Ultimate Rush
Ultimate Rush is a 2011/2012 documentary television series produced by the Red Bull Media House in association with Matchstick Productions, and marketed as a combination of stupendous action sports endeavour, coupled with a cinematic-approach to storytelling. Through its wide distribution in the United States, the UK, Brazil, Denmark, Austria and other territories, the series is evidence of the acceptance of extreme sports into mainstream television, and one of the most complete accounts thereof. The series focuses on the outrageous exploits of some of the best athletes in the world, and how they explore the fine line between extreme sports, philosophy and art. Most of the filming was conducted in the rugged backcountry of British Columbia, Alaska, the Rocky Mountains, the French Alps, the Himalayas and the Andes, but not at official events or secured sites.
Seasons
1. Speed Riding
Air Date: 2011-12-23
Antoine Montant, Francois Bon, and Hervé Cerutti aspire to integrate climbing, flying, and skiing in the sport of Speed Riding. The athletes challenge the mountains of the French Alps near Chamonix. Antoine, named the fastest speed rider, encounters an avalanche. The three athletes attempt to conquer one of the most famous and dangerous walls in the Alps. Antoine then takes on a riskier line and tempts his fate.
2. Scoping the Line
Air Date: 2011-12-30
Athletes seek extreme landscapes in search of a "Perfect Line." Skiers scope out steep mountain faces while kayakers see monumental waterfalls, bikers dense forests, and base jumpers an abundant stretch of sky.
3. Epic Pow
Air Date: 2012-01-16
Professional skiers James Heim, Mark Abma and Eric "Hoji" Hjorleifson go ski touring in search of big mountain backcountry powder they call "Epic Pow". With bare necessities the athletes survive in huts of the British Columbia mountains. They ski a variety of terrain including pillow features and spine zones.
4. Eric’s Ski Quest
Air Date: 2012-01-23
Professional freeskiers Eric Hjorleifson, James Heim and Ingrid Backstrom seek a vast isolated landscape just northwest of Whistler, BC. The Meager Group offers insane possibilities with amazing spine lines. The team sets up a base camp near the hot springs. They wait out the weather hoping for a perfect day. Eric experiences the extremes of glory and pain in the line of his life.
5. The Red Line
Air Date: 2012-01-30
Extreme skiing is defined with bigger lines, bigger mountains and steeper faces. They say, "You fall, you die." Professional skiers Chris Davenport and Stian Hagen sit down with the pioneer of extreme skiing Sylvain Saudan. The athletes share the truth they gain by using big mountains to peer into the depths of themselves. Chris and Stian ski the remote peaks of Alaska getting too close to "the red line.
6. Haines
Air Date: 2012-02-06
Haines, Alaska for professional skiers is considered The Dream Trip. Big mountain skiers Daron Rahlves and Henrik Windstedt challenge their skills when they decide to run a line together. Ingrid Backstrom, JT Holmes and Shane McConkey face dangerous weather when they arrive in Haines. Mark Abma and Eric Hjorleifson lead the young talent of Sean Petit on a first time heli trip.
7. History of Ski Base
Air Date: 2012-02-13
JT Holmes and Shane McConkey share the dream of combining skiing and base-jumping. They find themselves in Bella Coola, BC where the primary objective is to go where no one has ever considered by skiing the "closeout line." They then take on Europe's most iconic peak, the Eiger. In the mountains of western Norway they ready themselves for a stunt that had never been attempted before, a wingsuit ski base.
8. Kayak the World
Air Date: 2012-02-13
Steve Fisher leads an all-star team of kayakers as they venture into unfamiliar territory. They first travel to remote Iceland and then to exotic Zambia. The team faces challenging rapids and falls between two of the most dangerous sites on earth.
9. MTB Stunts
Air Date: 2012-02-20
Three teams of world-class riders demonstrate new extremes of mountain biking. Industrious mountain bikers build obstacles through dense forests of British Columbia. Pro dirt jumps challenge the riders to new heights in New Zealand. Urban Free Riding brings on a new style when the riders find street lines in Amsterdam and Germany.
10. MTB the Middle East
Air Date: 2012-02-20
Professional mountain bikers take a road trip through the diverse landscapes of Israel. Fabien Barel gets a rush of adrenaline on a steep line through unexpected terrain. Cedric Gracia finds an ultimate road gap on Mount Sodom.
11. Steve Fisher
Air Date:
South African Steve Fisher, world’s best all-around kayaker and his right-hand man, Ben Brown, travel to Sogndal, Norway then to Thailand where they add a new member to the team, Eric Southwick. They soon find that the waters of Thailand prove more treacherous than they could have anticipated.
12. Magic Days
Air Date:
A search for the perfect day can become a waiting game when elements do not align, but when they do, the best professional skiers can make miracles happen - magic days, or perfect disasters. Bobby Brown pushes his luck when he travels to the Alps, then Cody Townsend takes advantage of the perfect day in Terrace, British Columbia.
13. Progression of Freestyle
Air Date:
In the incredibly exciting world of freestyle skiing, progression raises the bar for this extreme sport. The foursome that calls itself The New Canadian Airforce, full of some of the most daring athletes, breaks away from traditional skiing to showcase what is possible on a pair of skis. A look inside the creative world of riding rails and innovating rotations some of the best athletes bring the progression of freestyle to a whole new level.
14. Bralorne
Air Date:
Rory Bushfield, James Heim, Eric Hjorleifson, Mark Abma, and Sean Pettit; some of the world’s best skiers travel to Bralorne, British Columbia where they find an abundance of lofty peaks full of zones to study and ski. The weather gets in a sulky mood, but after the skies open up, it’s showtime. Eric finds a line that epitomizes the discovery of the funny little mining town, Bralorne.
15. Cedric Gracia
Air Date:
Cedric Gracia explodes into the professional world of mountain biking. Excelling in free riding, downhill, and four-cross; he blends the styles together in pursuit of a new vision for mountain biking. With high energy and a fun attitude, Cedric races against his good friend, Steve Peat, in the World Cup. He then takes a team to Bolivia where extreme elements put them to the test. Cedric risks his life on a massive line that starts at the top of the world.
16. Teacher and Apprentice
Air Date:
For mountain bikers to reach new levels, knowledge is continually passed along from one great rider to the next. Legendary rider, John Cowan travels to Ilha Bela, a small island in Brazil, to mentor a skilled new member of his professional team, Paul Basagoitia. Robbie Bourdon, a big-air veteran, also develops a mentoring relationship as the team of talented riders travel to Argentina. The team pushes into their unknown ability when the students begin to rival the masters.
17. Wingsuit
Air Date:
The sport of BASE jumping progresses when jumpers become more and more audacious turning skydiving into a world-class sport. Laws in the United States do not stop enthusiasts, Shane McConky, JT Holmes, and Miles Daisher from risking their lives as they travel to Norway to learn from the best and push their limits in the Isterdalen Valley.
18. MTB US
Air Date:
With some of the most challenging terrain on Earth being in the United States, two crews of world-class mountain bikers are sent out to create their own. The first crew travels from the Black Hills of South Dakota to Lake Alcova, Wyoming exploring exotic dirt terrain. Meanwhile crew number two tours Northern New England on motorcycles to find challenging dirt jumps near Laconia, New Hampshire. Both crews learn that if you search hard enough, what’s born in the USA is the Ultimate Rush.
19. Ends of the Earth
Air Date:
Some of the world’s best skiers are followed to some of the world’s best kept secrets- Kashmir, India and Hokkaido, Japan. Mark Abma and Mike Wilson spend time at India’s tiny resort of Gulmarg where they explore the grandest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas. Meanwhile, Sean Pettit, Jacob Wester, and Henrik Windstedt experience Japan’s never-ending powder and magnificent tree skiing where they claim some of their best days.
20. Wakeboard
Air Date:
Two of the greatest wakeboarders, Adam Errington and Parks Bonifay, take a road trip together, showcasing and filming their wakeboarding skills in some of the most spectacular locations in America. First, it’s off to Washington’s Radar Lake - a wakeboarding Mecca, then to Lake Powell with pro wakeboarder, Danny Harf. They create astonishing moments on the most beautiful bodies of water in America as new settings raise athletes to greater heights.
1. Angel Falls
Air Date: 2012-09-01
Travelling with fellow adventurers Fabian Rupprecht and Helmar Fasold, Bernhard Witz walks an 2,625 feet high line at Angel Falls in Venezuela. Together they cut through dense jungle and tackle treacherous ascents, to reach the highest waterfall in the world. This is an epic journey and proves to be the greatest challenge Bernhard has faced, as soaring temperatures threaten to ground his aspirations of walking a high line in the clouds.
2. Untethered
Air Date: 2012-09-08
Tancrède Melet and Julien Millot are masters in the art of high lining. Together they are alone, balancing on a thin lifeline that is pulled taut between two vertical faces of the mountain. The French duo often takes steps to improve their skills, but on this trip they make an important stride - walking 'untethered' without a leash. Suspended thousands of meters above sea level and free of any attachments, Tancrède and Julien are able to try something new as they part with their lifeline and BASE jump into the void.
3. Riders on the Storm
Air Date: 2012-09-15
Seasoned surfers Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll set-off for the un-ridden waves of Pedra Branca, boldly surfing where no young gun has dared: into the eye of a formidable storm. These big wave riders and lifelong friends scour the globe; utilizing sophisticated technology they hunt the fearsome storms, which create monster-sized swells.
4. Beyond
Air Date: 2012-09-22
The Wrangell Mountains in Alaska may be out of bounds for helicopters, but they won't stand in the way of the legendary free ride snowboarder, Jeremy Jones. He ventures to climb these massive mountains by foot, so that he can experience the pure thrill of finding the hardest and fastest route down.
5. Phenomena
Air Date: 2012-09-29
A freak swell creates a towering wave in Tahiti and a rare rolling cloud looms dangerously in the skies above Australia. Surfers Dylan Longbottom, Laurie Towner and hang glider Jonny Durand are privileged to be in the right place at the right time. These are extraordinary athletes with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to confront two natural wonders, however 'The Morning Glory' and 'Teahupoo' are unpredictable and dangerous, they are a phenomena.
6. Other People's Nightmares
Air Date: 2012-10-06
Falling from a high-rise building or plunging from a cliff edge is most people's idea of a nightmare, but not for the worlds best BASE jumper. 'Other People's Nightmares' is a chronicle of Jeb Corliss' dream to fly - a series of encounters that very nearly ended when he got too close for comfort at Table Top Mountain in South Africa; this was a near death experience that has provided Jeb with a new meaning to life.
7. Lady Bird
Air Date: 2012-10-13
When Italian model and skydiver Roberta Mancino met BASE jump aficionado Jeb Corliss, their lives soared to spectacular heights. 'Lady Bird' explores the relationship between two vibrant people, who share a passion for life and a long held dream of flying.
8. The River Wild
Air Date: 2012-10-20
Ben Brown leads a kayaking expedition across his home country of New Zealand. Travelling more than a thousand kilometers it is the ideal opportunity to tap into the 'flow', a meditative state where an athlete becomes at one with his surroundings. However this remote and exposed country is well known for its volatile weather - so when the dark skies unleash a torrential downpour, New Zealand's flowing rivers transform into wild raging torrents and Ben Brown's birthplace threatens to take the life of him and his friends.
9. Endurance
Air Date: 2012-10-27
One of the most enduring athletes on the planet faces one of its toughest challenges - The Race Across America. Cycling for a distance of nearly 5000 kilometers and negotiating 30,000 meters of grueling climbs and dangerous descents, Gerhard Gulewicz subjects his body to unimaginable physical exertion and sleep deprivation. Peddling against the clock from Oceanside California to Annapolis, Maryland requires a year of training and 15 days of unparalleled 'Endurance'.
10. Free and Solo
Air Date: 2012-11-03
Few climbers possess the skill and mental resolve that is required to climb 'free solo' and Dean Potter is a legend among these men. With dozens of dangerous ascents under his belt, he knows that without the safety of a rope, his knowledge and skill is paramount to survival. However, Dean also knows that to progress, he needs to tackle more technical routes. Falling has become inevitable, so living by the motto "flying is better than dying" he combines his expertise of climbing and BASE-jumping to dramatic effect.
11. The Primal Climb
Air Date:
Climbers Leo Houlding, Jason Pickles and Sean Leary trek deep into the Amazon, venturing to be the first to ascend the east face of the impressive Cerro Autana. In a trip filled with risk and enlightenment, these free spirits soon discover a host of reasons why this summit has never been reached from the east.
12. One Breath
Air Date:
Free diver William Trubridge fills his lungs to capacity and attempts to be the first man without fins to dive to 300 feet in one breath. Deans Blue Hole in the Bahamas provides a beautiful backdrop, but beneath the surface lays a sport, which can only be mastered with rigorous training and extraordinary physical ability.
13. The Winter Peak
Air Date: 2018-07-19
In the past 26 years, 16 expeditions have endeavored to summit a peak in excess of 8000 meters during the Pakistani winter - all of which have failed. Climber and filmmaker Cory Richards is determined not to become another statistic and takes the viewer on an intimate journey as he documents each fateful step on Gasherbrum II with fellow adventurers Simone Moro and Denis Urubko.
14. Summit of Antarctica
Air Date: 2018-07-20
Rising to 2931 meters in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica - the Ulvetanna Peak is referred to as "the masterpiece of the range". However such a romantic title should not disguise the ferocity of the challenge Leo Houlding, Jason Pickles and Sean Leary have set for themselves. To succeed in being the first climbers to ascend the legendary NE ridge, the expedition must be watertight and the Antarctic weather must be sympathetic to their cause.
15. Journey to Inner Earth
Air Date: 2018-05-14
Chris Jewell has dreamed of penetrating Mexico's Huatla cave system to set the record for the deepest cave dive in the Western Hemisphere. Traversing caverns the size of sports stadiums and shafts as tall as skyscrapers, his team descends a mile deep into the earth into a mysterious world where a sudden flood of water can drown experienced adventurers without a moment's notice.
16. The Wild East
Air Date: 2018-05-15
Darren Berrecloth leads a group of mountain bikers through the hostile terrain of Nepal's Upper Mustang and China's Gobi desert. Hiking under the weight of their bikes, they battle against the suffocating temperatures and high altitude before reaching breakneck speeds on some of the world's steepest and most dangerous descents.
17. Vertical Ice
Air Date: 2014-01-01
Ice climber Harald Berger has waited patiently for one of Austria's most awe-inspiring waterfalls to freeze over. 'The Supervisor' is as high as the Eiffel Tower, a cascade of frozen water that entices and threatens through its fragile beauty. But without the security of rope, Harry's ice-pick and wits are all there is between him, a thousand feet of ice and air, and a first ever free solo ascent.
18. Positive Fear
Air Date: 2018-05-17
As one of the world's most pioneering wingsuit pilots and BASE-jumpers, Cédric Dumont knows a thing or two about fear. Whether he's flying just meters above the ground in Switzerland, jumping from a waterfall in Peru, or soaring above the Nazca desert, Cédric is constantly trying to break the mold. However with each attempt to push his boundaries, comes a complex mental battle, in which Cedric must contend not only with fear, but survival instinct itself.
19. Progression of Flight
Air Date: 2018-05-17
Espen Fadnes is a world class wingsuit pilot on a mission: find and fly the perfect proximity flight in tandem with fellow wingsuit masters Jokke Sommer and Ludo Woerth. But encountering near misses and unexpected hazards in China and Bangkok, they retreat to Norway to train for the line of their lives in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.
20. Unsung Heroes
Air Date: 2018-05-17
Without the technical skill and shear endeavor of the crew and cameramen behind the scenes, the accomplishments of the Athletes featured in 'Ultimate Rush' would go unseen. These artistic craftsman make an extraordinary commitment to make sure these images are shared with the world, providing inspiration and exhilaration to others -these are the Unsung Heroes.
5. The Witch's Thumb
Air Date: 2018-05-28
The art of traditional climbing is the soul of the sport, a self-sustaining endeavor taking many years to perfect. Establishing new routes, learning to lead and protect yourself are hallmarks of the traditional climbing discipline. Join world class "Trad" climber Matt Segal as he and climbing partners, Alex Honnold, Daniel Woods and Renan Ozturk, set out on a ten day expedition through Utah's Green River canyon in search of first ascents in the remote sand stone wilderness and take on the iconic tower known as The Witch's Thumb.
7. Steph Davis
Air Date:
Follow the adventures of climber Steph Davis as she pushes past the safety of traditional climbing and learns to fly. The only woman to have free-soloed a 5.11 route, Steph is known for her relentless approach to climbing the sports most challenging routes like "The Diamond" on Colorado's Longs Peak. Inspired by her fear of free-fall, Steph ventured into BASE-jumping and with the help of her husband Mario Richard, pioneered the sport of BASE climbing. After a successful free-solo BASE-climb of Utah's iconic Castleton Tower, Steph decides to take an even bigger leap as...
11. Episode 11
Air Date: 2016-03-07
17. The 45 Towers
Air Date: 2018-06-12
Professional climbers Alex Honnold and Cedar Wright embark on a 30-day cycling adventure through the desert southwest to climb 45 of the most difficult sandstone towers the world has to offer. The two-man team will cycle 800 miles and ascend over 12,000 vertical feet, challenging themselves on each tower's most difficult route. Climbing up to 5.13b, these two athletes will push themselves to the brink of exhaustion, enduring high winds and desert sandstorms to achieve a goal that would take, the most hard-core desert climber, a lifetime to achieve.
19. The Towers of Ennedi
Air Date: 2018-06-05
For expedition climber Mark Synnott, the intrigue of the exploration is the ultimate thrill. The veteran climber has completed big wall missions to Pakistan, Baffin Island and the Himalayas. Now inspired by the solitary image of an arch-like tower he first saw some ten years earlier Synnott leads two of the worlds most exciting young climbers deep into the dead heart of Africa, on a mission to climb the mythical towers of the Ennedi.
9. Winter Solo
Air Date: 2018-06-28
Markus Pucher wants to conquer the summit of Cerro Torre during the harshest possible conditions: the Patagonian winter. It will be the first ever winter solo route to be done at Cerro Torre, allegedly the most difficult mountain on earth.
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Rating
10.0/10
Release Date
2011-12-23
Episodes
46 (5 seasons)
Status
Returning Series
Cast
Videos
Production Companies
Red Bull Media House
Matchstick Productions