The 50 Gnarliest Pictures in Sports

Image via fineartphotographysite.com

Picture a chilly late afternoon on the slopes, snowflakes fluttering and birds sporadically chirping. As you cruise through the snowy serenity at intense speeds and prepare to launch off the upcoming ramp into the abyss, only one thing runs through your mind. Extreme.

But you've been down this road before, and you're set to surpass radical and go far beyond any insane trick performed in the past. Extreme doesn't quite cut it. No, you're headed for the pinnacle of greatness. We like to call it gnarliness.

Ok so perhaps the term gnarliness has yet to reach an actual dictionary, but you get the point.

We're set to look at the 50 gnarliest pictures of athletes truly defying gravity and eclipsing extreme.

Blonde manes and rebellious verbs like "frothing" and "bro-ing out" aren't required in gnarlyville.

But some epic tunes are.

50. Human Art of Flying

Image via mymodernmet.com

So maybe Red Bull doesn't give you wings, but it certainly gives you courage.

49. Tundrous Surroundings

Image via dream-wallpaper.com

It's clear at this point he's frozen in time...call for backup.

48. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Image via dailyfreshproduce.com

Bro, you forgot your break pads.

47. The Rooney Tunes

Image via goal.blogs.nytimes.com

The stunning bicycle kick perfected by Wayne Rooney himself. He will not be stopped.

46. Free Fallin'

Image via flickrhivemind.net

Enjoying the intricate architecture one backflip at a time.

45. Deep Green Sea

Image via tidalstock.wordpress.com

Jaws finally shares his side of the story.

44. Trampling the Competition

Image via unrealitymag.com

Just another day at the office for this bull rider. We expect he's got a dentist appointment.

43. Trailing Greatness

Image via belugerinstudios.com

Forked between immortality and failure. An epic moment captured.

42. Testing the Wind

Image via tampabay.com

For that one moment, he felt on top of the world.

And then came the epic splash.

41. Preparing for Battle

Image via piximus.net

Just offering his competitors a path to follow.

40. Flipping and Dipping

Image via funzu.com

A new and possibly more effective form of warfare.

39. Old School Rugby

Image via rugby-pioneers.blogs.com

Pig-bladder perfection circa 1925.

Synthetic rubber has taken over today's rugby balls.

38. A Glorious Ending

Image via explow.com

As the dirt scampers away and the muddy terrain braces for impact, one driver remains focused on the finish line.

37. Boarding the Wake

Image via dumpaday.com

Solid form, 10s all around.

36. Shiny Descent

Image via thechive.com

A slim reflection makes the shaving of the mountain seem almost natural.

35. The Speed of Soccer

Image via thomsonreuters.com

Seems like the workings of an epic victory dance.

34. Dabbling in Greatness

Image via thedesignwork.com

When he kiteboards, the wind is always at his back.

He is the most interesting man in the world.

33. The Beauty of Basketball

Image via newshopper.sulekha.com

Who knew flagrant fouls could be so epic?

32. In-Flight Amenities

Image via coloredwall.com

That's certainly another way to travel.

31. The Bengal Leap

Image via 6magazineonline.com

As Jerome Simpson defied gravity, we quickly reached for the replay button.

30. A Carolina Delicacy

Image via borges252art.blogspot.com

Footlong club with lettuce, tomato, onions, swiss and Titan. Please and thank you.

29. Living on a Prayer

Image via ayvain.com

Almost there, just a mile to go.

28. Eclipsing the Norm

Image via sports-planit.blogspot.com

OK, let's see. Picked up the dry cleaning? Check. Went grocery shopping? Check. Do a triple backflip and land 125 feet from the takeoff ramp? Check.

27. Collective Brilliance

Image via topdesignmag.com

Inspired by several synchronized-swimming bulls.

26. A Brazilian Bike Ride

Image via netbrawl.com

Pele's unforgettable prowess is far from old news.

25. Taking a Second Look

Image via webdesignledger.com

More vibrant than most color-filled photographs. Embrace the violent subtlety.

24. Sky Is the Ceiling

Image via padruu.wordpress.com

Look Ma, no hands.

23. Death Race

Image via realitypod.com

Cell phone and wallet? Check. iPod? Check. Parachute? Uh oh.

22. MJ's Gift

Image via thechive.com

Few possessed vision comparable to the man known simply as Air Jordan.

21. Soaring Towards Insanity

Image via topdesignmag.com

Just a man and his skis. That's all.

20. Changing Atmospheres

Image via freecodesource.com

Each daredevil can feel the skin escaping their face, flopping for freedom.

19. Calming the Wilderness

Image via snowboardermag.com

Drugs for the eyeballs.

18. Scratching the Surface

Image via saturnic.livejournal.com

This sandboarding phenomenon continues to intrigue us in the sandless crevices of the world.

17. The Ultimate Proposal

Image via art.com

On second thought, the scripted snow reads madness.

16. For the Love of Fire

Image via piximus.net

If only his girlfriend didn't live directly across the treacherous volcano down the block, this would be so much easier.

15. Jumping for Joy

Image via sportslife7.blogspot.com

Easily the most stunning tour this guy's ever been on.

14. Newton's Law

Image via thebeautyofsports.tumblr.com

Gymnastics off a speeding plane. We can only hope the Olympic committee is making some phone calls right about now.

13. The Man, the Legend, the Ichiro

Image via redboxpictures.com

Willie Mays would applaud this performance.

12. Messing with Fate

Image via tristanshu.com

Be careful, remember what the last guy who tried this did?

11. The Black and White Phenomenon

Image via snowboardermag.com

Ok Jim, let's try that one more time. But with a smile please.

10. Becoming One with Nature

Image via fineartphotographysite.com

He seems to be enjoying himself.

9. A Walk on the Wild Side

Image via ipad-wallpapers.us

Walking on water is so last year.

8. Reaching the Pinnacle

Image via mlpics.de

Laughing down on all those who doubted him. Inches away from the clouds.

7. Music Makes You Luge Control

Image via huffingtonpost.com

Beautiful and chaotic, very reflective of postmodern athletics.

6. A Day in the Life

Image via onebigphoto.com

Mixing calm serenity with natural greatness produces perfection. Nicely done.

5. Slicing and Dicing

Image via photosidea.com

Those waves never had a chance.

4. The Art of Free Running

Image via boudoirpieces.blogspot.com

Seagulls can fly, sure, but humans can parkour. Take that!

3. Luging a Grip

Image via designfloat.com

Thankfully Junior got a ride to school today. A calm, whining-free luge ride to the office.

2. Dr. Seuss' Dream

Image via taringa.net

Maybe if the Grinch traveled to Whoville, he'd have been a legend.

1. City of Sandy

Image via theadventuretravelsite.com

Just a casual ride to the supermarket across treacherous dunes and salty pastures.

Carrying the groceries back should be interesting.