Cobra Spit

Don't Do This

I am a huge fan of events that flirt with that line between Brave and Stupid. This, however, is just stupid.

When I first heard about the Cooper's Hill cheese-rolling competition, I envisioned a hummer-sized ball of cheddar tumbling down a mountain with giddy souls rolling down behind it.

Instead, small groups take turns hurling themselves down a hill after a wimpy, plate-sized round of "double Gloucester," and a good amount of the competitors get carted off by the paramedics waiting at the bottom. The organizers say they generally have 30-40 people in need of treatment each year.

Amazingly, the event was canceled this year due to safety concerns for the spectators after more then 15,000 people showed up to watch the 2009 event. Former competitor Mike Smith had this to say about the news: "As a cheese-roller of many years, I look forward to the chance to really injure myself each year. I have no idea how I'll hurt myself this year now."

Here's a great video with injury highlights

Another kind of Surfing

Warm snowboarding. Wetsuit-less surfing. 300ft high "waves." Yeah, your chips may get a little sandy, but it should be worth the sacrifice.

Where: All over the world.

An ideal place for beginners is Oregon, where you can find board rental shops and sign up for lessons. There are 40 miles of dunes on the central Oregon coast, and Sand Master Park offers rentals, lessons, competitions, and other dune amenities.

When: Summer recommended (Sand Master Park is open 7 days/wk from June 1st - Sept. 10th).

Risk Factor: Probably akin to that of playing in a sandbox, unless you go to sites in New Zealand, where one surfer managed to get himself killed.

Due to the complete lack of badass sandboarding pictures

in Oregon, here's what you can look like if you go in Dubai!

Check out this Sandboarding in the Sahara video for more inspiration

Too Close for Comfort?

Shark Week not enough for you? Get personal with a great white from the safety of your own cage.

When: Shark "season" for your chosen destination (NorCal is late September to mid-November)

Where: Day trips are offered in San Francisco and Oahu (cheapest option), but multi-day shark adventures are also available in more exotic places like Egypt and Jamaica... if only.

Why: Great if you're looking for that "I'm too young to die" feeling.

Fun Shark Fact: Great whites often bite unfamiliar objects to identify them. So don't worry - the 20 ft long, 5000lb creature approaching you just wants to take a nibble.

Shark adventure options here and here

Rim to Rim...to Rim

Ignore the warning signs and take on a spectacular(ly long) run/hike through the Grand Canyon!

This well known route spanning the South-to-North rim (or vice versa) challenges the best ultrarunners.

When: October recommended

Why: Walking is for people with long attention spans and ski poles.

How: Take Bright Angel Route from the South Rim. You'll be on it for 47.5 miles round-trip. If you take South Kaibab Route (41.2 miles), you have to avoid mules, work with steeper drops/climbs, and there are fewer water stops.

Group Effort: If none of your friends think this is a good idea (¿whaaat?), Club Fat Ass members make the trip each year. You can try to tag along BUT it is "invitation only to those with a note from their significant other stating they will not forget to pack their headlamp and space blanket." Single event membership = $25. Find them at ClubFatAss.com.

Risk Factor:

[Caption: Warning DO NOT attempt to hike from the canyon rim to the river and back in one day. Each year hikers suffer from serious illness or death from exhaustion.]

More details on surviving here