Was FDR right when he said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”? How many times have you seen this bumper sticker? It’s really not that hard to slap a bumper sticker on the back of your jacked up 4×4 and think you’re a badass. Some of the clowns rolling around in my neck of the woods adorn their mud-mobiles with bumper stickers and a healthy set of bumper nuts. Even these guys don’t have what it takes to handle the top 10 scariest hobbies. I assure you that any of the next 10 hobbies, bumper nuts or not, will loosen up your sphincter for at least a split second.
10. Sky Diving
Anyone will tell you the scariest part of sky diving is right before you leave the plane. After that it’s just the thrill of a lifetime.
9. Kayak Shark Fishing
Shark fishing from the beach is one thing, but pulling an 8′ shark onto your kayak is completely another which is why we will like to recommend you the best baitcasting reel under 50. Just how crazy do you have to be to let one of these guys pull you around the ocean?
8. Rattlesnake Roundup
The gimmick at a rattlesnake roundup is to go out and hunt down as many rattlesnakes as possible. Every year there are some 20,000 snakes pulled from their dens, weighed in, milked for their venom then cooked up for the masses.
7. Cave Diving
You might not think cave diving would be that scary until you’re there. Its easy to get lost, hung up on the rocks, or just simply run out of air due to lingering a bit too long with breathtaking views like this.
6. Glacier Surfing
Okay. Head to Alaska and find your favorite glacier. Wait around in freezing cold water… for it to break off. When it does, ride the tidal wave on a surf board while the ice chases you down. Holy Crap!
5. Storm Chasing
Getting up close and personal with a tornado isn’t my idea of a good time.
4. Bull Fighting
Matadors and the thousands of yearly participants in the Running of the Bulls festival all have one thing in common. They love the bulls. I just don’t get it. Sure you can dodge him a couple times but eventually he’s gonna slip that horn in your sweet spot. See, I told you we’d loosen up that sphincter.
3. Lion Hunting
Hunting. Not so scary. Becoming part of the food chain…now that’s scary! It just goes to show you how scary nature can be.
2. MMA Fight
Sure these guys are million dollar prize fighters, but there are thousands of kids out there doing this as their hobby. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good MMA match. I just can’t imagine taking a punch from these animals let alone a submission hold where my sphincter starts leaking 😉 Several guys I’ve talked to say it doesn’t hurt after the first punch. Give me a break.
1. Noodling
For those of you not familiar, noodling is basically fishing with your hands. A noodler feels around the snake infested water with his hands and feet for a large hole. Then usually goes underwater to ram their fist down a catfish’s throat. The catfish (the largest of which can be 50-70 lbs.), will latch on to the fisherman’s hand, trying to protect it’s comfy home. The noodler then has the task of dragging their catch (still latched onto their arm) out of the water and either onto shore, or into a boat. On the plus side, if they manage do all of this before they run out of air, and then retrieve their arm from the grip of the catfish’s many teeth… well, they’ve got dinner for a week.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bAgw6d3kLPI
Those hobbies are scary! I think I will stick with playing games with my kids… 😉
I was rooting for the lion. Hunting such a noble creature is just sick.
Glacier surfing is f’ing nuts.
love the fighting , both my kids( now adults) do the extreme martial arts, its awesome to watch
[…] August 2nd, 2008 I am starting my review of this hobby blog mentioning a post “The 10 Scariest Hobbies on the Planet” and those hobbies […]
[…] August 3rd, 2008 I am starting my review of this hobby blog mentioning a post “The 10 Scariest Hobbies on the Planet” and those hobbies […]
[…] more […]
[…] The 10 Scariest Hobbies on the Planet by Nathan Metzger […]
I’ll take one of each but pass on the kayak Shark Fishing. If you flip over you become the bait.
Saw you in problogger killer titles. you can check out mine if you wish.
How To Be A Prostitute Farmer?
http://www.robschaumer.com/blog/2008/02/20/how-to-be-a-prostitute-farmer/
Yup, those are definitely freaky hobbies. The worst one for me was that shark hunting in a kayak . . . what on EARTH are they thinking?
😈 I liked the lion one. I personally was on the lions side. I hardly think 4 on 1 was a fair fight. Them boys were bad shots. Get some practice before you go out not while your out there. I have to admire the lions perserverance. Coming back was mighty brave of him. He probably figured out that the hunters couldn’t shoot straight anyway. Now you know why Bounty Hunters like me go after human prey. Lions can’t shoot back.
Saw this headline on ProBlogger. Great title, great post!
[…] The 10 Scariest Hobbies on the Planet by Nathan Metzger […]
Very cool (well, glacial if you consider the amazing glacier surfing video)! Thanks for the entertaining post. I learned about it from the problogger killer titles game. You may be interested in my blog about sports technologies and innovations, 3DSports. I’ve got a coold flying birdman post up- a sport to add to your dangerous hobbies list: http://share-sports.3ds.com/2008/06/13/3d-flying-friday/
Yikes! If these are the things people do to relax – you have to wonder what they do for a thrill! Seriously disturbed! lol
Romance writer, Loring Parks, at Juicy Like An Apple
A ProBlogger entry
I found your blog on ProBlogger’s Killer Titles contest.
These are scary hobbies. I will stick to something safer…Like writing my blog.
The lion was actually a man eater (all lions are but thats nature) but the lion was proven to have killed a man earlier in the week. So I dont totaly blame the hunters but if they were just hunting for sport against a lion then I hate that. Lions are beautiful animals and should be respected.
Even if the lion had killed someone, it was their fault for living in the lions habitat. If you live in Africa expect to see some lions.:)
Fantastic web site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your sweat!
That lion deserved to live.
cave diving isn’t scary at all its a lot more enjoyable than normal diving and I’m only 14