VILNIUS — What comes to your mind first, when you hear the phrase extreme sports? Broken bones, plenty of blood, copious injuries?

Well, if you’re not particularly agile, you’re right. But there’s a different side to it as well.

Famous American author Ernest Hemingway once said, “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

Well, now there’s surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, rollerblading and more. And it’s promoted by fashion, bands who integrate their image with extreme sports, and of course photographers.

Lithuania is no different than the rest of the world with the popularity of extreme sports. The gray skies, rain and lack of mountains hasn’t stopped extreme sports enthusiasts here. The adrenaline rush is universal, and of course there’s more to these sports than that.

Adrenaline on its own would not be able to cope with the pleasure fans of the extreme get. The levels of dopamine, endorphin and serotonin (hormones associated with pleasure) increase, too during these sports activities, giving the participant a feeling of euphoria.

So extreme sports have become a part of Lithuanian urban culture. Skateboarders and roller skaters can be seen not only in the large cities but also in most small towns. Vilnius boasts two large skateparks — one along the banks of the Neris in the financial district, so you can do an ollie after trading stocks, and another in Pilaitė. Skaters should note that skateboarding outside the parks is banned, though.

Meanwhile universities around the country have set up social clubs for those who want to participate in group extreme sports.

Peaks like these can't be found in Lithuania, but it doesn't mean you can't mountain climb with Lithuanians. Here Vilnius University Hiking Club members scale Russia's Altai mountain chain.

Vilnius University’s Žygeivių Klubas (Hiking Club) is one such organization, and it welcomes not only students, but anyone who would like to travel and get on their wild side in nature.

From marathons to whitewater rafting to mountain climbing, the club members can do it all. Club members have won numerous competitions of mountain tourism techniques, and the club boasts it’s own climbing wall for the training and competitions.

Every summer and winter they are organize a few trips of different complexity to suit various levels of fitness to ranges like the Carpathians, Caucasus, Ural, Altai, Tien Shan and Pamir. An autumn trip to Crimea has become a tradition. The club owns its own mountaineering equipment.

Every Thursday from 19:30 the Club members meet at 31 Sauletekio in Vilnius to chat, drink tea, talk about trips and look at photos. For more information, you can email zygis@conf.vu.lt or visit their website.

— Baltic Reports editor Nathan Greenhalgh contributed to this article.