Top 5 Outdoor Videos of 2010

As an organization that is constantly outdoors ("Outward Bound" is definitely no misnomer), we thought it necessary to compile a list of our favorite outdoor videos from 2010. Although the criteria was only loosely based on material that sparked our imagination for new experiences, made our jaws drop, or was just too awesome to miss, there is certainly one common denominator: these people are clearly dedicated to following their passions and continually exploring their interests which deserves massive kudos as far as we're concerned. 

That being said, let's start from the top.

1. Dark Side of the Lens - Mickey Smith, well-known surf photographer, put this short story together for the crew at Relentless Energy. In the words of the top rated comment on YouTube it is "One man's passion in life PERFECTLY captured. What a stunning coalescence of words, thoughts, music, and images." *Although the opening scenes are worthwhile, you might want to skip to 1:30 where the narration begins. Keep in mind, he EVEN writes the music.

 

2. Dream Result - Winner of the People's Choice Award for Radical Reels at the oh-so-amazing Banff Mountain Film Festival, this documentary trailer will absolutely change the way you think about whitewater kayaking. We do our fair share of boofing (probably the strangest technical term ever) here in Costa Rica, but these guys are in a league of their own. We were going to select Tyler Bradt's recent world record waterfall drop, but you'll catch glimpses of it here anyway:

3. Wingsuit Base Jumping - The next time you get into a what always turns into a heated debate about which super power you would choose, cite this video because it proves that flying is no longer limited to Marvel Comics characters. "Moot point, dude, humans CAN fly." But for real, "these guys are just buzzing the wall, like scraping their fingernails just about on ledges at 100 miles an hour." Impossible not to watch.

4. Ruben Lenten Kiteboarding - Making other kite-related sports look like a cute shy kitty in comparison, Ruben Lenten does things with a kite and a board that seem to have complete and total disregard for the laws of physics. The best part about the wipe outs: they bear a striking resemblance to the recent rash of birds falling from the sky. While there were a number of clips to choose from, this one had the most bearable soundtrack.

5. Crashed Ice - 2010 was a big year for the sport of crashed ice. And yes, I used the word sport intentionally because it combines elements of ice hockey, track and field, Nascar, and boxing. In fact, it's kind of the ultimate sport. The clip features the highlights of the 2010 season, which saw huge growth. Odds are we're not participating down here in Costa Rica any time soon, but either way, 50,000 people at the finals aint nothing to sneeze at.

What outdoor videos from 2010 caught your attention? What deserves to be mentioned? Feel free to let us know in the comments section as well as your general thoughts. And let us know if you find anything in the coming year!