Associated with a healthy and adventurous lifestyle, extreme sports are gaining ever greater numbers
of fans across the world. Portugal provides confirmation of this trend,
with increasing numbers of athletes and international competitions.
This growing popularity is partly due to the extraordinary developments in the safety, sturdiness, and performance
of the equipment used, which attracts new participants and allows experienced exponents a greater scope for daring feats.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) originated in Hawaii and can be practised in the sea, rivers, or lakes/lagoons.
It is accessible to people of all ages and provides a complete physical workout. The most popular SUP spots in
Portugal are the Aveiro estuary and
the autonomous region of the Azores. This archipelago hosts an international competition that involves crossing between the islands of São Jorge
and Pico, a distance of 19 kilometres.
Skydive means exactly what it says. Free falling in the seconds before
the parachute opens leads to a huge adrenalin rush. The jump is made at
an altitude above 600 feet, usually from an aircraft.
The tandem version (under the control of an instructor) is one of the most popular extreme sports among those seeking an unforgettably intense experience. The Portuguese region of Alentejo offers excellent conditions for this sport.
Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports. Its origins can be traced to pre-historic Africa and Asia, where wooden boards and tree branches would be used to walk on the snow. Modern athletes wear boots made using space technology, with computer-designed skis. Portugal has a ski resort in the Serra
da Estrela, which has facilities for recreational skiing as well as training and competition. The first international medals for Portugal were won in 2012 by Andrea Bugnone.
A mixture of surfing and sailing, Windsurfing can be practised with or without waves, in the latter case using just the force of the wind. It involves a sail that is attached to a board in a way that allows full rotation and mobility.
There are several beaches with good conditions for this sport, including Viana do Castelo, Foz do Arelho, Carcavelos, Ponta dos Corvos, Guincho, Alvor,
and Martinhal. The Madeiran João Rodrigues qualified Portugal for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
An Olympic sport since 1998, Snowboarding involves standing on
a board and sliding over the snow, maintaining balance in the same way as when surfing or skateboarding.
In 2012, the city of Covilhã hosted Portugal’s first international winter sports competition, the Snowboard Urban Festival, which contributed towards qualifying for the Olympic Games. Portuguese athletes have also participated in competitions abroad.
