, crevasse falls and hurricanes are just a few of the many risks you assume when mountain climbing. But as one National Geographic writer put it: Take away the risks and the adventure is lost completely.
Mountain Himal Chuli along with Manaslu seen from Chobhar, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal on Saturday, November 05, 2016. (Narayan Maharjan/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
4. Big-Wave Surfing
Unlike mountain climbing, where you can start small and work your way up, big-wave surfing truly is for the pros. Everyone has to start somewhere, but get sea legs on manageable waves before taking on 80-100 foot monsters in Tahiti, China, or Hawaii’s Banzai Pipeline. At least ten people are thought to have died there — it spits boarders directly onto a shallow reef, and with every swell comes the risk of drowning. If you’re looking for a hit of adrenaline, the prolific surfer Laird Hamilton says taking on the ocean is the perfect place to do it: “I believe that people take on the forces of nature because that’s when you feel the most alive,” he said in an interview with the Weather Channel.
Ian Walsh from Maui, HI, rides a big wave at Jaws (Pe’ahi), off the coast of the Maui Island in Hawaii on the first day of the Pe’ahi Challenge 2017, on October 27, 2017. (Brian Bielmann/AFP/Getty)
AFP/Getty Images
3. Cave Diving
Just the thought of cave diving is a claustrophobic’s worst nightmare. If big-wave surfing is the most dangerous thing you can do on the water, cave diving is the riskiest below thesurface. If the specialized training and prospects of hypothermia or running out of air don’t scare you away, the knowledge that the sport continues to claim the lives of its most experiencedathletesmight.
Scuba Diving in Mbuco Caves, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands. (Prisma Bildagentur/UIG via Getty Images)
UIG via Getty Images
2. Heli-Skiing
It’s not all that different from James Bond— except007didn’t warn viewers about the deadly risk of avalanche. Helicopter skiing is often done in the untamed backcountry of places like British Columbia, Alaska and Switzerland. Enjoy the pristine wilderness, but remember that itcan come at aprice much higher than the $4,000 deposit.
A helicopter takes off over Panorama, British Columbia. (Getty)
flickr Editorial/Getty Images
1. BASE Jumping
There is truly no room for error in BASE jumping; the alternative to a perfect jump is often an instantaneous, extremely painful death. Since the first recorded BASE jump in 1783 in Montpellier, France, onlookers have been astonished, and unable to look away since —despite the danger inherent in the sport.For every sixty participants, one dies,sometimes accidentally live-streaming the horrific crashas it happens. The deaths come from all different places: According to National Geographic, BASE is an acronym for the various perches from which a participant can leap from, which includes bridges, antennas, bridges (spans) and Earth itself. But if it seems cut and dry —live or die — it isn’t. There’s an important distinction in the community between “regular” BASE jumping and “wingsuit” BASE jumping.The former is done with a parachute and the latter with a bodysuit; some say it’s the closest we’ve come to true human flight, and people can’t get enough of it—even if it kills them.
Base jumperleaps from the 300-meter high open deck at Kuala Lumpur Tower(Chris Jung/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
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FAQs
Highlights: Most Dangerous Sports In The World Statistics
Base jumping results in one death for every sixty participants. Rock climbing accidents cause approximately 30 deaths per year in the U.S. Bull riding has a 50% injury rate with each ride. Motorcycle racing experiences an average of 4.12 deaths per 1,000 riders.
What is the top five most dangerous sport? ›
13 Most Dangerous Sports in the World
- Bull Riding. One of the most hazardous and exciting hobbies in the world is bull riding, a sport with a strong heritage of daring. ...
- Motocross. ...
- Motorcycle Racing. ...
- Base Jumping. ...
- Rock Climbing. ...
- Skydiving. ...
- Surfing. ...
- Hockey.
Highlights: Most Dangerous Sports In The World Statistics
Base jumping results in one death for every sixty participants. Rock climbing accidents cause approximately 30 deaths per year in the U.S. Bull riding has a 50% injury rate with each ride. Motorcycle racing experiences an average of 4.12 deaths per 1,000 riders.
Which of these is an extreme sport answer? ›
extreme sports, sporting events or pursuits characterized by high speeds and high risk. The sports most commonly placed in this group are skateboarding, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, in-line roller-skating, street lugeing, and BMX and mountain biking.
What's the most dangerous sport for kids? ›
Football: Dangerous children's sports can be made more safe when the right precautions are taken. The most hazardous sport for kids between the ages of 5 and 14 is football. Every year, over 215,000 injuries from football are treated in emergency rooms.
What is the most dangerous team sport for kids? ›
Football — Football is widely considered the most dangerous youth team sport — and for good reason. According to an article published by Vox, the rate of injury in high school football is 4.01*.
Are extreme sports more dangerous? ›
Extreme sports cause more injuries and fatalities than traditional sports, such as football and swimming. Extreme sports, by their nature, involve high speeds, heights, and dangerous conditions that could result in fatal accidents.
What is the most dangerous sport in USA? ›
Andrew Gillen, a managing partner at a personal injury law firm in California, and his team analyzed 2021 data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) and concluded that basketball is the most dangerous sport in America.
What is the least dangerous sport? ›
What is the safest sport to play? The safest sport to play can vary, but generally, non-contact activities like swimming, golf, or table tennis are considered safer due to their lower risk of injury.
What is the most painful sport? ›
Sports like American football, rugby, and ice hockey typically have the highest injury rates due to their physical nature and frequent contact.
But critics say extreme sports are too dangerous for teens. They point out that young thrill seekers often attempt stunts that are too advanced for them, which can lead to serious injuries—or even death.
What is the most popular extreme sports? ›
Snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding are among some of the most popular extreme sports in the United States. The demand for snow sports has created a strong industry in the country, with the number of ski and snowboard resorts in the U.S. increasing by four percent between 2021 and 2022.
What is one of the most popular extreme sports? ›
Top 10 extreme sports
- Base jumping. It is one of the most extreme sports that would leave you with both excitement and nervousness at the same time. ...
- Highlining. ...
- Ice Climbing. ...
- Volcano Boarding. ...
- Kitesurfing. ...
- Cave diving. ...
- BMX racing. ...
- Parkour.
How many extreme sports are there in the world? There are around 100 extreme sports that we used to find and it is for sure the most complete list of extreme sports online.
What sport has the most injuries top 10? ›
Sports with the most injuries
- Basketball. What sport has the highest injury rate? ...
- Football. In the South we take our football very seriously. ...
- Soccer. Soccer is a sport that is loved by children and adults alike. ...
- Rugby. ...
- Hockey.
A poll of wrestlers determined that wrestling is the most difficult sport to play, with wrestling taking 99% of the votes. Olympic wrestling is played in a square ring ranging from 14 to 20 feet on each side, and the matches are lightning fast, with two three-minute periods and a 30-second rest break in between.
