It is part of human nature to test the limits and with the close of the Winter X Games last month and the start of the Iditarod next month, Cheapflights’ experts have compiled a list of the most extreme sporting events around the globe in honour of the thrill-seeking, adrenaline-pumping daredevils who push the limits every day.
Hell’s Gate – Il Ciocco, Tuscany, Italy | 18 February
The picturesque mountains of Tuscany host one of the world’s most difficult Enduro races. Known as Hell’s Gate, the race was designed in 2006 by the legendary Fabio Fasola who intended to separate the merely good Enduro racers from the amazing. Hell’s Gate continues to serve its purpose every year, and in 2010 alone, just two of the 103 participants were able to complete the course.
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race – Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, US | 3 March
“The Last Great Race on Earth”, the Iditarod Trail started out as a supply route. In 1925 when diphtheria broke out in Nome, 20 mushers and 150 dogs rushed to deliver the antiserum from Anchorage. Every year since 1973, mushers from around the world and their teams of 12-16 dogs take to the 1,150 miles of snow-covered tundra, impenetrable forest and rocky terrain. If that’s not enticing enough, the race takes place when temperatures are below freezing and daylight hours are at a premium.
Ice Climbing World Cup – Kirov Russia | 8-10 March
Rock climbing might be a popular sport for some, but throw in some ice and it’s an entirely different game. Racing up a sheer ice wall with nothing but two ice picks in your hands and the spikes on your boots might seem inconceivable to most, but to the participants of the 2012 Ice Climbing World Cup, it’s just another competition. The top ice climbers are nothing short of acrobats as they make their way across the ice using a combination of agility, strength and guts. The final event in the World Cup series, Kirov promises to showcase the year’s finest talent and the fastest competitors. See the trailer above.
2012 Crashed Ice World Championship – Quebec City, Canada | 15-17 March
One of the most exciting up-and-coming winter events, this extreme sport generally consists of burly hockey players strapping on their skates and racing down an urban ice track. Sound easy? Add some sharp turns, steep drops, jumps and nasty falls and you’ve got nothing short of mayhem. The final leg of the 2012 World Championship Tour ends in Quebec City, at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Last year, more than 100,000 spectators filled the night streets of Rue des Carrieres, and this year it’s expected to be even bigger.
Billabong Rio Pro – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 9-20 May
Hurtling down the side of a massive wave with nothing but a board to save you from the roaring ocean is something only a professional adrenaline junkie could handle. The Association of Surfing Professionals Tour circles the globe every year, throwing its best at Mother Nature’s toughest waves from the Gold Coast of Australia to the Banzai Pipeline of Hawaii. This year, the stakes are even higher with a £315,000 payout to the winner of the Billabong Rio Pro in Brazil.
24 Hours of Le Mans – Le Mans, France | 16-17 June
This year’s event marks the 80th anniversary. The trick to Le Mans isn’t simply speed; it’s juggling the mechanical needs of the car, especially the tires and brakes that run down quickly, while testing the stamina of the three-man driving team. The race starts at 4pm and fans fill the stadium to watch the screaming engines make their way around the track until 4pm the following day. Some 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the parade held the Friday night before the race, a particular fan favourite.
Race Across America – Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland, US | 12-25 June
More than one-third longer than the Tour de France and crammed into a shorter period, the Race Across America covers 3,000 miles. The race is open to amateurs and professionals, young cyclists and old as well as individuals or teams – as long as they complete the event in less than nine days. For those who race as individuals, they are expected to ride upwards of 350 miles a day to maintain an adequate pace, while teams can include as many as as eight members.
The X Games – Los Angeles, California, US | 28 June–1 July
If you missed last month’s Winter X Games Event in Colorado (see Shaun White’s perfect score in the SuperPipe), have no fear because you can still catch the Summer X Games in Los Angeles. The X Games have expanded in recent years that there are now events held in China and France. This year’s summer events will include competitions in motocross, rally car, BMX and skateboarding. And true to form, new tricks will be tested and a nasty wipeout or two is almost guaranteed.
Badwater Ultramarathon – Badwater Basin to Mt. Whitney, California, US | 16-18 July
Beginning at Death Valley’s Badwater Basin 280 feet below sea level and ending, 135 miles later, at the base of Mount Whitney (elevation 8,300 feet plus), the Badwater Ultramarathon is considered to be one of the most difficult foot races in the world. Mid-summer Death Valley temperatures can reach 54 degrees Celsius, but there’s a big payout, right? Think again. Participants who have adequate finishing times – say under 60 hours – receive a commemorative medal and the bragging rights that come with completing the world’s most difficult race.
International Artistic Wingsuit Competition and Marko Mike’s Wingsuit Boogie – Siofolk, Hungary | 9-19 August
It’s not a bird and it’s not a plane – it’s a wingsuit flyer. For those who decided skydiving was no longer a thrill, wingsuit flying was just the thing. It’s quickly becoming a sought-after extreme sport thanks to action flicks like Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon. Daredevils interested in taking up the sport jump out of planes thousands of feet up and take flight over several miles before popping open their parachute and landing (safely we hope). And like any sport, there is of course an art to the form and style of wingsuit flying, which can be witnessed during the two competitions – the International Artistic Wingsuit Competition and Marko Mike’s Wingsuit Boogie.
(Images: Enduro – www.redbull.com; Iditarod – Alaskan Dude; Ice Climbing World Cup – uiaabern; minipassion; Billabong Rio Pro – Ptérodactyl Ivo; 24 Hours of Le Mans – davehamster; Race Across America – www.raceacrossamerica.org; Summer X Games – anhonorablegerman; Badwater Ultramarathon – lauri_vain; V.Marko Mike’s International Wingsuit Competition Hungary 2011 from Dima_Fisanov on Vimeo.)
