Snowboarding the West Fjords , IcelandPhotograph by Jason Hummel " It was so amazing riding 3 , 000 feet of steep terrain all the way to the Atlantic Ocean , " says snowboarder Kyle Miller of this line overlooking town of Flateyri and running right to the sea — with perfect snow conditions . " It was something I will never forget . "" We could just drive around , see a line that grabbed our interest , park at the bottom , climb , then ride back to the car , " says the pro splitboarder from Seattle . " Then repeat three times a day seven days a week . There are not many places in the world that provide such easy access to amazing terrain . " Kayaking Spirit Falls , Little White Salmon River , WashingtonPhotograph by Eric Parker “ Snowflakes were sticking to my eyelashes and blurring my vision throughout the day , ” recalls kayaker Todd Wells , seen here running Spirit Falls on the Little White Salmon River . “ So one final time before the falls , I made sure to clear my face of any accumulated snow . Paddling class V rivers in sub - freezing temperatures is never very comfortable , but as soon as my hands become numb the cold doesn ' t bother me as much . ” The Washington State native wore two full - body fleece suits to stay extra warm , and an Immersion Research dry suit to keep dry . Having first run this waterfall when he was 14 , Wells has now descended its roiling class V rapids about a hundred times . “ Paddling these waterfalls is risky and avoiding injuries is always on my mind , ” says Wells , who now lives in White Salmon , Washington . “ But I think that becoming comfortable on a variety of different smaller waterfalls has been the best way to stay safe on the bigger and more challenging drops . “ Spirit Falls is my favorite backyard waterfall , ” he says . “ For a solid class V paddler , Spirit is just about an hour ' s paddle from an easily accessible bridge , but spectators must scurry down a poison oak infested scree field to access the falls . ” Bouldering on Oahu , HawaiiPhotograph by Ryan Moss “ We found this boulder after being tipped off by a local hiker , ” recalls Justin Ridgely , owner of the Volcanic Climbing Gym in Honolulu , Hawaii . “ It ' s a short scramble through the jungle up a pig trail . The boulder is about 14 feet tall , and the problem [ the path that a climber takes ] is called ‘ All Boars Go to Heaven . ’” This spot , which is known as Boarlomana , is canopied by a large banyan tree and surrounded by bamboo . “ We shot this in the afternoon … the jungle is thicker there , which gives it that eerie light , ” Ridgely says . “ I spend a lot of time climbing and exploring Oahu and the outer islands , ” he says . “ I ' ve spent the past four years here developing the bouldering with the rest of the local climbing community . We ' ve gone from two areas to about 44 in that time . The bouldering scene here is amazing , and the aloha spirit is very present in the climbing community . ” Kayaking Waterfalls in Chiapas , MexicoPhotograph by Alfredo Martinez , Red Bull Content Pool " This drop is actually tricky , as the entrance is absolutely blind , " recalls kayaker Rafael Ortiz of this moment on Bolom Ajau , a series of five drops accessed from Agua Azul , a tourist site in Chiapas , Mexico . " You gotta trust a sequence of waves and finally a last curling one that will put you in the right spot . " Ortiz dropped this 30 - foot fall , then had a few seconds to figure out where he was before the next 50 - foot drop . " It ' s of huge importance to be there with someone you trust 100 percent , " Ortiz says , and in this case he was with his brother , Isidro , both from Mexico . " This is a special place to kayak because of the adventure it takes , the fact you are in the core of Zapatistan lands , the difficulty and character of the drops and , of course , the turquoise color of the water , " Ortiz says . Climbing Cliffbase , Hvar , CroatiaPhotograph by Emily PolarGetting the Shot “ I knew I had the photo when Kori Maughmer ’ s arm was out — it was the perfect spot in relation to the pitch of my camera and her position on the rock , ” says photographer Emily Polar . Polar joined four friends traveling and climbing in Croatia . With a local friend and guide , Polar scouted Cliffbase , a climbing center on the island of Hvar , before the climb . “ I knew sunset was the best time to shoot this location , so I scouted and saw that the profile of this particular route would be the best to capture the shape of Kori ’ s body against the ocean , and in such a stunning environment , ” recalls Polar . “ When Kori was shaking her arm out , I knew it would define her body and give more energy to the photo , so I was really excited that she took a break for those couple of seconds . ” Polar captured her photo just in time . “ Right after I got the shot , the route started to move behind the corner and I lost sight of the climber . So I was really glad that up until that point I could see her profile perfectly . ” Polar photographed with a Canon Mark III and a 16 - 35 mm , f / 2 . 8 lens Skiing Jackson Hole ' s Sidecountry , WyomingPhotograph by Jay Goodrich “ Once I popped the takeoff , I remember thinking ‘ knuckles to buckles ’ and then my mind went blank , ” recalls local skier Hadley Hammer of this cliff most commonly called Smart Bastard in the Jackson Hole Ski Resort sidecountry . “ Athletes always talk about the flow , or that moment when everything is still … and that was certainly one of those moments . The three seconds or so that I was in the air felt like three minutes . ” A trio of skiers , including Hammer , Jess McMillan , and Bryce Newcomb , was exploring the Tetons backcountry when they decided to scout the snowpack on this line . “ The area above was littered with sharky rocks and sugary snow , which made it less conducive to skiing fluidly into the air . ” Fortunately , the area had received nearly daily snowfall for a month . “ I volunteered to go first , ” Hammer recalls . “ I went in with more speed than I needed and passed the ideal transition spot , but the snow was soft and the landing gentle . " Ice Climbing Fearful Symmetry , Canadian Rockies , AlbertaPhotograph by Forest WoodwardGetting the Shot " When we arrived at the base of the pillar , there was another group with us who took one look and decided , ' No thanks , that ' s above our pay grade , ' " recalls photographer Forest Woodward , who took this shot of ice climber Graham Zimmerman in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta . " I actually wasn ' t aware of the ephemeral nature of the Fearful Symmetry route until we arrived in Canmore . Everyone spoke of it with a sort of reverence , " says Woodward . The group tackled a rough drive in Ghost Valley to make it to an area called Recital Hall , where this rare , icy route had formed . “ I understood immediately why the route commands such respect , " Woodward recalls . The team faced a tough climb in , and Woodward fought snow devils coating his gear in fine , frozen snowy dust . “ The added challenge of managing gear in inhospitable elements is part of what makes ice climbing such a niche sport , ” says Woodward . After his initial awe , Woodward was ready to photograph . “ Once the actual climbing began , I brought all my focus to bear , trying to capture Graham ' s experience in a single image that would tap into the emotions he experiences as a climber on a pitch like this , ” says Woodward . Woodward photographed with a Canon 5 D Mark III and Canon f / 2 . 8 70 - 200 mm lens . Kayaking the Mekong River , Laos Photograph by Ben StookesberryGetting the Shot “ The moment that I savor most in kayaking in extreme places is the one that is captured here . We ' re well beyond the point of no return , where the anticipation , excitement , and anxiety of the outcome meld into a singular focus and you become totally absorbed in the moment , ” says kayaker and photographer Ben Stookesberry . Stookesberry , one of our previous Adventurers of the Year , was part of the expedition with Chris Korbulic ( pictured ) and Pedro Oliva to explore the Mekong River in Laos . Stookesberry set up the framing for the photo and ran a one - second time - lapse while positioning himself at the base of the falls to support Korbulic in case anything went wrong . “ Pedro and I followed Chris into this maelstrom soon after the camera captured this photo , " he recalls . " Then the scariest hour of our 12 days on the Mekong began as we paddled eight kilometers to the nearest village of Hang Khon , Laos . ” The trio battled fishing lines strewn throughout the river that often harm native local wildlife . “ The river here is infested with countless fishing lines and nets that could have easily ensnared and drowned us that night . Luckily , we made it through this gauntlet , but the freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin has not been so lucky , ” says Stookesberry . Stookesberry photographed with a Panasonic Luminex DMC - GH 3 and a f / 4 . 0 , 14 - 140 mm lens . Deepwater Soloing the Musandam Peninsula , OmanPhotograph by Jimmy ChinGetting the Shot “ In some ways , shooting someplace new is great because you see everything fresh and with new eyes , ” says photographer Jimmy Chin . Chin , on assignment for National Geographic magazine , photographed climbers Alex Honnold ( pictured ) and Hazel Findlay as they put up new deepwater soloing routes on the knife - edge seaside cliffs along the Musandam Peninsula , Oman . See the story , " Impossible Rock , " in the January 2014 issue . Chin had photographed Honnold climbing in Yosemite for a previous assignment for National Geographic , but this story was on a much tighter time line . “ I had a lot more time to shoot the Yosemite story , and I was also much more familiar with the area , " Chin recalls . " I had less than three weeks to shoot the Oman story , which isn ' t a lot of time to shoot a feature story , especially when I ' m going to a completely new and remote area . It ' s great to shoot a place you know well , but I also love the challenge of showing up to a place I ' ve never been and diving straight in . " To get this photo of Honnold , Chin positioned himself on a ledge to the side of where Honnald was climbing . “ I knew the light was amazing and that I better nail the shot . I wasn ' t sure if Alex was going to be able to get out to the same point again , ” he says . “ I had imagined a shot like this , but got really lucky to get the perfect light and cool body position . Alex contorted and strained every muscle in his body to keep himself on the route . ” Chin photographed with a Canon 5 D Mark III and Canon f / 2 . 8 , 24 - 70 mm lens . Stand - up Paddleboarding Jaws , HawaiiPhotograph by Richard HallmanGetting the Shot “ Things at Jaws happen so fast , I wasn ' t sure it was even Kai taking off on the wave until my Skidoo driver pointed and said , ‘ Kai Lenny , ’ ” recalls surf photographer Richard Hallman . “ I focused my attention on the wave because I knew he was riding stand - up and even though the wave was small for Jaws , it was big for stand - up . He had a spectacular air drop . ” Lenny dropped into the wave , and Hallman continued to photograph the 20 - foot ride until Lenny fell . “ I knew right away with the few last frames in my camera that it was a particularly bad fall . My biggest concern at this point was his safety . ” Rescue Jet Skis rushed to help when Lenny resurfaced , and Hallman noticed Lenny ’ s foot was bleeding . “ I immediately took a photo with my 70 - 200 mm zoom camera — the zoom allowed me to see the severity of the cut . My experience as a former trauma nurse told me that this was a particularly bad cut , ” he says . “ Nothing about big waves is routine . I think that is the why big - waving surfing is such a draw for me , " Hallman continues . " It is daunting and challenging as a surfer and as a photographer . It truly is otherworldly to be pressed against the edge of so much energy and to watch these modern - day gladiators drop down these mountains of water . ” Climbing Hallucinogen Wall , Black Canyon , ColoradoPhotograph by John DickeyGetting the Shot “ I had never even seen the Black Canyon before this climb . Turns out the Black is infamous for a reason , ” says photographer John Dickey , who joined climber Josh Wharton on Hallucinogen Wall in Colorado ' s Black Canyon . “ I ' ve been shooting on big walls for over a decade and when I first stepped over the edge , it took me a minute to get my head right before continuing . “ I knew the Black had some pretty difficult lighting , so I went prepared with gradient filters and a strobe . Once I rappelled in and saw the lighting situation , I put away the filters and milked the contrast for all I could . I toyed with balancing the light using filters and in the end stuck with the high contrast , ” he recalls . In order to get the shots he wanted of Wharton , Dickey started climbing at 4 a . m . His goal was to get a head start on Wharton and then begin the long rappel at around 6 : 45 a . m . to intersect on the wall a few hundred feet off the ground . Dickey had his lighting and climbing thoroughly planned , but serious routes can give pause even to the most prepared . “ The biggest challenge of the day was at the start — those first minutes stepping over the edge of the wall . Whenever I get intimidated like that I focus on the task at hand : Check the harness , make sure the carabiner on my belay device is locked , double check camera batteries , and move on . ” Dickey photographed with a Canon 6 D and carried a lens . Winter Surfing in Cook Inlet , AlaskaPhotograph by Scott Dickerson " I would say that surfing up here is not very popular , " says Homer , Alaska , local Gart Curtis , seen here rushing back to the truck , with his friend Mike in the distance , after a winter surf session 30 minutes outside of town . " The conditions are fickle . Weeks can go by without waves . It ' s rare that the number of guys in the water exceeds single digits — and we know each other . " Curtis and his friends were navigating large , broken up pieces of ice formed by packed snow on the shore that gets soaked , refrozen , and then broken by the waves and tide . " They are a bit tricky , but it is faster to go along on top of them than to slog and weave through the heavy snow in between , " Curtis recalls . Gearing up to surf in Alaska ' s biting cold is critical . " You can still feel the cold through the wetsuit , but luckily it ' s warmer in the water than on the beach . I ' m wearing a 6 / 5 / 4 wetsuit , with 7 mm booties and mitts . I ' m also wearing a thermal rashguard and neoprene trunks , " Curtis says . " Some guys use battery - powered , heated tops , but I don ' t have one . And a couple of the guys I surf with put vaseline on their faces to block the wind on the really cold windy days … I might try that sometime . "" Hunting for breaks is a big part of the fun , " Curtis says . " Even finding a new sand bar a few hundred yards from a known spot , or a spot suddenly working at a different tide than what worked last season — that ' s a thrill . " Getting the Shot “ It was just above zero degrees , windy , snowing , and pretty dark outside , ” says photographer and surfer Scott Dickerson . “ There was no practical way that I could have photographed from the water given the conditions . The current was going much faster than I could swim , and there were large chunks of ice floating through the surf that would have been even more dangerous to me , considering my lack of mobility swimming with the camera . ” The surfers drove along the Alaskan coast , looking for waves that could be surfed at Cook Inlet . While watching his friends attempt to surf , Dickerson fought the extreme weather on the beach . “ The beach was a sloped sheet of ice that made it incredibly difficult to get out of the water because it required you to scramble uphill over wet ice between the surging waves , ” recalls Dickerson . “ I had to be careful to keep the camera lens protected , while also having to run through thigh - deep snow to keep up with Mike and Gart as they drifted down the beach in the strong current . ” Dickerson photographed with a Canon EOS 5 D Mark II and a EF 24 - 70 mm , f / 2 . 8 L lens . Mountain Biking in Virgin , UtahPhotograph by Christian Pondella , Red Bull Content Pool " I was thinking about a lot of things at this moment , but most important , where and how I was going to land , " recalls mountain biker Brandon Semenuk of the moment captured in this photo . He ' s seen catching some big air in a canyon gap during the three - day Red Bull Rampage competition held in Virgin , Utah , in October 2013 . Semenuk , who lives in the mountain biking hub of Squamish , British Columbia , would drop about 30 feet to land near the tire track seen at the bottom left of the photo . " The Rampage is one of the craziest mountain bike contests out there , " Semenuk , a third - time competitor , says . " The fact that you get to build whatever you ' d like to ride is what makes it interesting to me . " Getting the ShotAn eight - year veteran of the annual Red Bull Rampage , photographer Christian Pondella is familiar with creating unique photos at the crowded event . “ Each year the main challenge is finding out which riders are hitting what lines and jumps so you can get yourself in the right position for their runs , ” says Pondella . “ I always try to do something unique and different than what other photographers are shooting . A big part of the fun is running around the hills with all these great photographers . ” To get this angle , Pondella attached his camera to a 15 - foot pole and held it above the canyon to reveal the chasm Semenuk jumped into . “ I felt this perspective would bring you right into Brandon ' s world , a place very few people want to be . It shows where he is coming from and where he is going , as well as how precise he has to be to stick that landing . If his trajectory or speed is slightly off , he will either smack the wall or land in the flats , both being a horrific crash he would not likely walk away from . ” Pondella photographed with a Canon 5 D Mark III and a 15 mm fish - eye lens . Climbing in Kootenay National Park , CanadaPhotograph by Paul Bride “ They are magical and lovely , ” says ice climber Jen Olson of the ice stalactites and stalagmites seen here in Caveman cave located a half - hour hike from Upper Haffner Creek in Kootenay National Park , British Columbia . “ It ’ s so fun to take pictures of them , as well as the gigantic hoar frost on the roof of the cave . ” Olson is seen during a difficult section on a route called Neolithic . “ This is a big move , and when you release the lower tool , your body responds by swinging past horizontal to compensate . Controlling the swing is the crux of the route , ” says Olson , who lives in Canmore , Alberta , and works as a mountain guide and climbs competitively . “ On this route , you have all your weight on your arms for long periods of time , so the clock is ticking . You need to keep moving to keep holding on . ” Getting the Shot “ Jen had already been out to Haffner earlier in the year and mentioned that the ice stalagmites were really big — maybe too big . I had to see for myself , ” recalls photographer Paul Bride . When Bride arrived at the cave he found himself battling harsh shadows , wet conditions , and fluctuating temperatures . “ The difference in temperature within the mouth of the cave and ten feet outside was incredible . My camera kept fogging up and I was getting soaked from the dripping water . ” As Bride explored the cave to find the images he wanted to shoot , he saw this frame . “ Looking back , I remember thinking how cool the composition looked through my viewfinder . I felt like it could be a special image . ” When sun began to burn off the morning clouds , Bride knew he needed to get his shot before shadows overtook the scene . “ By hiding the forest behind the stalagmites , taking a reading from the natural light on the wall behind Jen , and a second reading from the ice stalagmites , I was able to create a balanced look throughout the image . ” Bride photographed with a Canon EOS 5 D Mark II and 16 - 35 mm , f / 2 . 8 L USM lens . Surfing Namotu Island , FijiPhotograph by Stuart Gibson , Red Bull Illume " I hope I get under this , " was the thought going through surfer Sean Woolnough ' s mind as he rose on this wave , named Love Shacks , off Namotu Island , Fiji . Woolnough had just paddled out for the first wave , missed it , and turned around to face the one in the picture . " I got sucked over the falls and rag - dolled over the reef , " the Australian says . Woolnough was not fazed by his precarious position . " I saw that the wave was quite large , but all was good because I had been in that position many times before , " says the Sydney local who has been surfing for 30 years . " I surfed the rest of the day getting some bombs and some more floggings . " Getting the Shot “ Nothing out of the ordinary , other than driving a Jet - Ski with $ 5 , 000 worth of camera equipment not in a water housing into huge waves , ” says photographer Stuart Gibson of taking this shot . On this “ average day , ” Gibson captured a photo of Woolnough floating atop a massive wave that has earned Gibson a spot in the prestigious Red Bull Illume Photo Contest ’ s Top 50 finalists list . After watching this break with Woolnough for years , the duo got the glassy - wave day they were looking for . “ I shot about 10 or 15 photos of this wave . I was kind of worried for Sean , but I knew he ' s good in big waves . I was more focused on taking a cool photo of a wave that we have chased for so long . ” Gibson photographed with a Canon EOS 7 D and 300 mm lens . Climbing El Chorro Gorge , SpainPhotograph by Forest Woodward " It was very cold and windy and damp , but we were in a really memorable location , " recalls climber Blake Herrington ( in green ) seen here with Scott Bennett at 150 feet above the water in the El Chorro Gorge , Spain . The 400 - foot , fully - bolted sport - climbing route is on the limestone Africa Wall . On their six - week trip to Spain , Herrington ' s closest calls came not on rock walls , but while driving . " We had some driving adventures on narrow streets in the big cities — and in Basque country , where all the road signs are written in the Basque language , " says Herrington , who lives in Leavenworth , Washington . Getting the Shot “ I had been eyeing this part of the gorge for the better part of two weeks , " recalls photographer Forest Woodward . “ To get this shot , however , I had a very specific vision for the frame I wanted , so I positioned myself accordingly and stayed there for the duration of the climb . ” “ For me this was one of those moments that you hope for as a photographer , ” says Woodward . Fortunately , he had the opportunity to get the shot he ’ d been planning for . “ I watched as Blake and Scott became specks , framed by the steep converging lines of the gorge and the river below . Working in unison their smallness echoed my own feelings of awe for the majesty of the gorge , and in the moment I snapped the shot it felt right . ” Woodward photographed with a Canon EOS 5 D Mark III and a 16 - 35 mm , f / 2 . 8 lens . Surfing Monument Beach , AustraliaPhotograph by Andrew Shield “ This moment was pure joy , ” says surfer Dion Atkinson of getting in the barrel of the popular Monument wave break located along the Great Australian Bight in South Australia . “ This wave is a very dangerous , heaving barrel very close to the cliff and on an extremely shallow reef . I was extremely focused at coming out of the other end ! ” This unique wave should only be surfed by expert surfers . “ I have spent a lot of time here , and it is not for the faint - hearted when the wave starts to get some size , ” say Atkinson , whose main goal is to qualify for the ASP World Tour . " There almost isn ' t a day that goes by over here when you don ' t get to share a few waves with a seal or a pod of dolphins , ” says the 19 - year - old Aussie who lives in Adelaide and has been surfing for a decade . “ I love it when they are around — especially when the dolphins surf the waves with you and jump all around you . ” And , in Australia , marine life is followed by its apex predator — sharks . “ The region is known for sharks , and there have been a few fatal attacks in the area in the past 10 to 15 years . But I always tell myself I have more to worry about on the drive over than a shark in the water bothering me , ” says Atkinson . Getting the Shot “ In South Australia the thought of sharks is nearly always present , ” says photographer Andrew Shield . “ This coastline is famous because of the great white shark documentaries filmed here . This day the swell was as big as the wave can handle and was beyond the skill of average surfers , but these are the conditions that pro surfers , like Dion , crave . " To get a photo that captured the wave , surfer , and coastline , Shield went wide . “ I chose to shoot this session with a 10 . 5 mm fish - eye lens to try to get inside the barrel with Dion and also to include all of the rock formation , ” he says . “ I was feeling good and fairly confident of having shot some decent images when a huge seal popped up next to me . After getting over my initial shock , I felt relief that the huge grey shape was not a shark ! This was short lived , as the seal started swimming at me and barking at me ! ” recalls a surprised Shield . Shield photographed with a Nikon D 300 and a Nikon 10 . 5 mm , f / 2 . 8 lens . Snowboarding Near St . Bathans , New ZealandPhotograph by Tim Pierce " It was a pretty surreal moment , and I can say strongly that I have never heard of anyone else snowboarding here before , " says New Zealander Mitch Brown , seen near St . Bathans , an old gold - and coal - mining town in central Otago , New Zealand . The two - time Olympian is doing a tail - grab jump over some of the clay banks that surround a reservoir called the Blue Lake . " With so much snow at the start of the 2013 Southern Hemisphere winter , our mission was to find an unusual place to go snowboarding and make the most out of the amazing snowfall , " says Brown of this trip with photographer Tim Pierce . " We achieved more than we set out to do . " Brown spends his winters in New Zealand ' s top ski town , Wanaka , then chases snow around the globe . Getting the Shot “ It is very unusual to see this much snow in St . Bathans , ” recalls photographer Tim Pierce . When the storm hit the region , Pierce jumped into action . “ This was the frame I had in mind . I headed to this location , as I had seen mountain bike photos from around the lake and wanted to shoot a snowboarder there , ” says Pierce . Working with snowboarder Brown , Pierce took advantage of the morning light . “ It was quite challenging getting into position to shoot this , hiking in deep snow , up slippery clay cliffs , with a lot of camera kit . ” The duo targeted a curvaceous gully . " It had a lot of amazing shapes and forms and a good line for Mitch to snowboard , " recalls Pierce . " We found a little roller that Mitch could pop off , and he completed the image with a stylish tweaked tail grab . " It was a game of waiting for the right light and the clouds to disappear . After a few hours in this zone , the clouds parted , light popped , and there was not a breath of wind , which resulted in the lake mirroring its surroundings . It was surreal ! ” Pierce photographed with a Canon 5 DMK II and a 24 - 700 mm lens . Heli - Skiing near Seward , AlaskaPhotograph by Grant Gunderson “ Alaska is the best spot , hands down , to ski steep , in a lot of snow , ” says French skier Richard Permin , seen here doing a powder turn as he came off a 50 - foot cliff he ’ d just jumped . The Gulf of Alaska is in the distance . “ But we struggle with the weather . Sometimes we camp in Alaska for three weeks with only one day on skis — or sometimes none . ” “ I skied five different lines , ” recalls Permin of this day near Seward , Alaska , with skiers Cody Townsend and Markus Eider . “ It was the most productive day of the trip . We starting skiing at sunrise , and we were done at sunset . ” The trip was so productive , in fact , that both Permin and Townsend got injured ( see more details below ) . Scenes from this trip will appear in a Matchstick Productions film called Days of My Youth coming out in fall 2014 . Getting the Shot “ I really wanted to capture something that showed the amazing location and gave the viewer a sense of place , rather than focus strictly on the ski action , ” says award - winning photographer Grant Gunderson of this shot . “ For this shot , we decided to post - up on a knife - edge ridge , where we would have our best chance to capture some great ski action with the amazing backdrop that Seward provided . " Though the landscape is alluringly beautiful , the skiers were fighting injuries and tough conditions . “ The biggest challenge we had shooting in Alaska was athletes getting hurt . Early this day Cody Townsend injured his knee , ending his trip and season . The next day Richard was caught in an avalanche — pretty damn terrifying too — which ended his trip and season . The conditions where absolutely perfect for the skiers to really push the limits this year , but anytime they are pushing it that far there is always a risk of injury , ” says Gunderson . On heli - ski shoots , Gunderson always carries two Canon 1 DX camera bodies , and an assortment of Canon L lenses , “ everything from 8 mm to 400 mm . I tend to ski with a very heavy pack as I always want to make sure I have the best tools to capture the moment , ” he says . Backcountry Skiing Mount Hood , OregonPhotograph by Richard Hallman " It felt like I was flying , " recalls skier Tommy Ellingson , seen here launching off a jump at 8 , 000 feet on the White River Glacier on Oregon ' s Mount Hood . " The jump had a little pop on it so we went up before we started to fall so that we could match up with the landing . There was a weightless feeling , for sure . " Ellingson and skier Josh Larkin hiked up to this feature from the Timberline Ski Area boundary line , about a 45 - minute trek . " I definitely appreciated my friend Josh for hitting the jump first , which took off a lot of pressure and allowed me to really take everything in . " Each time a skier hit the jump , he would have to hike back up , which took 30 minutes each time . " Immediately after the moment the photo was taken , I aired into the transition , where I landed and prepared for a small bump then a superfast traverse to slow down through sun - cupped dirty snow , but looking into a beautiful sunset , " recalls Ellingson , who has lived in the Hood River area for 13 years . " The speed for the jump got faster and faster , which was kind of scary because I didn ' t want to overshoot the landing . " Getting the ShotPhotographer Richard Hallman and Ellingson work together year - round , often at Mount Hood . “ In order to get more and more creative , we spend a lot of time climbing high on the mountain , going to very hard - to - reach places , ” says Hallman . “ I summited Mount Hood for the 50 th time last year , and fittingly it was with Tommy . There is no other person who can fill that frame quite like Tommy . His passion and skill are unmatched on Mount Hood , or anywhere . " Ellingson , Larkin , and Hallman were working with warm conditions , and the group faced melting snow and widening crevasses . “ The mountain was very precarious and extremely dangerous , ” says Hallman , an experienced mountaineer and volunteer search - and - rescue team member . Ellingson and Larkin had started working on the ski jump the day before the shoot . “ That night , Tommy sent me a message to get up to the mountain the next day to shoot , " says Hallman . I was so exhausted , but when I saw an iPhone photo of what they were planning , I thought , OMG — what a couple nutty buddies . ” To get the shot , Hallman worked a few different angles on the treacherous mountainside . “ The first couple jumps I shot from the uphill side . After that , I went around the other side and got a glimpse of what they were landing on — an A - frame house that looked like it could collapse at any moment , ” he recalls . Hallman photographed with a Canon EOS - 1 Dx and a f / 4 , 24 - 105 mm lens . Paragliding the Big Lost Range , IdahoPhotograph by Jody MacDonald " There were insane vistas for 7 . 5 hours , " recalls paraglider pilot Gavin McClurg of this record - setting flight over Idaho ' s imposing Big Lost Range . " Imagine flying over some of the largest terrain in the American West — at between 9 , 000 and 18 , 000 feet — underneath a piece of highly engineered plastic and some impossibly skinny lines . It was surreal . " McClurg flew from Sun Valley , Idaho , for 240 miles , breaking the previous North American Foot Launch record of 204 miles . " The conditions that day were the strongest I ' d ever flown in , " says McClurg , who lives in Sun Valley and has been been paragliding in Africa , the Himalaya , Europe , and over the Pacific . " When I was low , it was frightening , extremely stressful , and , of course , dangerous ; but when I was high , it felt like the world was in my hands . "" Sun Valley is one of the best spots in the world for paragliding because of the huge mountain ranges , a vast desert to the south , very strong thermals , and long summer days , " says McClurg . " We have only just touched the surface . Much larger flights will be done from here in the years ahead , I am sure . " Getting the ShotPhotographer Jody MacDonald often finds herself soaring in the clouds taking photographs from a paraglider , such as this shot of McClurg . “ It makes it easier to be flying with the other pilots because then you are in the same air as them and know where they can and can ' t fly depending on the conditions . You end up working together , ” says MacDonald . “ I don ' t really know the specific photos I want to capture until I ' m up there and see the geography of the landscape and what the light is doing , ” says MacDonald . “ The flying in this part of North America is unique in that it has a combination of huge mountain ranges , strong conditions , and remoteness which makes the exposure very high and the flying very committing . ” MacDonald photographed with a Canon EOS 5 D Mark II and a f / 4 , 24 - 105 mm lens . Surfing at Teahupo ' o , Tahiti , French PolynesiaPhotograph by Jon Frank “ While surfing you see so many different angles of the waves , ” says Aussie Mick Fanning , seen here on the world - class surf break Teahupo ' o off Tahiti . “ Jon [ Frank , the photographer ] really captured one of those moments with this shot . ” Fanning won the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2012 and is currently training for this year ’ s competition at the legendary surf break in August . “ Teahupo ' o is one of the heaviest , most perfect barrels in the world , ” says Fanning . “ There is so much adrenaline flowing through the body — it ' s very high energy . ” Getting the Shot “ Shooting from the water is my preferred perspective because there is a much greater chance of capturing something unusual and unexpected than when shooting from the beach or from a boat , ” recalls photographer Jon Frank , who had arrived with longtime friend Fanning in Tahiti two weeks before the surfing world tour competition in 2009 to test the waves at the famed Teahupo ' o surf break . “ There is a much higher risk you may not be in the optimum position for the best wave of the day or might miss the best action altogether , but I firmly believe that low risk equals low reward . ” To capture this unusual composition , Frank had a bit of luck and great placement in the water . “ There is a very tight window of opportunity with a picture like this ; everything is moving so quickly . There is certainly some luck involved . It makes up for the other one hundred times that I have just missed out on the peak moment because my timing was off by a tenth of a second , ” says Frank . Frank photographed with a Canon EOS 1 Ds Mark III and a 15 mm lens . rmfo . Windsurfing on the Pistol River , Oregon Photograph by Michael Clark , Red Bull Content Pool " I remember being really cold , but I wanted to get a few more moments in with the helicopter before the sun set , " says windsurfer Levi Siver , who was shooting for the upcoming film WindBoost . " I felt very blessed sailing late into the sunset having that beautiful canvas behind me . " Located a six - hour drive from Portland , this coastal spot is always windy and picks up swell from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres . " It ' s a pretty remote place , but windsurfers from around the world have been coming here for decades , " Siver says . " Using the wind as your energy , you end up riding five times as many waves as you would surfing , " notes Siver , who lives in Maui . " It used to bother me that mainstream America is so out of touch with how progressive the level of windsurfing is now . But popularity means more crowds , which equals less fun . " Getting the Shot “ I shot over 800 images in an hour while in the helicopter , ” says adventure photographer Michael Clark , who got this image while on assignment for Red Bull . “ With such high winds , the helicopter gets buffeted around quite a bit . Just keeping the windsurfer in the frame can be difficult at times . " A veteran of photographing from a helicopter , Clark worked closely with the pilot . “ Cody , of Apex Helicopters , was an excellent pilot and was able to get us down low , only ten feet off the water , and moving at the same speed as the windsurfer . ” As Siver aimed for the highest windsurfing jump , Clark kept shooting . " It was incredible to see him go to work , and his windsurfing abilities were absolutely incredible to watch , ” Clark says . Clark photographed with a Nikon D 4 and a Nikkor AF - S 70 - 200 mm , f / 2 . 8 G ED VRII lens . Biking the Mama Rumi Trail , Ecuador Photograph by Dan Barham “ Decades of foot traffic have worn a path deep into the hillside in some areas that is part foliage tunnel , part natural half pipe , " says adventure photographer Dan Barham of the Mama Rumi Trail in Ecuador . " It makes for a lot of fun on a bike . " Jorge Perez , owner of the Ecuadorian tour company Tierra del Volcan , originally ignited Barham ’ s interest , and the photographer headed down the mountain with local rider Fercho Gaibor ( pictured ) . “ Jorge spoke of a trail that was originally an alcohol bootlegging route that had been rediscovered and cleared by the local trail builders , ” recalls Barham . The trail winds down the mountain and through a banana plantation , ending in Telimbela in the Bolivar region . “ The trail goes through different climate zones throughout its relatively short course — from high mountain forest through rain forest and ending in a banana plantation , ” says Barham . Barham photographed with a Canon 1 D Mark IV and Canon 14 mm , f / 2 . 8 L II lens . Climbing Sea Cliffs , Acadia National Park , MainePhotograph by Tim Kemple " Come on arms , do your stuff ! " was the thought running through climber Hazel Findlay ' s mind as she climbed this hundred - foot route after a long day on the weathered sea cliffs of Maine . Findlay started climbing on some boulders just above the water ; climber Alex Honnold is seen below her . The trip was a stopover after a North Face team expedition to climb sea cliffs in Newfoundland . " The sea cliffs in Maine were quite small — a hundred feet . The wall in Newfoundland was probably 1 , 500 feet , " says Findlay . " But the cliffs in Maine are right above the water , so that makes it feel very dramatic and intense . " I actually learned how to climb on the sea cliffs of my own country , so it was really cool to visit some other sea cliffs on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean , " says the British climber who now lives out of cars and suitcases . " Often trips aren ' t about how good the climbing is , but the adventures you end up having getting there . " Skiing Portillo , Chile , Overlooking Laguna del IncaPhotograph by Christian Pondella “ We really didn ' t notice how amazing the ice formations on the lake were when we were shooting , ” says Aspen , Colorado - based ski mountaineer Chris Davenport , seen here at Portillo , Chile , overlooking Laguna del Inca . “ We knew the snow was amazing , but it wasn ' t until we looked at the images on the computer that night that we knew we had something special . ” Davenport and photographer Christian Pondella were in - bounds but had hiked about 20 minutes up above the Roca Jack lift into a zone where very few people go . “ We had two feet of powder , and then the sun came out and began creating those awesome formations on the lake , ” Davenport recalls . “ Timing is everything in the mountains , and we timed this shot perfectly . ” Davenport has been hosting events and ski camps at the resort for the past 13 years . " Portillo is truly one of the world ' s most unique and special ski destinations , ” he says . “ There is no town there , just a gorgeous , old hotel at the foot of the lake high in the Andes , which caters to all types of skiers and boarders , from families to freeriders . I bring my kids there every season because it ' s such a kid - friendly mountain — they can ' t get lost ! ” Backcontry Skiing Frazier Basin , Bridger Range , MontanaPhotograph by Ryan Krueger “ I had just dropped in off the ridge , ” recalls skier Luke Smith of carving this line in Frazier Basin in the Bridger Range near Bozeman , Montana . “ I was going pretty fast and the snow was sluffing a lot . It felt great , and I was just enjoying it . ” On this day the conditions were perfect — powder with a low risk of avalanches . “ I didn ’ t even notice the pillows on the way down , ” says the Alaska native who now lives in Girdwood . “ There are several pronounced chutes at the bottom of the face with large sections of rock between them , so I was pretty focused on finding my exit . ” Did you joy them ? 저작 자표 시비 영리 동일 조건