Buzz
You may not remember it, but there was a time when sports served a higher purpose beyond entertainment and advertising. Early contests like fencing, wrestling, archery, and pentathlons were designed to train soldiers in warfare techniques. Eventually, sports evolved to focus on improving physical fitness and impressing women. However, the following list highlights modern sports that have taken a disturbing turn, becoming dangerous and pushing the limits of human survival.
10. Street Luging
Imagine climbing a steep hill on a busy highway, lying flat on a skateboard, and careening down. You gain speed, hoping to avoid disaster. The challenge: no brakes, your body inches from the asphalt, and you're exposed to passing vehicles—your silhouette barely larger than a puddle. One small mistake, and you'll end up as little more than a smear on the road.
9. Heli-Skiing
Some things are so dangerous for a reason—it's almost as if nature is warning us with a divine 'Don’t do it'. Yet, people still fork out up to $500 for a helicopter ride to pristine snowcaps, where they jump into untouched powder and ski in remote areas, right next to avalanche zones. Even the helicopter ride itself carries risk, with fatalities occurring during trips to pristine slopes (such as Frank Wells, the former president of The Walt Disney Co., who tragically died in a 1994 helicopter crash while heli-skiing).
8. Big-Wave Surfing
Let’s not kid ourselves: surfing is fun, and it’s a great way to impress bikini-clad girls. But when a sport has rules for dealing with sharks, it’s clearly not meant for those with fully functional brains. Big-Wave Surfing takes things to a whole new level by towing surfers into monstrous 50-foot waves capable of flattening entire villages. If the sheer power of the wave doesn’t take you out, there’s always the risk of crashing into submerged rocks or being slammed by your own board, which could fly at you like a Randy Johnson fastball. And where would that leave you at the next beach party?
7. Bull Riding
Rodeo originated as the athletic display of ranching, showcasing key skills from cattle ranching in the Old West. But there’s absolutely no reason anyone should ever ride a bull. The only real outcome of this activity is gaining a new appreciation for your own job—or lack thereof. Sitting atop 1,800 pounds of enraged, jumping bull (a result of either rope-tightened testicles or TASERING) often results in the rider being thrown 10 feet into the air, only to land on hard ground, covered in dirt and feces. And even if you survive without breaking bones, there's still that bull to deal with—he’s not happy.
6. Bull Running
The Running of the Bulls (or 'encierro') is a perilous tradition where people race in front of bulls released along the streets of a town. While there are several of these events, the most famous takes place in Pamplona, Spain, which was immortalized in Hemingway’s 'The Sun Also Rises' and 'Death in the Afternoon'. The goal is to guide the bulls from their off-site enclosures to the bullring. Anyone over eighteen with more courage than common sense (myself included at that age) is allowed to join. Each year, between 200 and 300 participants are injured, mostly from falls, and since 1910, 14 lives have been claimed in Pamplona’s Running of The Bulls.
5. Cheerleading
Forget the padded helmets and shoulder guards—true danger lurks on the sidelines, where adrenaline and estrogen merge in a sport that's becoming more recognized for its risks. With over 20,000 cheerleading-related injuries reported annually, it’s the most injury-prone sport for women. Common injuries include broken legs and spinal damage. Think of it as diving without water, with distracted co-eds acting as the surface. I’m all for the cute girls in short skirts (especially those rocking USC sweaters), but this sport really needs to prioritize safety.
4. Motorcycle Racing
Motorcycling is considered the deadliest motorsport on the planet. A prime example is The Isle of Man TT event, which boasts a history of over 100 years. However, in that time, more than 220 lives have been lost. Riders are tasked with keeping their balance as they navigate various hazards like rocks, trees, and even insects on their helmets, all while speeding at breakneck speeds. And let’s not even get started on the X-Games nonsense. Remember Travis Pastrana, it’s all fun and games until someone gets …
3. Cave Diving
This sport was born from the idea of hiding a body. Take the inherent dangers of diving—already a risky activity—and add to it the challenge of exploring unknown caves, freezing temperatures, limited visibility, and tight spaces. And don’t forget the pressure of your dwindling air supply—you can’t simply rise to the surface to catch a breath (risking 'the bends'). On top of that, some caves are inhabited by wild animals. Since the 1960s, over 500 people have died in cave diving incidents, many of them expert divers or instructors. Due to the extreme risks, the National Speleological Society defines a “successful” cave dive as one you return from. Perhaps the truly wise definition of a successful dive is one you don’t attempt.
2. BASE Jumping
Once, we used to call this behavior 'attempted suicide'. BASE jumpers willingly throw themselves off Buildings, Antennas, Spans, or Earth, relying solely on a parachute to avoid ‘deceleration trauma.’ In this sport, there’s no need to keep score—the winner is simply the one who survives. The unlucky ones either slam into the object they jumped off of or suffer bone-breaking impacts. Each year, between 5 and 15 people lose their lives, according to Harry Parker from The International PRO BASE Circuit. This activity is illegal in most places, and for good reason. R.I.P. Slim.
1. High Altitude Climbing
Let’s break this down: a sport that has a fatality rate and absolutely no chance of seeing women in bikinis. No thanks, I’ll just buy the $945 North Face jacket and read 'Into Thin Air'. These days, there’s roughly one death for every six successful summits of Everest, and you’re bound to pass corpses along the way. Real mountaineers face every conceivable danger, including drowning. Gravity waits its turn while hypoxia, hypothermia, frostbite, and pneumonia all make their moves first. Even a minor injury can be deadly, since rescue helicopters can’t reach you and your companions may be too exhausted to assist. But if you do make it to the summit (you’ll likely have to stand in line), keep those sunglasses on or you’ll fry your corneas from excessive UV exposure. Not exactly what you had in mind, huh? So far, 179 out of 1,300 Everest climbers have died, but the death rate has begun to drop since 1990.
