Summer is finally here, and with it comes a slew of sports that we’ve, unfortunately, put on hold during the winter season.

The weather is getting warmer, the flowers are in bloom and the sky has turned blue. You don’t have any excuse to be cooped up anymore, and you don’t need to dress like an astronaut in layers of winter clothes.Get outside and get your adrenaline fix.

With summer comes the opportunity to do sports you couldn’t practice in the snow, rain or cold. If you need a little inspiration, here are five great videos to get your blood pumping for summer sports.

Parkour

Though summer sports might have you thinking of mountains and beaches, we’ll begin close to the city. The snow has thawed and, now that you have open city streets to play with, Parkour is an option.Its close cousin, free running, is an option as well. These two sports are all about navigating a city environment in creative and acrobatic ways, just using your acrobatics. Check out the video above and you’ll be aching to go jump off some buildings.

Starting off in the concrete jungles of Europe, the whole philosophy of Parkour is not just to see the urban environment as obstacles, but as a whole new way of navigating the world. This video makes clear these guys are not only amazing athletes they’re mildly crazy daredevils, jumping between buildings and otherwise defying gravity for that thrill.

Climbing

You’ve been in the gym all winter, practicing bouldering and building up strength. Now, the weather has turned and the great outdoors, with all the rocks and boulders you’ve dreamt of while climbing under florescent lights, are calling to you. We know that you want to feel real granite and enjoy the sense of accomplishment of climbing a real mountain, not a gym wall.

Take a look at the video above of a climber in Mallorca. Climbing like this is called deep water soloing, as they have no ropes and no protection, except the water below.

Kayaking

For many of these summers sports, there are actually hardy souls that’ll attempt them in the bitter cold, with special gear. Put on enough layers and you can pretend it’s summer under your coat. One thing you can’t do, however, is kayak on a frozen river, or a dry river. Depending on where you live, the thaw, or the spring melt that turns a creek into a river, is a necessary part of the sport.

The video above of the Grand Prix in Quebec, a white water kayaking competition in a six stage competition, is astounding.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is another sport that goes well with sunshine. This is about being in nature, looking it in the eye and challenging it to a contest of split-second timing and skill.

The Adrenalists in the video above, however, didn’t think that was enough. They set out to build a whole series of ramps and other obstacles in the middle of their idyllic forest. When a challenge isn’t big enough, you have to get to work and make it more challenging.

Surfing

The ultimate summer sport. Yeah, you can put on the wetsuit (or even more heavy duty equipment) but really, when you think of surfing you imagine the blazing sun and the warm sand. Surfing is what you think of when you think of summer sports. We’re going to leave you with a tribute to the most impressive big wave surfing out there. The video above is truly the epitome of the perfect summer. Catching the big wave and riding it off into the sunset is all that matters.

Rafa Ortiz and his crew of kayaking Adrenalists always plan to make every trip an adventure, as seen in the video above. Their latest, history-making excursion to Mexico’s Rio Santo Domingo was no different.

In March, a group of accomplished kayakers led by Rafa Ortiz made history by becoming the first people to ever navigate, from top-to-bottom, a stretch of treacherous whitewater on Mexico’s Rio Santo Domingo. According to Red Bull, who financed the expedition and will release video early next year, the river offers, “the steepest navigable section of whitewater found anywhere on earth.” That section, which carves a path near the Guatemala border, tumbles over the rocks at an average slope of 1,900 feet per mile. According to GrindTV, it also features waterfalls measuring 80, 90, 60, 20 and 40 feet.

Evan Garcia, one of three kayakers to complete the section, articulated the danger found a the rapid succession of cataracts. “If you break your paddle or blow your deck, you have about five seconds to get your act together before you’re swept over the next 70 feet.”

Along with Evan and Rafa Ortiz, whitewater expert, Rush Sturges, also completed the section.

Check out an awesome set of descent photos, and sit tight for a full video production which should be available in February 2014. In the meantime, check out these extreme waterfall kayaking videos or the best GoPro kayaking videos.

Kayaking is an adventure sport we often associate with cool waters, raving rapids and waterfalls. Some have even taken to using the basic kayak as a way to Big Game fish, which may or may not end in a shark following your kayak. These Adrenalists, however, dared to try something we’ve never seen before: lava kayaking.

Kayakers Pedro Oliva, Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic, recently featured in our waterfalls dives list, ventured into harsh lava-infused waters on the skirts of the Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano. Kilauea, an active and volatile volcano on the Southeast slope of Mauna Loa Hawaii, was the stage for their adventure, which was featured on the Brazilian television program, Kaiak. The Kilauea volcano has been active since 1983, and over the last ten years, it’s formed about a square mile of newly created earth from calcified volcanic emissions. Though the group ventured into the steaming waters of 1,300-2000 degrees Fahrenheit without abandon, this is not something we advise amateurs to try. Pedro Oliva’s oar actually caught on fire during the adventure.

The group shattered all previous beliefs about what kayak can withstand, and proved to us that lava kayaking deserves a spot on our list of extreme volcano sports.

When adventurer Erik Weihenmayer calls whitewater kayaking “sensory overload,” he’s excluding the very sense that would fuel that overload for most: sight. Weihenmayer is totally blind, and yet he is one of the most accomplished adventurers on earth.

In 2001, he became the first blind person to reach the peak of Mt. Everest, as reported by Time, and the next year he completed the Seven Summits. His most impressive feats might be his ice climbing accomplishments, including ascents of ice waterfalls such as Losar in the Himalayas.

But white water kayaking might be the most insane thing Erik has tried yet. When New York Times caught up with him in mid November at the US Nationals Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was training for a descent down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon — a gorge of churning ricochet rapids that no blind individual has ever taken on before. Considered one of the world’s premier white water locales, the rapids are dotted with massive boulders and rife with waves up to 15 feet high. While Weihenmayer and his team will have the proper survival gear and a phone to reach the National Park Service rangers, they will be pretty cut off from civilization during their adventure.

Stayed tuned. A feat of Adrenaline-fueled bravery is in the making.

Cover Photo Credit: Fovea Centralis – flickr.com

There’s no harm in taking a nice quiet kayak ride down a lazy river. Unless you’re an Adrenalist, that is. Adrenalists feel the need to traverse the roughest part of any body of water, expending extra effort to get caught up in its vicious waves. Or, they’ll head over to a local rodeo playspot, where hydraulic pumps manufacture the kind of non-stop aqua-rollercoaster you crave. For an Adrenalist, the mere act of paddling and taking in scenery won’t cut it. They need to flip, twist and jump. To them, a kayak is more than a vessel for transport, it’s a prop used to achieve epic stunts.

Here are some of the world’s best freestyle kayakers.

Rafael Ortiz

Mexican-born Rafael Ortiz is as intense as they come, according to Red Bull. He’s known throughout South America and the world for his take-no-prisoners approach to the sport that frequently has him jettisoning off the tops of waterfalls over 100 feet tall. In 2005, he became the first Mexican ever to compete at the Freestyle World Championships. Since, Ortiz has been at the helm of Red Bull’s Screaming Falls project, a venture wherein he and other extreme freestylers try their luck against some of the most gnarly waterfalls in the world.

Nick Troutman

24-year-old Canada native, Nick Troutman, has already chalked up quite an impressive freestyle kayaking resume. He was the North American Champion in 2007, three-time Canadian National Champion in 2006, 2007, 2008, and the 2009/10 World Champion. Nick may be a proven tournament champ, but he doesn’t need a structured event to motivate him. Outside of tournaments, he’s descended the notoriously difficult Rio Alseseca in Vera Cruz Mexico, as well as the Niagara Gorge. In addition to tearing up rapids, he’s a film producer and has been featured on National Geographic TV. In short, there’s not a whole lot this guy can’t do.

Bryan Kirk

Bryan Kirk is a member of Team Wave Sport, a collective of competitive freestyle kayakers sponsored by Wave Sport, one of the premier freestyle kayak manufacturers in the world. Kirk certainly lives up to the expectations set by the high-profile company and the top-tier circles in which he paddles. We believe he’s one of the most exciting athletes leading the sport’s new vanguard. (Did we mention he manages Team Wavesport? Props to Kirk for being talented and a strong leader). Kirk’s extensive resume includes top-ranking finishes at numerous international competitions like the 2001 World Championship and the 2011 World Championships. He’s also a six-time member of the USA Freestyle Team. All those accolades aside, one of the most inspiring things about Kirk is his devotion to a pastime that requires all of his body and mind. When asked why he loves his sport, Kirk replied, “kayaking equals absolute focus, which is an amazing feeling.”

Emily Jackson

Many of freestyle kayaking’s extraordinarily-skilled practitioners are female, and few are more talented than Emily Jackson. In addition to multiple glitzy athletic finishes (Jackson was the 2009 Women’s World Freestyle Champion, the 2011 Silver Medalist, ranked #1 Women’s US Slalom in 2009, and has placed in the top three in all freestyle events entered since 2006), she is also an admirable humanitarian. She raised $30,000 for Soft Power Health, an organization that helps fight malaria in Uganda. Another fun fact about Jackson… she’s married to Nick Troutman. Their kayak trips must be incredible. Emily and Nick, if you’re reading this, maybe throw an invite our way for the next one?

Behold the power of water and meet the men who ride its most violent rushing rapids.

Matt King, Scott Baker, Dane Jackson, Momo Castillo, Rush Sturges, Sam Grafton… these are just a few of the names who put in some of the most insane paddles over the past 365 days and submitted video to the 3rd annual Rider of the Year Awards. Last year’s Rider of the Year, Dane Jackson, could win it all again, thanks in part to kayak skills like those on display in his best trick entry on the Ottawa River in Canada. Don’t count out Pat Keller either. His massive drop at Noccalula Falls in Alabama was simply breathtaking (though he’ll lose a few points for emerging from the whitewater without his paddle).

All of the year’s biggest drops and most creative lines will be combined in video form and made public after a panel of 100+ of the best paddlers in the world submit their votes. Keep an eye on the Rider of the Year website and Facebook page to stay up to date on the results.

For most people, the prospect of river rafting triggers thoughts of family time, relaxation and a meandering exploration of the outdoors. It sounds nice, and it is. All the same, most people need not venture out on these raging rapids. These rivers are the deadliest bodies of freshwater on the planet. What about Adrenalists? Can they tackle them? Well, that’s another story altogether. If you’ve got proper training and a more-than-healthy thirst for intense risk, why wouldn’t you jump right in?

For those of you feeling game, we’ve compiled a first-class list of rapids that will either give you a coronary or place you among a select few who’ve conquered the nearly insurmountable.

Amazon River

The Amazon River is the most powerful river in the world and accounts for 1/5 of the world’s river flow. Its shores are set so wide apart, and its rapids are so incredibly powerful, that it houses not one single bridge or point at which one could cross without risking their lives and getting very, very wet. To give a clear idea of the Amazon’s might, it’s reported that over eight trillion gallons of water discharge at its mouth each day, which is certainly enough flow to pummel would-be swimmers down towards its 150-foot depths. Unless you’re superhuman, you should think twice about tackling this one.

Forks of the Kern River

1,447 feet (441 meters) from the top of Mount Whitney, California’s highest point, snowmelt turns to water. That water, in turn, gushes through the close-set, white-water producing canyons of the Kern River. One of the most dangerous whitewater rapids spots is a region of the river called Forks of the Kern, the point closest to the Mount Whitney drop-off. There is even a sign placed along the stretch of highway that runs parallel to the Forks that shows the number of people killed (since 1968) trying to make it past that storied infamous trap. It currently stands at a staggering “257.” As the LA Times succinctly put it: “if you survive the 10-foot waterfall there’s a suck hole 20 yards beyond. Hit that wrong, and your wife is dating again.”

Congo River

Africa’s Congo River is one of the world’s most dangerous rivers. It is the continent’s most powerful and one of the world’s largest at 2,992 miles. Those not briefed on the Congo’s ferocity might think they’re in for a quiet afternoon sojourn and wonder what all the hype is about. They’ll continue to wonder all the way up until the point they reach the “Gates of Hell.” This part of the river is a 75-mile stretch of some of the most brutal rapids in the world. If you’re skilled (or lucky) enough to make it past 32 cataracts, each of which have a ruinous flow, the Congo’s parting gift is the Stanley Waterfall, and it’s resulting rapids will rock any rafter for over 60 miles.

Ganges River

Just when you thought your biggest problem was racing rapids and raging waterfalls, the threat changes completely. Bangladesh, India’s Ganges River is a notorious place of worship for Hindus and, as luck would have it, a breeding ground for bull sharks, one of the most ferociously anti-human breeds and a usual suspect in any shark attack. Rare in their ability to survive in fresh water, these hungry beasts are often found in the Ganges’s waters and are reportedly responsible for many injuries in the region. Though concrete figures have not been recorded, the number of gilled Ganges fear factors are myriad. That’s reason enough for us to stay clear.

Tsangpo River

Ask any authority to compile their list of rivers you should really just keep away from and Tibet’s Tsangpo River will be somewhere near the top. Known as “the Everest of Rivers” because of the extreme difficulty experienced by even the most seasoned kayakers, the Tsangpo claimed the lives of two adventurers on exploratory expeditions in the past 20 years. In 1993, a Japanese tour group lost one of its members and, 5 years later, former U.S. Slalom Team athlete, Douglas C. Gordon, was tragically killed during a mission sponsored by National Geographic. It’s largely due to these tragedies and the river’s infamously steep gradient that the Tsangpo’s earned its harrowing reputation.

Many people who visit the tropics or vacation near the ocean try deep sea fishing on a lark. They want to drink some beer, get some sun and do something exciting. For a couple hundred bucks, a captain will bring them out on a fishing boat with a large out-bound motor and the latest trolling gear, which you don’t even have to hold long before a fish is hooked. Maybe these vacationers will get lucky and their boat will snag a a nice Mahi Mahi. After some brief physical exertion, the captain will strategically maneuver the boat to keep the fish from getting away and they’ll be dipping their day’s catch in garlic butter sauce later that night.

Now imagine you’re fishing this way in a kayak. You’re not only fighting the fish, but the strong Gulf Stream current, the waves and possible inclement weather. That’s right, the 2012 Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament from Pompano Beach in Florida, involves a deep sea fishing mentality; except, in a tiny 12-foot kayak that only moves when you have the motivation and strength to paddle. Kayakers often end up 4 or 5 miles off-shore (sometimes dragged that distance by a single fish), where the small reef snappers and groupers are replaced by 40-60 pound Kingfish that would knock a normal kayaker into the water.

Competitors in the tournament go out a couple miles in a single kayak and fish open water “Dolphin, Wahoo, Kingfish, Black and Yellow fin tuna, African Pompano, Cobia, Snapper, Amber-Jack, Yellow-Jack, Almaco Jack and all Mackerel.” The biggest fish prize must be a plegiac, like a Kigfish, Dolphin or Cobia, but the restrictions on what is considered catch doesn’t encapsulate the danger and daring involved in the practice.

On the weekend of 15 September, 2012, a captain’s meeting will take place the night before the competition. The next day kayakers (and some paddle boats), will launch north of Pompano Pier and seek to become the Extreme Kayak Fishing champion as they head a few miles out and fight the sea’s largest open-water fish from their humble kayaks.

Only the craziest kayakers would travel so far from land while trying to find fish big enough to win, but still small enough they don’t get yanked over-board or pulled so far out to sea they can’t even find the coastline. There’s fishing, then there’s extreme kayak fishing. Adrenalists generally prefer the latter.

Think everything’s been done already? Think again.

Humans have been around for more than 200,000 years. We’ve crossed continents on foot, invented flight, performed some of the most impressive Everest climbs, had a director descend to the lowest point of the Earth and, finally, wingsuited without a parachute. There are, however, still milestones to be set. “Firsts” to be shouted across the earth for all to hear. You better get your game face on now, because these earthly firsts might not be up for grabs for long.

Swim Across the Pacific

In 1998, airline marketing agent Ben Lecomte became the first human to ever swim across the Atlantic Ocean. Starting in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Lecomte swam eight hours per day for 73 days, taking food and rest breaks on a trailing sailboat that emitted an electromagnetic signal to ward off sharks. It was not a “straight” or “unsupported” swim… far from it, in fact. Just over halfway through the journey, Lecomte succumbed to exhaustion, and had to break for a week on the Azores. By the time he reached the finish line in Quiberon, in northwest France, Lecomte had swam 3,716 miles. Crossing the Pacific will be more difficult. It is farther, at 5,500 miles from Japan to California. Still, it is doable… difficult, but doable. Lecomte is already underway on the challenge, as seen in our Epic Open Water Swims feature.

Gangkhar Puensum

At 24,836 feet, Gangkhar Puensum is the 40th tallest mountain in the world and the tallest mountain that has never been climbed. If you want to climb it, you’ll have to do so illegally; mountaineering on high peaks is banned in Bhutan, where Gagkhar Puensum rises above its Himalayan neighbors. The law was put into effect in 1994 out of respect for local customs, which hold high mountains as the home of the gods. Several other less sacred peaks remain unclimbed across the earth. Among those upon whose summits you can shout, “first,” are Kazakhstan’s Sauyr Zhotasy, Antarctica’s Mount Siple and Papua New Guinea’s Finisterre Range.

Wingsuit BASE Jump from Mt. Everest

Few mountain peaks provide suitable topography for a safe BASE jump. Everest might be one of those peaks. Nobody knows. Nobody’s ever tried jumping from the tallest mountain in the world while wearing a wingsuit. The closest we’ve come? In 1988 Jean-Marc Boivin jumped from the summit strapped into a paraglider. That feat was accomplished again last year by National Geographic Adventurers of the Year Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri. But at anywhere from a 6:1 to 10:1 glide ratio, paragliders provide considerably more forward flight than modern wingsuits, which have a glide ratio of less than 3:1. Still, that might be enough glide to get over Everest’s sides and into thin air.

Solo Row Around Antarctica

Last year, Stuart Trueman solo rowed 16,000 kilometers around Australia in a kayak. The journey took Trueman 16 months, but circumnavigating Antarctica will take considerably longer. With an area spanning 14 million square kilometers, Antarctica is nearly twice as large as Australia. Also, in case you didn’t notice, it’s at the extreme edge of the world, where weather is unpredictable and emergency support is unavailable. Already, at least one explorer has tried and failed to row around Antarctica. In 2009, Olly Hicks was 80 days and 1,600 nautical miles into the journey when he called it off due to a number of discouraging variables other adventurers will face when they take on the same challenge in the future: waves as high as 50-feet, near-zero temperatures, and icebergs that can send a fatigued oarsman to the bottom of the sea.

Hang Glide Across Texas

Now hang on… it’s not as crazy as you might think. Earlier this month, Dustin Martin and Jonny Durand went three quarters of the way, taking off in Zapata near the Mexican border and riding the wind north-northwest until the sun went down and the wind died. That was 11 hours later, when the two pilots landed in Lubbock, 761 kilometers from where they took off, which was also a new world record for open distance hang gliding. 200 kilometers more and they would have reached Oklahoma, a feat that was once considered impossible. Not anymore. Someone has to get there first.

If you were going to kayak the length of the Missouri River, from source to sea, you’d probably start at a place called Three Forks, where the Missouri is joined by the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin Rivers. It’s not the true origin, but it’s close enough… for most.

Not so for Australian-born professional adventurer Mark Kalch. No, he started eight days north of Three Forks, high in the Centennial Mountains where he used snow shoes to trek up to a small spring coming out of the ground, because he couldn’t rest until he found the source. Why? Probably the same reason he took a two-month solo trip across Iran… on foot. That’s just the kind of guy he is.

For Kalch, the Missouri River is the second leg of a grueling 22,000-mile tour to paddle the world’s seven longest rivers on each of the seven continents, reports the Great Falls Tribune. Having completed the 4,300-mile Amazon two years ago, he moved on to the 3,900-mile Missouri in mid-June of this year and has estimated it’ll take him about three months to complete by reaching the Gulf of Mexico.

Kalch’s journey would be impressive enough if fueled only by a love of the outdoors and a hunger for discovery, but he’s upped the ante by adding a socially-conscious element to his mission. Aside from the sweet temptation of conquering an immense challenge, Kalch’s motivated by the opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the Earth’s rivers. In fact, he’s tackling the Missouri on behalf of American Rivers, an organization dedicated to protecting the country’s rivers and streams.

In his small vessel, Kalch, who funds his excursions through motivational speeches, sponsorships and adventure journalism, keeps two weeks of food, a sleeping mat, tent, maps, stove, clothes, water and safety gear.

Next up on his world river tour: the Nile in Africa, Asia’s Yangtze River, the Volga in Europe, the Murray-Darling River in Australia, and the Onyx River in Antarctica. If we had to bet, we’d say Kalch will do whatever it takes to find the exact point of origin at each and every one.