Mikael Strandberg: An Adventurer’s Life

Mark Pawlak    Our Experts     Adventure Travel, explore, explorer, Mikael Strandberg

Some people enjoy travel, others love it. For an adventurer, travel is everything. It’s their route from one place to the next, a journey that never ends.

For some, it is about conquering and claiming, proving oneself against the elements. But for the adventurer Mikael Strandberg, it really is more to do with understanding and reaching out to others.

Considered as one of the world’s 50 most important and famous explorers by The Royal Geographical Society, and now blogging here, he shares with us his remarkable experiences so far: read more

Parkour as an Olympic sport?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     olympics, paris, parkour, Running

News that Johnny ‘Sticky’ Budden is running from Paris to John O’Groats (1000 miles) is hardly a press stopper. But to hear that he is using the route as a Parkour course is: Hardcore Parkour.

Not only is the new street sport finding its footing here in the UK, its reach could stretch further still. Ask yourself: If BMX made the Olympics, why not Parkour?
OK, jump back: What’s Parkour? Born out of Paris, Parkour is sometimes better known as free running. It involves running on the street, through the street, and over whatever obstacle is set in front of you. read more

Game Over: Rugby star set to tackle Everest

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     everest, Nepal, rugby

When sports stars are put out to pasture, there are only so many routes they can take. One is to swap the team jersey for a coach’s blazer – not always a success – while another, is to pass on their experience, as a media pundit. Only a select few move into adventure sports. But those that do bring stamina, knowledge, and physical application: attributes that serve them well.

Take the case of Josh Lewsey: Formidable England rugby international famous for his truck-stopping tackle on Jonah Lomu, now preparing to ascend Everest; taking the most difficult route. Why, after years of physical stress and strain, continue to push your body to the limits? Because, it is what these people do. read more

When sports equipment fails

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     equipment

Sir Chris Hoy and team mates could have missed out on a Gold medal yesterday thanks to faulty pedals. Competing at the Copenhagen World Track Cycling Championships, the Olympic star snapped his right pedal as he readied for the off. No harm done – other than some tainted pride – but imagine it was a crampon or an ice axe?

We’ve all had it. Something frays, breaks or tears just when we need it most. Annoying yes, but for some sports people, the integrity of their equipment is all.

We are all guilty of craving the latest, the lightest and the cleverest in kit; all of which is far from indestructible – despite firms sometimes claiming otherwise. But it can and does fail. read more

China: Extreme or Serene?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     china, mountain biking, Overland tours, trekking

Experts seem to think China will crack the travel market. According to the secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, China will become the world’s biggest tourism destination within three years. A brave prediction perhaps, but not out of sync with the dragon’s recent business booms.

If it’s bums on seats, maybe Taleb Rifai is right. After all, we are talking about a country that is 9.6 million square kms in size, and as yet largely unexplored by most westerners. But, and it’s a big but: What does China have to offer the extreme sports community? read more

São Roque – Brazil – Snowboarding in the Tropics

Holly R    Tribe Adventure Travel Blogs     Brazil, mountain biking, São Paulo, Snowboarding, Surfing

São Roque is an hour’s drive from São Paulo. Head to the top of the biggest hill in the area and you will find a small park which includes a deadly mountain bike trail, a toboggan course and an artificial ski slope.  You’re not wrong in thinking that the majority of the population here have never seen snow, however this hasn’t put the teenagers off from wanting to give the slopes a go.

Two French riders were sent from Whitelines Snowboarding magazine to sample this tropical slope in Brazil.  Their day began with learning to handle the artificial slopes, but after an hour a couple of lethal rails were brought out and crowds started to gather. Certainly if you’re looking for a completely different snowboarding experience or even fancy breaking up your surfing holiday it might be worth checking out São Roque

Top 10 Off-Piste Ski Resorts

Tim B    Top 10 Adventure Sports Travel Lists     chamonix, craigieburn, gressoney, jackson hole, kicking horse, la grave, Skiing, valdez, verbier, whistler

Once a skier has reached a certain level of expertise their whole appetite for the sport begins to change. The pistes become narrow and confining. Fellow skiers transform into irritating and cumbersome obstacles. The black and red poles become the bars of a prison of predictability. Thus, the off-piste skier is born.

Straying off the Piste-bashed track to embrace nature in its purest form has become a world-popular activity. Provided you’ve got all the safety gear, there’s a world of off-piste skiing out there to explore, whether it’s ski touring to find the best views or heliskiing in the most remote locations. Here are ten highly recommended off-piste skiing destinations to get you started: read more