Extreme winter sports for the fearless.

There’s something about leaping off a 4,000 metre peak wearing skis and a parachute that gets the adrenaline rushing. But if that doesn’t appeal perhaps you’d prefer to dive below a frozen lake or mountain bike down a black run?

Resorts are coming up with increasingly extreme ways of occupying those who are bored of skiing and boarding or don’t like either. Here are just a few of the biggest challenges on offer. (NB: your regular travel insurance policy may not cover extreme winter sports.)

Kiteboarding
What: If you strap a snowboard to your feet, cling to a specially adapted sail, and allow yourself to be driven down slope by gusts of wind raising you up to 40 metres in the air, then you are, as well as totally lacking respect for your life, kiteboarding.
Where: Ischgl, Austria.
Who: Even novice skiers or boarders can have a go, but tuition is essential. Lessons are provided by the sport’s inventor, Jens Liebhauser (00 43 66 45 34 19 13) at £113 for two hours.

Ice diving
What: Ducking under the icy surface of a frozen lake to spend 20 minutes marvelling at the ice formations and shafts of light penetrating the crust.
Where: Le Lac, Tignes, France.
Who: No previous diving experience is necessary as a qualified diver offers 20 minutes of instruction before accompanying you on five short dunks. The cost of a lesson, provided by the company Evolution 2 (00 33 4 79 06 43 78), is £40 and includes wet suit and mask hire.

Parapenting
What: Take a running jump off a mountain with a pair of skis strapped to your feet and a parachute on your back. Despite the presence of an instructor who uses toggle strings to guide your direction and ascent, it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Where: Various European resorts including Chamonix.
How much? The higher you want to jump the more it costs. A flight taking off from around 2,000 metres will set you back £48; double the height and you’ll pay around £136 plus the cost of the lift pass.
For more information: Evolution 2 (00 33 4 79 06 43 78) and Bigfoot Travel (0870 300 5874).

Ski biking
What: The skibike rider has a seat and handlebar but uses foot-skis instead of pedals to whiz down the slopes.
Where: Vail, Colorado.
Who: Only intermediate and advanced skiers aged twelve or over should attempt a one and a half hour ride, costing £35 from Adventure Ridge (00 1 970 476 9090).

Snowscooting
What: Take a hardcore mountain bike, replace the wheels with a snowboard and you’ve got yourself a snowscooter with which to plummet down the slopes.
Where: Various French resorts including Les Arcs, Avoriaz and Les Contamines.
Who: Anyone can have a go. The adventurous can get stuck straight in with a half-day scooter hire from £9. Beginners or those without a death wish can receive instruction from around £18 per hour at Les Arcs (00 33 4 79 07 78 82).

Extreme skiing more your cup of tea? Read our feature on the biggest, baddest black runs.

Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites. Images courtesy of www.austrianviews.at, www.myswitzerland.com and www.swiss-image.com. Find more information on these and other winter sports at www.skiclub.co.uk and www.skiandboard.co.uk.