GoPro changed the face of adventure videos nine years ago when the company launched a digital action camera that strapped to your head and shot 10-second videos. In recent years, the camera’s sophistication — Bluetooth, WiFi, high-def — has paved the way for zealous pro athletes to record ever more awe-inspiring stunts. It’s also created something of a new adventure video industry, funded by GoPro themselves and others — most notably, Red Bull.
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Red Bull sponsors more than 400 athletes, while GoPro supports 131. Between the two brands, 6,000-plus pro videos have gone up on their YouTube channels and garnered a combined 1.5 billion views. Those numbers don’t include all the supported athletes uploading their own exploits without crews or edit teams.
The goal is to create aspirational content, says Todd Ballard, GoPro’s Director of Global Sports Marketing. “We lead with the most powerful piece of content to elevate not only the athlete, but also the sport they represent.”
We pored over the videos from these two companies, sorting them by popularity, sport, and stunt — and with a little help from GoPro and Red Bull — pulled the all-time best videos from the professionals who inspire all of us to mount-up and shoot the thrill of our lives.
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