Most international travel for thrill-seekers around the world has been delayed due to restrictions from the pandemic. It has changed how we adventure, keeping us to the confines of the spaces around us. While this is still fulfilling, it leaves a space inside every outdoor enthusiast’s heart to travel and explore. Roaring waves at the ocean, endless skylines of prairie, immense ridges of mountains, and wide open places will always have a place in our hearts. 

To bring this love of the outdoors to our own homes, the staff at Backwoods Promotions took some time to peruse the popular streaming service, Netflix, and find some of the best outdoor documentaries about the off-road sports we love. We may not feel the wind in our face as we trek around the globe, but these films are SURE to leave you with a similar feeling. Overall, the perspective is impressive as we dive into the world of all extreme sports---some we know and some we are getting a first look into--and we look forward to hearing your feedback on your favorite nature documentaries as well: 

1. Don’t Crack Under Pressure (1-3) -  This THRILL RIDE of a trilogy takes you into the world of four extreme sports. Some of the highest peaks in Europe are skied and snowboarded by pro snow sport athletes. However this film doesn’t limit itself to just cold weather sports, it explores free-diving, world record surfing swells, and also kite surfing (seriously this sport and hydrofoiling are on the move, take a look for yourself!)

2. Magnetic -  Attracted to thrills across the globe, athletes from every background come together to surf the immense swells of Spain. The waves are some of the largest in the world. Men and women successfully compete and navigate the shoreline in this film. The swells alone give any viewer a rush of adrenaline, and truly put us all in awe of all forces of nature. 

 3. Addicted to Life -  If the name doesn’t describe our true passion at Backwoods Promotions of “Promote What You Love” the athletes in it do! Athletes from across the globe show viewers a one-on-one look into how they train and perfect their craft. Our favorite in this show are mountain bikers and trekkers who scale mountain faces across Europe with extreme off road bikes. These daredevils test the limits of all environments.

 4. Pedal The World - This solo journey is one of true perseverance. Felix Starck takes us along on his 18,000 km bicycle journey across 22 countries. His perspective is very driven and along the way he makes the most unlikely of friends. Those in the communities he visits are supportive--and it takes a very personal and raw look into solo athletes in cycling. 

5. Formula 1: Drive to Survive - Drivers, managers, and team owners live in the fast lane--both on and off the track--during each season of Formula One racing. For any motorsports enthusiasts, this series dives into one on one interviews with drivers, team owners, and managers. It opens anyone’s eyes to the true mechanics of teams, how they travel, and the obstacles they face every race the team drives in. One of our favorite moments is the evolution of Claire Williams (William’s racing team that was started by her father) and how she brings the team together with new drivers.

 6. Fearless - Rodeo circuits are a grueling and long road for those who want to make it to the PBR Finals in Las Vegas. This true story follows young men from Brazil (a powerhouse country in both the PBR Finals and NFR Finals in Las Vegas) as they risk it all for money, titles, and a road to the championship. For anyone wanting to learn more about the athletes who compete in this high stakes sport, we highly recommend it!

7. Losers - Often in any extreme sport we only look at athletes that win the gold, take home the trophy and gain sponsorships for the oncoming season. However this film takes a personal view into those who come up second, teams that face difficult trials outside of the court, or back to the drawing room (or in many cases the garage) to work on their craft. The theme of this documentary is “Never let a failure define you” and we couldn’t agree more!

8. Our Earth - Narrated by none other than David Attenborough (Fun Fact: Did you know he was the brother of John Attenborough the famous actor and creator of the park in “Jurassic Park”) this film series takes us to some of the most remote environments on Earth to see the most unique animals. Anyone who enjoys exotic flora and fauna will be sure to love this heartwarming and visceral look into the animal kingdom.

9. National Parks Adventure - Over one-hundred years ago areas of great natural beauty were declared protected by the government. Today a team of adventurers explore some of the most extreme spots of these national parks. This is truly an awe-inspiring and eco-conscious look into some of the oldest parks in the United States. Robert Redford takes a personal look into his favorite landscapes.

10. Unchained - The Untold Story of Freestyle Motocross - Narrated by Josh Brolin, this documentary takes a deep look into the rise of free-style motocross, one of the most extreme sports on Earth. This is an adrenaline fueled adventure right from your own home, that leaves you awe-inspired by the athletes that race. Truly the drivers are acrobats, and their bikes are some of the toughest in the world.

We hope that you take time to dive into the many stories of athletes across the world in these Netflix documentaries. The one-on-one interviews, the pressure of races and industry evolution, along with the forces of nature will leave anyone dreaming of their own next adventure. While watching them you may find yourself wrapped up in your favorite athletes, or forming your own opinion of the opposition. Feel like we missed one of your favorite outdoor documentaries? Let us know what films on Netflix, or any other streaming service, you enjoy and message us on Instagram or through our website.

The races we watch on television and the team interviews we listen to on podcasts are only half of what motorsport and extreme sport athletes go through to get to where they are. At Backwoods Promotions we are Enthusiasts First, but now we invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the films that lie ahead on your adventure!