EXTREME PHOTOS..." national geo. "

Kayaking La Paz Falls, Costa Rica

Photograph by Lucas Gilman

Professional kayaker Pat Keller plunges over 120-foot La Paz Falls in the central highlands of Costa Rica. Keller survived the extreme drop—though he broke his right hand.

Bodysurfing the North Shore, Hawaii

Photograph by Ryan Foley, A-Frame

"At this moment, Paul Mclaughlin and I were throwing ourselves into crazy huge barrels trying to fly right over the camera," says competitive bodysurfer Ryan Hailstones (left), who just placed fifth in the Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic in February. Ke Iki Beach, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, is a famous bodysurfing spot, but also very dangerous. Only the pros can take on the shallow water and fierce waves, which literally break in dry sand.