Top 10 adventures for thrill-seeking women

Vancouver’s fun-loving lifestyle isn’t just limited to zenning out yoga-style or sweating your stuff jogging along the beach. For ladies seeking a little more oomph from their local adventures here are ten action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled activities to satisfy even the most hardcore thrill-seekers out there.

1. Learn to ride a motorbike

Getting out on two wheels doesn’t necessarily have to mean pedal power. Even if you’ve never been on a motorbike before there are some great courses out there that guarantee to take you from zero to motorbike hero in less than one week. That hold-your-breath, ‘here we go’ surging feeling that rises in your stomach as you open up the throttle is as addictive as anything I know. For those looking to learn I can’t recommend highly enough the amazing team at ProRide for their patience, skills, knowhow, experience and success rate. Even with total novices like me!

2. Mountain biking in the North Shore

Nothing against a leisurely cycle around the sea wall but occasionally you need to sink your teeth in to something that’ll really get the blood pumping. When it comes to biking you won’t find bigger or better than the North Shore. This area has a reputation for the best and most challenging mountain biking in the world, and a style of biking unto its own. Local playgrounds include Cypress Mountain, Mt Fromme and Mt Seymour, although you can head as far afield as Whistler if you wish. And just like much of Vancouver’s elusive wildlife, you may not always see the bikers as you drive by in your four wheels but as you head over the Lion’s Gate Bridge you can be sure that you’re truly in their territory. So why not join them?

3. White water rafting

If you’re done with dry land, try taking to the foamy waters around Vancouver for a ‘right out there with nature’, high energy kind of adventure. There are a variety of rafting experiences out there to choose from for all ages and experience levels but you can’t go wrong with a trip on the rivers around Whistler.

 4. Learn to fight

Donning a pair of gloves and stepping into the ring isn’t for everyone and nor is it an injury-free sport, I'd know - two x-rays this year and counting! However the buzz of adrenaline, thrill, excitement and raw, hardcore action is well-worth the trade-off. There are countless types of martial arts and even more martial arts centres but my personal recommendation is Universal with two locations: Richmond and downtown Vancouver.

5. Shoot your socks off

An industrial estate might not be the typical location for a shooting range but don’t let this put you off. DVC Ventures in PoCo is the only indoor shooting range in the area that allows even those without a gun licence to discharge anything from 9mm handguns to rifles and revolvers. Check out Ladies’ Night on Fridays for discount gun action and gather your best pals together for night of rootin’, tootin’, shootin’ fun.

6. Snow frolics

It’s no wonder Vancouver has a reputation for being the ultimate, accessible playground. Where else can you be packing up your desk at 4:30pm and weaving your way down a mountain just one hour later? Whether it’s skiing, snowboarding, tubing or just all-round snow-bound adventure there’s so much choice that electing your snowy exploit is the hardest part. There’s no doubting Whistler’s world-class status but there’s a lot to be said for the local mountains too and without the Olympics squeezing out valuable mountain space in winter 2010, this season will be all about the locals. If this is your year to learn, a couple of lessons are all you’ll need to get going.

7. Surfing