EXTREME PHOTOS OF THE WEEK II

Extreme Photos of the Week
By National Geographic, 27 March 2012.

1. Snowboarding Methven, New Zealand

Photograph by Jeff Curtes

“Jussi is a pure freestyler, a fantastic jumper, and a really good and stylish jibber,” says photographer Jeff Curtes of shooting with Burton rider Jussi Oksanen at Ice Station Zebra glacier in Methven, New Zealand. A low-precipitation snow season created stunning glacial terrain in Methven. “The snow bridges were minimal, so we moved confidently with our guides through the otherwise sketchy terrain,” says Curtes. “When [Oksanen] saw the ice, his eyes lit up with possibilities,” recalls Curtes, who shot this image with no additional lighting. "There were plenty of natural reflections, so it was the easy choice,” says Curtes.

Curtes shot with a Canon EOS 1D camera body and Canon 70-200 mm lens.

2. Climbing K2, Karakoram Range

Photograph by Tommy Heinrich, National Geographic

Standing on the front points of her crampons, Austrian mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner climbs the steep rock-and-snow pitches up to Camp II on K2, the world's second tallest mountain, located in the Karakoram Range between Pakistan and China. As part of extensive training before expeditions, she refines her balance by walking on a rope stretched between two apple trees.

After reaching K2's summit on August 23, 2011, Kaltenbrunner became the first woman to climb all 14 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen or porters. Learn more about her in "K2: Danger and Desire on the Savage Mountain" in the April 2012 edition of National Geographic magazine. Kaltenbrunner is also one of our 2012 Adventurers of the Year.

3. Kayaking Sahalie Falls, McKenzie River, Oregon

Photograph by Tim Kemple

See more photos and read an interview with the athlete and photographer on our blog.

"This is the moment when I hold my position and close my eyes as I anticipate the impact," says extreme kayaker Erik Boomer of dropping over 80-foot Sahalie Falls on the frigid McKenzie River near Portland, Oregon. "All the work is done at this point; it is just time to enjoy the feeling of free fall."

Boomer, who paddles over 20 to 40 waterfalls a year, is a true expert. But that doesn't mean he can just go with the flow. "Waterfalls like this always have x factors that you have to deal with," notes Boomer. "It is impossible to anticipate exactly what the water will do as you approach the lip. Waves, boils, and eddy lines are constantly surging, so you have to be prepared to react to the water the whole time."

In 2011, Boomer and his expedition partner Jon Turk pulled off the first circumnavigation of Ellesmere Island, a feat which made them two of our 2012 Adventurers of the Year.

4. Sunset Skiing in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

Photograph by Erik Seo

"It was pitch dark," says freeskier/BASE jumper Max Kuszaj of this shot in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, just off the road between Alta and Snowbird ski areas. "My main thought was to make polished ski turns, while being basically blind...I was skiing off of feel and instinct." When the lake-effect storms unleash Utah's classic, light snow, top-notch skiing abounds. This location just had perfect pitch, perfect snow, and a picturesque sunset. "Little Cottonwood Canyon has amazing sunsets all season long," says the Connecticut native now based in Salt Lake City. "I try to appreciate every single one I witness."

5. Surfing "The Right," West Australia, Australia

Photograph by Ray Collins

Photographer Ray Collins was awarded the 2012 Nikon Surf Photo of the Year award for his image of Australian surfer Mark Mathews riding the wave known as “The Right” in West Australia. The award recognizes the "best of the best" in the Australian surf photography industry.

“This day was strange," recalls Collins. "It was very late season for Australia and the swell was a touch off angle.” Collins had travelled with surfers Mathews and Ryan Hipwood. “There were some extremely tense moments. Ryan was held under the water for 40 seconds," says Collins. Hipwood surfaced and recovered.

The swell was estimated at 15 to 20 feet. After capturing this photo, Collins immediately showed Mathews the frame. “I knew it was a special image right away,” says Collins. After seeing the image of himself riding into the close-out wave, Mathews exclaimed: "That doesn't even look real - it looks like something from National Geographic!”

Collins used a Canon 7D camera body with a 70-200mm, f/2.8L lens.

6. Climbing Idiot Wind, San Rafael Swell, Utah

Photograph by Tobias Macphee

"The rock feels a bit like fine-grained sandpaper," says Jesse Mease, seen here trad climbing 70 feet up the route Idiot Wind (5.11c) in Utah's sandstone San Rafael Swell. "Basically I was wedging and torqueing my fingers into the crack and scumming my feet along the wall because they wouldn't fit - great fun." With ample pitches to climb and no camping regulations, fees, or rangers, the San Rafael Swell is one of the state's best kept secrets. "I still don't know how to get there - I was blindfolded during the drive in," notes Salt Lake City-based Mease.

[Source: National Geographic. Edited. Top image added.]