Xtreme Video: Thrillbillies
December 3, 2008
Who doesn’t like Travis Pastrana? This video looks to be a crazy good time and shows a slightly different side to some of the ‘Pros’ we know. Pastrana teamed up with Godfrey Entertainment to film himself and his Nitro Circus crew living things slightly on the edge. This video came out in 2007 and should still be available from 411vm.com.
Xtreme Geography: Tristan de Cunha or “The Loneliest Island In The World”
December 2, 2008
When we think of remote places and out of the way adventures our minds usually settle on the North or South Poles, or perhaps a tropical wonderland in Central America. Sometimes getting away isn’t really ‘getting away’. People have even suggested that most good places have been found and that exploration is dead in it’s ‘Old World’ sense. I beg to differ.
Tristan de Cunha: The Loneliest Island in the World
Questing For Adventure recently highlighted an article that discusses the most remote place in the world where people actually live. The answer was quite intriguing and pointed to an article featured on the Dark Roasted Blend blog.
Tristan de Cunha lies between South America and Africa. How remote is it? One ship journeys to the island one time a year to deliver mail, supplies, and visitors. It is 2,300 km away from the nearest land mass, St. Helena. 230 people actively live, survive, and inhabit this far off island paradise.
Xtreme Gear: 2009 Flow Merc Snowboard 152cm
December 2, 2008
The 2009 Flow Merc 152 cm Snowboard is a boarders dream. It is built for the tough and rugged, yet, does just as easy for the novice. The pretensioned glass is built for an all-terrain ride that delivers agility, durability, and control, no matter what kind of snowboarding you do. Whether your taking a lazy stroll down your local hill, or diving this sucker off the sides of peaks, the Flow Merc is your 2009 brand of choice.
Click below for the full details and features of the 2009 Flo Merc 152cm Snowboard.
Xtreme Sports: The First Wheelchair Backflip
December 2, 2008
Aaron Fotheringham has added his name to a list of people who have ‘officially’ done something first. Hillary and Norgay climbed Mt. Everest, Neal Armstrong stepped on the moon, and now Aaron Fotheringham has completed the first backflip ever recognized while seated in a wheelchair.
The 16-year-old teen says that he has been practicing this trick for two years, but up until recently his feat was not recognized. There was no basis for wheelchair athletics and antics. Aaron is beginning to change the way that he and others in wheelchairs are percieved. He was recently accepted into the World Records Academy and credited with the first ‘official’ wheelchair backflip.
Xtreme Expedition: Jon Bowermaster Heads to the Antarctic
December 2, 2008
Jon Bowermaster will be heading back to the Antarctic just days away from the one year anniversary of The Explorer sinking in the same region last year. The Explorer sank with 154 people originally onboard in one of the world’s harshest environments. This ship was designed to be the first Antarctic tourist ship. It’s main job would be to carry vacation adventurers to the far reaches of Antarctica. Unfortunately an iceberg stood in the way and refused to budge. The ship on the otherhand ended up sinking.
An accident like this in Antarctica usually spells disaster for those onboard. Luckily, Jon Bowermaster (and a few others) happened to be in the region and were able to help rescue those that found themselves afloat in the freezing waters off of Antarctica’s peninsula. Nobody lost their life.
Xtreme Endurance: Australia’s Simpson Desert Challenge 2009
December 1, 2008
The first annual Simpson Desert Challenge will be taking place in May of 2009. The Simpson Desert Challenge is being billed as the ‘World’s Toughest Long Distance Team Walking Event’. This Xtreme endurance challange will pit teams of adventurers together for a chance at becoming the first team to cross the Simpson Desert.
The Simpson Desert is a 170,000 square kilometer desert wasteland found in Australia. It is home to some of the world’s longest sand dunes. These dunes will present a formidable challenge to even the toughest of competitors as they try to navigate the sometimes 200 km by 40 Ft. high dunes in one of the world’s most arid landscapes.
Xtreme Peaks: The Meaning of Winter in High Altitude Climbing
November 30, 2008
Simone Moro and Denis Urubko have scheduled to pursue a winter climb on Makalu. Makalu represents the only 8,000 meter peak in the Himalayas to not have allowed a successful winter summit. Their assault on Makalu this winter brings their climbing partnership back together after taking a couple of years off to climb on their own. In that time, Simone Moro attempted a few winter assaults on peaks in the Karakorum, while Denis Urubko attempted a winter summit on Makalu last season without success.
The 2008-2009 Himalayan-Karakorum climbing season is building up to be one of the better winter climbing seasons in recent memory. Moro and Urubko will attempt to make the first winter summit of Makalu. Pavel Krupieka, Jan Krabec, and Milan Wlasak will try to get to the top of Manaslu, and all of this coming on the heals of the Field Touring Alpine Team capturing an Ama Dablam summit on November 22, 2008.
