Take The Snow By Storm: Must-try Winter Sports For Dare Devil

For true die-hard adrenaline junkies, the winter months of cold and icy weather are not enough to contain them. The colder climes offer the perfect canvas for the creation of the best kind of dare-devil art. All that is required is a sense of adventure and nerves of steel to participate in these winter sports; travel insurance wouldn’t hurt either! I’ve travelled the world and have gathered a collection of the best must-try adrenaline-pumping winter experiences.

Above and Below

Contrary to popular belief, excitement can be found down below in the icy weather. If you are ready for a truly other-worldly experience head to Tignes in France for ice diving.

Expert divers toss aside their thermals and woolly jackets in favour of scuba gear that lets them sink into the dark, soundless depths of the frozen lake. And the best part is that you can come too! The world under the thick layer of solid ice comes alive as air bubbles capture the glinting rays of sunlight. If you can contain your screams terror (which no one will hear anyway) it is said to be a captivating and almost ethereal experience.

Take to the Air

Although it may not be classified under the category of ‘winter sports’, travel insurance will still cover the adrenaline pumping activity of zip lining. La Tyrolienne is the latest attraction to hit the top ski resort of the Trois Vallees. Skiers, snowboarders and all general winter enthusiasts can finally take flight for an extended period of time as they literally zip from the ski areas of Orelle and Val Thorens.

To be precise, that would be flying across the snowswept landscape at an altitude of 3230m, reaching speeds of up to 100km per hour. The experience is being touted as almost as close as you can get to “mimicking the journey of an eagle in flight” – probably complete with screams as well.

Don’t Knock it Till You Try It

If necessity is the mother of invention then boredom must be her delinquent son. Boredom must surely be to blame for the genius creation of Shovel Racing. However, it does actually require nerves of steel, some degree of skill and an unquenchable thirst for adventure which is, of course, any true daredevil’s magic combination.

After a lengthy hiatus due to numerous ill-advised runs and their outcomes, Shovel Racing has returned! Practice may or may not be necessary for this one, but entrants only need to grab their trusty shovel, sit back, and prepare to hurtle down the snow-covered slopes in the hopes of achieving glory in the annual Shovel Racing World Championships held in February. Um, good luck?

The Cold Won’t Stop the Adrenaline Pumping

The adrenaline rush found when pitting yourself against the worst that Mother Nature can throw at you is like no other. The different activities available for winter daredevils are proof that the rush can be achieved, but may require some creativity and an open mind. Before you leave for that winter adventure, be sure to secure good winter sports travel insurance so that you can truly throw caution to the icy wind.

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of InsureMore, an award-winning team of specialists in global single trip, annual, family, business and winter sports travel insurance. Besides offering great deals on travel insurance, Patrick also collects and shares the best free travel competitions to help his clients get the most out of their holidays.