Top 10 extreme sports events and competitions
Adventure lovers know that adrenaline is simply an addiction. Taking life to the limit with adventure sports and extreme sports has become a fundamental part of the daily life of the adventurer who hallucinates with the most extreme moments, especially when they participate in competitions in which they show us their abilities and talents beyond of the risks.
What are the most extreme competitions?
The extreme sports events, festivals and competitions are so cool! There is a lot in the world, from the rarest and most creative, to the most classic and legendary. In each of them we are able to witness sports giants and new promises face to face defying the forces of nature, the highest peaks, the most beastly waves, and the longest and most dangerous roads.
Do you know any of them? Read on for some of the best and most extreme events, festivals and adventure competitions from around the world!
THE X GAMES
If you love extreme sports and freestyle, then surely you love the X-Games as much as we do! This monster of extreme sports competitions perfectly combines passion, action and music, and brings together sports professionals from all over the world with different categories. All this under the direction of the ESPN group, since the competition was created in 1995.
How does the X Games work?
The X-Games are carried out in a very particular way. Competitors participate by winning gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as cash prizes. However, they mostly compete for the prestige that comes from being among the top positions in this competition, which is so renowned internationally.
As we see in the Olympic Games, there are two versions of the X Games: winter and summer. In the repertoire of the competition in summer we find Skate, BMX, motocross, freestyle, roller, rally, scootering (skateboard) and surfing, and motor racing. And in the winter X-Games you compete in snowboarding, skiing and snowcross.
Another great thing about the X-Games is that their different editions are not always held in the same place, and for this reason they are usually based in different locations around the world, from California to Japan. In addition, it is combined with the famous festival that offers live music "X Fest" which offers autograph sessions with the athletes and other activities for the spectators, the fans and also the competitors themselves.
THE ABANCA GALICIA CLASSIC SURF PRO
What is the Pantin Classic?
Previously known as "Pantin classic" or "Galicia Surf Pro", the abanca Galicia Classic Surf Pro is held on Pantín beach, Valdoviño (in the province of A Coruña) as part of the World circuit Surfing League (WSL). There the elite of world surfing meets live and direct during an arduous QS 10 double test.000, which claims to be the most important championship in the entire European circuit.
The Abanca Galicia Classic Surf Pro, which in recent years has operated under the charge of Club Praia de Pantín (with ABANCA as its main sponsor), brings together the best of world surfing every year to face each other in tests in female and male categories. The best surfers in the world visit this location to compete and show all their talent.
Está, one of the most anticipated surfing competitions in all of Europe, hosts more than 100.000 people a year and offers an exemplary atmosphere that revolves entirely around surfing, from its clothing and sporting goods stores to its food and music stalls. The truth is that all its activities are super cool, because it ends up being a competition and a festival at the same time, with iconic activities including its famous surf baptisms.
THE OR SEAFOOD
O Marisquiño is one of the most important urban culture and action sports festivals in Europe since its creation in 2001. It is a free three-day open-air festival, in which more than 160.000 people enjoy the best ten extreme sports competitions, cultural exhibitions, excellent gastronomy, break dance competitions, art and graffiti demonstrations, concerts and much more, all in the Vigo Maritime Port, very close to the city's historic quarter .
Where is the O Marisquiño celebrated?
The O Marisquiño festival takes place in an area of more than 150.000 square meters near the historic neighborhood of Vigo, where the great extreme tests of the festival are held, in front of and next to the sea, specifically in the Paseo de las Avenidas, the Trasatlánticos Dock, the Náutico and the Espigón.There are displayed the areas for each sporting and cultural exhibition. It has become a flagship event in this town!
The O Marisquiño hosts 3 world cups, the World Cup Skateboarding Street, the World Cup Skateboarding Miniramp and the Dirt FMB World Tour, which are scored in global rankings, and where all the best national and international athletes come together. More recently, among the disciplines, the FIBA Basket 3x3 has been incorporated and they have made the leap to the Gold category of Dirt Jump.
GRANDVALIRA TOTAL FIGHT
What is the Grandvalira Total Fight?
The Grandvalira Total Fight is currently one of the most recognized snowboarding and freestyle competitions at a national and international level! It is an extreme competition very interesting because the talent, tricks and original style of the competitors are disputed, in male and female categories.
This snowboard and freeski slopestyle competition held in El Tarter Snowpark (one of the pioneer Parks in the Peninsula) was created in 2005 and has grown exponentially since then. In fact, for its second edition, it already achieved 3 stars in the TTR (Ticket To Ride Tour) calendar, a benchmark circuit in snowboarding internationally.
But it is also that in 2009, the TTR circuit awards it a star! At that time, its 4 stars caused great international commotion that put the Grandvalira resort on the map. All this coincided with the arrival of many riders with a higher level to the town, who wanted to participate.
The Grandvalira Total Fight, the biggest freestyle competition in southern Europe, finally received (in 2013) its 5 stars on the TTR circuit in snowboarding and entered the Gold category on the AFP circuit, an international benchmark in freeski.
THE DAKAR RALLY
Dakar Rally route: What is it like?
In recent decades, the Dakar Rally has become one of the most extreme and dangerous motorsport competitions of recent times. Previously called the "Paris-Dakar Rally", it is an annual rally raid car competition, organized by the ASO (Amaury Sport Organization) since December 26, 1978.
When the competition originated, the race used to start in Paris and finish 10.000 kilometers further on, in the capital of Senegal, in West Africa. Although it later starts in Buenos Aires (Argentina), finally in 2019 it was announced that it would take place in Saudi Arabia in the Middle East with 12 stages, 5,000 timed kilometers and more than 7,800 km of travel in total.For years, the Dakar Rally has been recognized as one of the most demanding and challenging automobile races in the world, in which its competitors show all their drive, courage and sporting talent on the most difficult terrain in the world.
UTMB TRAIL RUNNING (ULTRA-TRAIL DE MONT-BLANC)
The Ulta-Trail de Mont-Blanc needs little introduction! This extremely famous mountain ultra marathon takes place annually in the Alps, passing through France, Italy and Switzerland, where its more than 10.000 competitors cover a distance of about 172 km and a positive difference of about 10.000 meters The world elite of the trail meets in Chamonix every year along with the rest of the amateur runners, to compete in the 7 races of the event.
How is the UTMB Ultra Trail of Montblanc?
Today, the UTMB is known as the most demanding Trail Running race of all and also the most prestigious. A whole mythical race that represents a whole unique experience! The truth is that joining this race around Mont-Blanc is, above all, a personal improvement that comes from deep within, where effort, dedication and impetus lead them to cross and overcome the most beautiful peaks until reach the final goal. Until now, the Montblanc ultra trail record is held by Pau Capell, who was the winner of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) in 20 hours, 19 minutes and seven seconds.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF EXTREME SPORTS (FISE)
This is perhaps the most important freestyle sports competition in all of Europe! At the International Extreme Sports Festival (FISE), in the center of the city of Montpellier, in the Rives du Lez neighborhood (France), a multitude of athletes in the categories of Bmx, skate, roller, skateboard, freestyle motocross, wakeboard, mountain bike slopestyle, slackline and mountain bike. One of the best free events designed for lovers of the most extreme adventures!
The atmosphere of the competition is very happy, festive and completely charged with adrenaline, and reaches around 550.000 spectators in a 5-day experience, which combines the best of extreme sports, parties, gastronomy, sports knowledge workshops, concerts and lots of fun for lovers of extreme sports and freestyle in an incredible way.
FISE was born in Montpellier in the south of France in 1997, and then, starting in 2014, the FISE World Series began , with whose events it has been possible to transfer the best of this championship to various locations on the planet.
JUNGLE MARATHON (JUNGLE MARATHON)
What is the Jungle Marathon about?
Among the most extreme and difficult races of all, the lead is taken by the Jungle Marathon or Jungle Marathon. An exclusive competition for the bravest and most adventurous runners of all. Why? Well, because it is not a marathon of those ordinary ones. It is celebrated once a year in the Brazilian Amazon, where the dangers of the jungle truly lie.
The 75 marathon competitors face high temperatures during the competition route that do not drop below 40º with 99% humidity, in addition to having to go through rivers with alligators and piranhas, and also facing vegetation extremely leafy that allows very little light to enter, and that hides a terrifying minstrel fauna, ranging from snakes to jaguars. Yes, it's extreme, right?
The Jungle Marathon, which officially originated in 2003, is held in three distance modalities: the shortest edition is 42.2km, but you can also cover a distance of 127km divided into 4 stages. And then, its most extensive version involves a route that covers 254 km in total, and is held in six stages.
In this madness marathon, physical, psychological and orientation skills must be at their best to survive this extreme adventure in one of the most splendid natural settings that exists, such as the Amazon.
The most interesting thing is that there is no defined course on the course, but it is true that six arduous days of minstrel challenges await the competitors until they cross the final finish line, in which they must procure their food supplies themselves and water, build their own shelters and face all the obstacles that await them in a jungle. Would you dare to participate in this extreme competition?
SEA OTTER CLASSIC
What is the Sea Otter Classic?
How can we not mention the Sea Otter Classic! One of the best cycling and outdoor adventure sports festivals in the world. It has been celebrated since 1991 in the old Fort Ord in Monterey County, California (United States). A classic of extreme sports?
The event is called the "Sea Otter Classic" literally in honor of the sea otter, native to the area.In its first edition, the festival welcomed some 350 athletes and another 150 spectators. It currently receives more than 9,600 athletes and exceeds 72.500 fans gather to witness the best of cycling and enjoy 4 days of adventure at the world's leading cycling festival.
From 1991 to 2002, the Sea Otter Classic took place during the month of March, but then in 2003 it moved its date to April to take advantage of milder Californian weather.
What is Sea Otter Europe Bike Show Giron?
There is also the Sea Otter Europe Bike Show in Girona – Costa Brava in Europe. Since 2017 it originates from and is inspired by the Sea Otter Classic. It is perhaps the best and most important bike festival in Europe for young talent and established professionals in the sport.
BARKLEY MARATHON (BARKLEY MARATHON)
What is the Barkley Marathon?
You may not have heard much about this strange and very curious adventure competition, but the Barkley Marathon sure is one of the most extreme, demanding and mysterious sporting events of all in the world! In the entire history of the marathon, only 15 people have been able to successfully complete its dangerous and difficult course.
It was started in 1986 by its creator Gary “Laz” Cantrell, known simply as “Lazarus Lake”. It is an ultra-distance race that escapes quite a bit from the typical canons of marathons, becoming the toughest and most extreme endurance test in the world.
You may have already guessed it, it is not at all a conventional race, and in fact it is quite strange, firstly because its registration is a secret and difficult process: only by sending an email at an exact time and date to its creator (explaining your motivations and aptitude résumé) you may or may not receive the opportunity to be one of the 40 privileged runners to participate in the rare Barkley Marathon. In addition, it takes place on a secret summons date, in an unknown place in the state of Tennessee, USA.USA
Why is the Barkley Marathon so difficult?
The goal of the Barkley Marathon is to run a total of 100 miles with an elevation gain of plus 20.000 meters in a time limit of 60 hours. The competition consists of 5 laps of free navigation, in which the distance is the least important. The most extreme part comes from the unevenness, the need for optimal navigation and location in space, and the unknown conditions that the competitors venture into, since they do not know what the location is like or what weather conditions they would face.
The most exciting and attractive thing about this competition is in the symbolism of survival and existence. And it is also that while you walk the path you must locate yourself in the space to collect pages of 14 books that are hidden in the place, and that the competitors must tear out and deliver as proof that they have really completed the route correctly. Very interesting, isn't it?
Without prior provisioning, assistance of any kind, and no checkpoints, the forty runners simply venture into nature with their bib, compass and watch without GPS. This is the only thing they receive from the organization before they start.
Barkley Marathon Netflix Documentary
Its popularity has multiplied in recent years, especially after the release in 2014 of The Race That Eats Its Young
Do you hallucinate extreme adventure competitions and events as much as we do? Tell us which ones are your favourites!
