The Golden State’s breath-taking natural environment, from snow-capped mountain peaks to wave-swept coastlines, has made it a go-to destination for action sports enthusiasts for decades. Many of those sports, such as surfing, mountain biking and rock climbing, were also developed or taken to new heights here by legendary figures. So when it comes to heart-pumping thrills, eXtreme marks the spot right in here in California.
Surfing
As California’s signature adrenaline sport, surfing has been part of the state’s DNA since a trio of Hawaiian princes first rode some redwood boards off the coast of Santa Cruz in 1885. California made surfing mainstream, leading the way with everything from board innovations to fashion lines and legendary contests. And surfing royalty still gather here for the fabled breaks and pro competitions, including the Mavericks big-wave meet in Half Moon Bay.
Kiteboarding and windsurfing
We’re not exaggerating when we say that California has some killer spots for harnessing the rel="noopener noreferrer" power of the wind. From San rel="noopener noreferrer" Francisco Bay and Sherman Island in the Sacramento rel="noopener noreferrer" Delta to Pismo Beach and Jalama Beach County Park on the Central Coast, kiteboarders and windsurfers will be blown away.
Skiing and snowboarding
When one black diamond just isn’t enough, California’s ski areas — particularly those in the High Sierra — offer the wildly steep and challenging runs you’re craving to carve. Snowboarders will find all the rails, jibs, pyramids and boxes rel="noopener noreferrer" they can handle at three of TransWorld Snowboarding’s rel="noopener noreferrer" top 10 North American terrain parks, including number-one rel="noopener noreferrer" ranked Bear Mountain, Mammoth Mountain and Northstar California Resort.
Mountain biking and road cycling
Mountain biking was rel="noopener noreferrer" born in California on Mount Tamalpais in Marin and Sierra ski resorts have carried on the tradition, turning winter ski runs into sensational summertime bike trails (Mammoth Mountain even stages an annual Kamikaze rel="noopener noreferrer" Bike Games). Road cycling enthusiasts can compete in gran fondos, long-distance and multi-day events throughout the state, from wine country to the desert.
Mountain and rock climbing
Yosemite remains the granddaddy of American climbing experiences, the site of evolutions that have redefined the sport and a place that continues rel="noopener noreferrer" to draw world-class climbers from around the globe to push the limits of strength and endurance. California has many other peak destinations, too, like majestic, snow-covered Mount Shasta; Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the rel="noopener noreferrer" lower 48 states; and Joshua Tree National Park, with its surreal desert landscape.
Trekking
If you’re looking for more than just a walk in the woods, how about taking on the storied Pacific Crest Trail? It begins just north of the Mexican border and doesn’t end until it hits Canada, 2,600 miles away.
Whitewater rel="noopener noreferrer" rafting
Sierra snowmelt moves California to the top of the class… Class V, that is. That’s the designation for the scariest, gnarliest rapids you can navigate and live to tell the rel="noopener noreferrer" tale. You’ll find them at places like rel="noopener noreferrer" Cherry Creek, Clavey Falls on the Tuolumne River, the North Fork Yuba River and the California Salmon River.
Shark diving
Ready to go nose to nose with a great white shark? Then there are companies in San Diego and San Francisco rel="noopener noreferrer" who can make your dreams (nightmares?) come true. Clamber into a shark cage and get up-close and personal with one of the world’s most fearsome predators.
Skydiving
If a window seat just isn’t good enough, how about jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet? California has plenty rel="noopener noreferrer" of options, including the chance to take it up another level with Skydive Monterey Bay’s 18,000 foot jumps, which give you plenty of time to take in the fantastic coastal vistas, or practice your aerial moves in one of the state’s indoor wind-tunnel skydiving facilities.
Paragliding and hang gliding
The Torrey Pines Gliderport rel="noopener noreferrer" in San Diego is one of the world’s top spots for non-motorised flight. Set atop the 300-foot cliffs above Black’s Beach and adjacent rel="noopener noreferrer" to the renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course, the views are sublime.
Flying
Slip the surly bonds of earth in any number of flying machines around California. You can choose from hands-on acrobatic stunt flying to roaring through the skies aboard a vintage Second rel="noopener noreferrer" World War fighter plane, or skim just feet above the ocean in an ultralight rel="noopener noreferrer" and oar on desert thermal winds in a glider, just don't forget to fasten your seatbelt.
Motorsports
You’ll also rel="noopener noreferrer" want to buckle up for some high-octane excitement, rocketing around a track in a Formula One-style racing car or an exotic supercar like a McLaren or Lamborghini. You can start your engines with the Allen Berg Racing School at the Laguna rel="noopener noreferrer" Seca Raceway in Salinas or Exotics rel="noopener noreferrer" Racing in Southern California.
ATVs
Off-road warriors will rel="noopener noreferrer" want to check out Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. It’s an ATV playground offering more than five miles rel="noopener noreferrer" of beach and sand dunes along the Central Coast.
Marathons and triathlons
Extreme athletes can test their mettle at annual races and triathlons set in uniquely Californian locations. Try to Escape From rel="noopener noreferrer" Alcatraz in San Francisco or take on the Graniteman Challenge in Mammoth Lakes, or perhaps the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon. where live bands accompany along the course. Trail runners will want to take note of events like the Dipsea Race in Marin, the country’s rel="noopener noreferrer" oldest trail run, dating back to 1905, and the pulse-pounding Mount Baldy Run-to-the-Top race, where the route gains 4,000 rel="noopener noreferrer" feet in just over seven miles.
Flyboarding
From lakes to the ocean, flyboarding rel="noopener noreferrer" is taking off. This new technology uses water jets to propel riders up to 50 feet in the air in an Ironman-like fashion. No crime-fighting required.
Zip lines and bungee jumping
If you like your adventure hanging by a thread, California offers plenty of opportunities for zip lining and bungee jumping, from the redwoods to Gold Country to Catalina Island.
For true boasting rights, adrenaline junkies can also catch the Winter Wave. That’s the winter experience of skiing and surfing in the same day. Yup, thanks to the proximity of ski areas like Big Bear and Mt. Waterman to the SoCal coastline, it’s all possible.
For those who aren’t on their way to X Games fame, not to worry… just about all of the above activities have entry-level experiences available for novices. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself, not forgetting the spiders.