6. I Unlocked the Secrets of Performance Enhancing Helium

Mountain bike wheels put up with a lot, and for the most part, they stand up well, no matter how big and heavy the rider is. But what if the rider is a 1,500-boat anchor? The short answer is: Better than we thought until it didn’t, and things got ugly fast.

12min

Skimboarding looks fun until you try it and discover it’s insanely hard to do and insanely easy to get hurt trying. To remove the sketchiest part—running, jumping, and falling in shallow water—I built one that glides seamlessly on a bed of air. The best part? A beach and ocean are 100% optional.

13min

Everyone knows “boat” stands for “bust out another thousand,” but who doesn’t want to ditch their rent or mortgage for a life on the high seas? It turns out it’s way easier—and cheaper—to build your own floating home than I ever imagined, provided you don’t need to be dry, or to sleep.

10min

Climbing scares the crap out of me because I’m an engineer, and I know I make mistakes—who’s to say the person who made my rope didn’t make one also? Fortunately, my friend has a tractor and all manner of heavy things with which to try and convince myself that I have nothing to fear.

10min

I get why people like to pair packrafting with mountain biking – it’s a great way to get to really cool riding zones. It’s also uncomfortable and exhausting, but what if we figured out how to replace all that paddling … with pedaling?

6min

What if all those blood dopers and pill poppers have it wrong? What if the secret to running faster, jumping higher, and generally winning in the outdoors is a naturally occurring gas that’s cheaply available at your local party supply store and has the added benefit of making your voice sound really funny?

10min