Snowkiting Harmful To Reindeer, Scientists Say

by Sean McLachlan on


Snowkiting is becoming big in Norway. At first glance it looks like some extreme fun in harmony with nature. After all, you’re just zipping across the snow while being dragged by a kite. It looks environmentally friendly.

Not true, says a new scientific study. The BBC reports that Norwegian scientists have discovered the kites spook reindeer and may have a negative impact on their population.

The scientists studied the response of reindeer to skiers and snowkiters and found that the reindeer showed a much greater fright response to snowkiting. They theorize that it’s the swooping kite that scares the animals. Because the kite is visible from farther away than someone on skis, reindeer are running far away. This may limit their feeding and breeding grounds.

The study concludes that controls need to be put in place to ensure reindeer aren’t harmed by this new craze.

Video: Russian Bungee Jumper’s Eyes (Nearly) Pop Out Of Head

by Laurel Miller on

If you’ve never bungee jumped, I think a Reddit commenter’s description of the activity as a “pants-shitting good time” is dead-on. Said commenter was referring to the experience of a young, newbie Russian bungee jumper in the LiveLeak video below.

This kid’s facial expressions are humorous pre-leap (a combination of the camera angle and his huge, puppy-dog-meets-Kermit-the-Frog eyes), but it’s at minute 1:45 that things become priceless. Hope he’s wearing adult diapers.

[Via Reddit]


Video Of The Day: Crazy Bikers Race Down Glacier

by Libby Zay on

It appears as though crazy bike stunts and dangerous urban bike courses just aren’t enough of an adrenaline rush anymore. In Saas-Fee, Switzerland, bikers push riding to the extreme as they pedal down a glacier in a death-defying race. A handful of the 142 riders mounted cameras to their bikes and helmets so us less adventurous (and perhaps more sane) types can get a feel for the crazy race. Riders reached speeds over the 80 mph mark as they dashed over ice and snow from a starting height of 3,500 meters to 1,700 meters. This year’s winner, Charlie Di Pasquale, completed the race in 7:31. Anyone out there up for giving it a try next year?

Video: Daredevil Russian Teens Film Their Insane Bridge Climb Above Russky Island

by Melanie Renzulli on

Back in September, Gadling brought you news of Ukrainian teens capturing an insane bridge climb over the Moskovskyi Bridge in Kiev. But Russian teens recently topped this daredevil act with their own ascent of the recently completed Russky Island Bridge, which finally connects the very isolated island in eastern Russia with Vladivostok and the mainland.

Eighteen-year-old Raskalov, one of the Russian teens in the video, has devoted a blog to his extreme, free-climbing endeavors. The mind-blowing photos on his blog are from atop Russia’s tallest structures and include gorgeous scenery of famous Moscow squares, glimpses of snowy Siberia and more.

We recommend you watch the following video while on solid ground else you may get vertigo.


Video: Kayaking Down Waterfall

by Elizabeth Seward on

Kayaking is an activity I find to be largely leisurely. I might once in a while push myself a little harder than usual while kayaking. I might even break a sweat. But I certainly don’t ever kayak down a waterfall. Perhaps I’d try it if I felt mostly safe, but what these guys are doing in the above video doesn’t strike me as remotely “safe” – although I’m sure they’re taking all kinds of precautions. It sure is fun to watch, though. This video is shot and edited well. I found it on the Eddie Bauer Vimeo page, which appears to have zero traffic, more or less. Despite the lack of promotion, this video is both informative and inspiring. Kudos to these kayakers – I envy their apparent disregard for death.