It’s natural for us to lookout for people who inspire us. How we view these people has shifted from the early days of the magazine (who remembers them?) through to the television and onto our computer screens. These days, the focus is on the smaller screen, where photo-sharing apps such as Instagram are the new sources of inspiration.
This gives us – the regular people – the chance to view a snapshot of other people’s cooler and more aesthetically-pleasing lives. Of course, this shouldn’t totally be taken for gospel. Anyone can take a nice looking photo with today’s technology at our fingertips, but it’s how these people inspire others which is the most important part. Pretty much anyone can tap ‘follow’ on a top athlete’s profile and they will receive regular doses of inspiration to their mobile phone.
The action and adventure sports industry is one which has been helped by photo-sharing apps such as Instagram, due to the sheer amount of stunning visuals surrounding these sports. Many athletes are taking advantage of this as they rack up tens of thousands of fans and followers from around the globe by posting their content when and where they want. Gone are the days of a long-awaited magazine feature or video release. Here we will list the best, most influential, action and adventure sports figures who are getting social with their fans. They are all definitely worth following.
Angel Collinson
@angelcollinson
If you’re a slope lover, you need to follow Angel. The American professional free skier was the first woman to win ‘Best Line’ at the Power Magazine awards in 2015. Angel altered the entire landscape of the sport, as big mountain skiing is traditionally a male-dominated sport. Her powerful persona extends to her online life, too, as she has just under 60,000 followers on Instagram. Expect steep slopes, strong captions and picturesque views of her home community of Snowbird, Utah.
Marie-France Roy
@mariefranceroy
Sticking with the snowy theme, next up on our list is Québécoise snowboarder Marie-France Roy. She first picked up a snowboard at 11 years old after watching her brothers at a local resort. Since then, she’s picked up some serious momentum by competing in multiple X Games competitions and free mountain competitions, all while travelling the world at the same time. With just under 25,000 Instagram followers, Marie displays her passion for environmental activism throughout her posts.
Roberta Mancino
@mancinoroberta
This is Roberta’s Instagram bio: ‘Model, skydiver, base jumper, wingsuit pilot, stunt woman’. She’s not lying. Her range of photos is nearly as impressive as her list of achievements. At 37, she has participated in more than 9000 skydives and jumps and has won a number of world records and awards. Her amount of followers speaks volumes, as her 70,000 plus followers continue to be inspired by the Italian on a regular basis.
Aaron Gwin
@aarongwin1
Five-time world champion downhill mountain biker Aaron Gwin is a big influencer in the world of social media. With over 344,000 followers on Instagam, Aaron began his life on two wheels on the BMX and then moving on to the more assisted sport of motocross. After consistent injuries, Aaron borrowed a bike from his friend at the age of 20 and competed in his first downhill race. From that point, he hasn’t looked back – with 13 major titles to his name, Aaron continues to take the sport by storm. Expect bikes, dirt, cars and even more dirt!
JT Holmes
@jtholmesjr
If you’re a lover of snow and stunts, then JT Holmes is the man to follow. As a real-life stunt man, JT has adrenaline running through his veins. From downhill skiing, to off-road adventures and paragliding, JT does it all. With just over 30,000 Instagram followers, you can expect snow, sand, point-of-view camera angles and lots and lots of Red Bull content.
Danny MacAskill
@danny_macaskill
Scottish-born trials cyclist Danny MacAskill shot to fame in 2009 when his amateur video – which was produced by his flatmate – was uploaded to YouTube. Since then, Danny has been featured in over 16 different productions which all showcase his ability to manoeuvre a bicycle in the most impossible-seeming ways. Currently, Danny has over 700,00 followers on Instagram who continue to be inspired by his vast array of creative posts.
Kelly Slater
@kellyslater
Perhaps the greatest person to ever grace the waves, Kelly Slater needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. He has been crowned World Surf League Champion 11 times and is both the youngest and oldest to win the title at the ages of 20 and 39. If you do decide to give him a follow, you’ll be joining him 2.1 million followers who enjoy his photos and videos from the barrels of the big waves.
Travis Pastrana
@travispastrana
If you don’t know Travis Pastrana, then get to know. There’s a reason he has over 2.7 million followers. He does it all; from motocross, to stock car racing and quad bike adventures, Pastrana rarely sets a limit to his actions. His Instagram features snaps of his extensive collection of motors and his excursions around the globe. If you seek action, you need to follow Travis!
Alana Blanchard
@alanarblanchard
Alana Blanchard is a Hawaiian surfer who has a number of championships to her name. Her Instagram account has nearly 2 million followers who follow her life in the beautiful surroundings of the North Pacific Ocean. Her serene profile extends her personal beliefs such as her vegan lifestyle and documents life as a mother in the surfing community. The sight of her Instagram feed alone transports you to the warm waters of Hawaii. A must follow!
Gabrielle James
@gabatronix
If you’re not the biggest fan of heights, then this account may not be for you. Gaby James is known for her climbing and scaling of everything and anything vertical. With just over 15,000 Instagram followers, she broadcasts her ‘slices of joy’ by sharing visually-pleasing content. She portrays a sense of fearless, as she confidently handles mountains with ease in all seasons. You can expect shots of her dog, shots from her GoPro and lots and lots of longboarding.
So there we have it. Ten action and adventure sports stars who are absolutely killing it on Instagram. Keep up the good work, guys! You continue to inspire us each and every day.
Just a heads up, we are social on Instagram, too! You can give us a follow on @geronigo if you feel like it.
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