Cheapflights.com Goes to the Extreme

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - Feb 22, 2012) - Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, enters the danger zone and takes you to the next level of adventure sports with its list of Top 10 Extreme Sporting Events Around the World. From the Iditarod in Alaska next month to the Billabong Rio Pro in Rio in May to the Summer X Games in Los Angeles at the end of June, daredevils around the world can push their limits at these nail-biting events that challenge the limits of human nature.

Below are five of Cheapflights.com's adrenaline-pumping sporting events taking place around the world over the course of the next few months.

• Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race -- Anchorage to Nome, Alaska on March 3 -- "The Last Great Race on Earth," the Iditarod Trail started out as a supply route. In 1925, when diphtheria broke out in Nome, 20 mushers and 150 dogs rushed to deliver the antiserum from Anchorage. Every year since 1973, mushers from all over the world and their teams of 12-16 dogs prepare for 1,150 miles of snowy tundra, impenetrable forest and rocky terrain. If that's not enticing enough, this year's event starts March 3^rd, when the temperatures are below freezing and daylight hours are still minimal. Search and compare cheap flights to Anchorage.

• Ice Climbing World Cup -- Kirov, Russia from March 8 - 10 -- Rock climbing might be a popular sport for some, but throw in some ice and it's an entirely different game. Racing up a sheer ice wall with nothing but two ice picks in your hands and the spikes on your shoes might seem inconceivable to most, but to the participants of the 2012 Ice Climbing World Cup, it's just another competition. The best ice climbers are nothing short of acrobats as they maneuver their way up and down the ice with serious agility, strength and guts. The final event in the World Cup series, Kirov promises to showcase the year's finest talent and the fastest competitors. Search and compare cheap flights to Russia.

• 2012 Crashed Ice World Championship -- Quebec City, Canada from March 15 - 17 -- One of the most exciting up-and-coming winter events, this extreme sport generally consists of burly hockey players strapping on their skates and racing down an urban ice track. Sound easy? Add some sharp turns, steep drops, jumps and nasty falls and you've got nothing short of mayhem. The final leg of the 2012 World Championship Tour ends in Quebec City, at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Last year, more than 100,000 spectators filled the night streets of Rue des Carrieres, and this year it's expected to be even bigger. Search and compare cheap flights to Quebec.

• Billabong Rio Pro -- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from May 9 - 20 -- Screeching down the side of a massive wave with nothing but a board to save you from the roaring ocean is something only a professional adrenaline junkie could handle. The Association of Surfing Professionals Tour circles the globe every year, throwing its best at Mother Nature's toughest waves from the Gold Coast of Australia to the Banzai Pipeline of Hawaii. This year, the stakes are even higher with a $500,000 payout to the winner of the Billabong Rio Pro in Brazil. Search and compare cheap flights to Brazil.

• 24 Hours of Le Mans -- Le Mans, France from June 16 - 17 -- This year's event marks the 80^th anniversary and will be held on June 16^th and 17^th. The trick to Le Mans isn't simply speed; it's juggling the mechanical needs of the car, especially the tires and brakes that run down quickly, while testing the stamina of the three-man driving team. The cars take off at 4pm and fans fill the stadium and engines scream along the track until 4pm the following day. Some 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the parade held the Friday night before the race, a particular fan favorite. Search and compare cheap flights to France.

Rounding out Cheapflights.com's list of thrill-seeking sporting events are: Hell's Gate in Il Ciocco, Tuscany, Italy on February 18; Race Across America in Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland from June 12 - 25; The X Games in Los Angeles, California from June 28 - July 1; Badwater Ultramarathon in Badwater Basin to Mt. Whitney, California from July 16 - 18; and International Artistic Wingsuit Competition and Marko Mike's Wingsuit Boogie in Siofolk, Hungary from August 9 - 19.

To read the adrenaline pumping details about these extreme adventures and Cheapflights.com's complete list of Top 10 Extreme Sporting Events Around the World, visit http://news.cheapflights.com/top-10-extreme-sporting-events-around-the-world/.

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Cheapflights Media is an international media network helping over 11 million visitors a month find top travel deals. Our Cheapflights brand was launched in 1996 and pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users. Today, users compare a wide range of deals from hundreds of partners including online travel agents, consolidators and airlines to find the very best flight deals. With a mission to be the starting point for travel, Cheapflights works to deliver the industry's best airfare bargains, expert tips and inspiration. There are currently Cheapflights sites in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia & New Zealand, France, Italy and Spain. For more information, visit www.cheapflights.com. Our newest brand, Momondo, is a leading travel search engine for finding comprehensive worldwide pricing and availability on airfares. Winner of several awards, the site is ideal for users on specific travel schedules. For more information, visit www.momondo.com.