Our geography boasts stunning landscapes and incredible locations for extreme sports, and this programme lets you explore them. In its second season, you’ll see her alongside celebrities facing off against all sorts of adventures, from jet skiing and caving to quad biking.
Yumping.- You’re currently filming the second season of Canal +’s Xtreme Xperience. How did you get into the world of adventure?
Vanessa Olmos.- It was actually through the programme—before that, I’d barely tried any adventure activities. As a presenter, I hadn’t covered this kind of reporting, and as an athlete, I’d been a swimmer for years but never done anything involving "risk."
Y.- What’s your favourite sport?
V.O.- So many now, honestly! I always highlight skydiving because it’s so different from everything else—the medium itself is unlike anything we’re used to; hurling through the air at that speed with just your body is wild. But I also love canyoning, hydrospeeding, skiing... and hybrid sports like kitesurfing or speedriding. Classic surfing or bodyboarding are a blast too. Truth is, every one of them is thrilling in its own way.
Y.- Any you’d never try?
V.O.- Never say never, right? Some things I’ve tried—stuff I initially thought I couldn’t handle—are now my favourites. Like our guest Raquel Sánchez Silva said in the Extremadura episode: "Desire what you fear." Though I’ve still got a mental block with bungee jumping—even after three attempts! The crew stocks up on patience when we film it because I can take over 3 hours to finally leap—no exaggeration! (laughs). Fully geared up, on the bridge’s edge, I let go of the rail... but can’t step off. When everyone’s given up hope, I somehow do it—no idea how. At least that’s how it went last time.
Y.- Land, water, or air?
V.O.- All three! Seriously, there are more and more hybrid sports blending elements, and they’re epic. Here’s how I’d rank the extremes: Land activities freak you out because the ground’s right there—no one wants to crash. Water gives more wiggle room (it’s "soft," right?), but currents and forces you can’t control come into play. And air? Totally alien to our everyday—mistakes cost dearly, but for a moment, you’re living humanity’s oldest dream: flight.
Luckily, gear and techniques have evolved massively, making adventure sports far safer than years ago.
Y.- You’ve tackled nearly every adventure sport. What’s been your toughest moment?
V.O.- Before my first skydive, my hands shook and my throat went dry—even though I was desperate to jump. Bungee jumping felt impossible. Mountain biking still terrifies me (I’m not keen on crashing). Surfing’s physically gruelling, but those first few seconds on the board? Magic. Entering a cave for the first time, switching off your headlamp to total darkness? Daunting. Add cave diving, and your nerves and adrenaline go wild... Even "easy" activities become an Xtreme Xperience. After 50+ sports, I still get butterflies ziplining at an adventure park.
Y.- What’s Spain’s best spot for adventures like yours?
V.O.- I’m smitten with Costa Brava and Empordà (where I live)—you can do endless activities here. But filming Xtreme Xperience, especially this season, showed me Spain’s jaw-dropping diversity. We’ve got landscapes you’d associate with far-flung places right on our doorstep—no need to travel far.
Y.- Abroad? Any extreme sports there?
V.O.- So much planet left to explore! Furthest we’ve gone with the show is France, Andorra, and Portugal.
Y.- This season adds a twist: adventures with celebs. Are they daring?
V.O.- Everyone’s got an inner adventurer—it just takes coaxing. Many hadn’t tried adventure sports before, and it’s hilarious watching them take it on: Flipy white-water rafting, Nuria Roca doing extreme driving, Josep Lobató (the show’s voice) rappelling for the first time, Miguel Ángel Revilla in a hot-air balloon. Others are pros, like Álvaro Bultó wingsuit flying, Darío Barrio B.A.S.E. jumping from a balloon, Pocholo on a Jet Ski, or Víctor Janeiro caving.
Y.- You travel heaps for the show. Do you miss a settled life?
V.O.- There’s a season for everything. The crew loves being "on tour"—meeting fascinating people, discovering incredible places. But coming home to family and friends recharges us. My ideal? A mix of both—but always keeping travel in the picture.
Y.- Early in your career, did you imagine this path?
V.O.- Ha—"ending up" here? I don’t even think like that. Adventure sports have made me crave trying everything in life, not boxing myself in. I’m itching to explore new formats and projects. And let’s be clear: I’m not an extreme athlete—just a presenter lucky enough to try loads of adventure sports and become a total fan.
Y.- Are adventure sports addictive?
V.O.- Absolutely—in the best way. They’re fun, push your limits, connect you with people, and deliver that adrenaline rush. Our bodies are amazing—they give us these intense feelings just from experiences. It all makes you crave more: learning, discovering, living. How could that not be addictive? Life’s addictive!
Y.- What adventure sports would you recommend to Yumping users as starters?
V.O.- Try a bit of everything: a via ferrata for climbing, mountain biking or quads, a rafting day, canyoning, a tandem skydive or paraglide, skiing, or a scuba baptism.
Y.- Best for friends or couples?
V.O.- Both! You’ll bond either way. Ideally, your partner’s also your best mate—adventure sports bring out the best in you.
Trust me: after the nerves or tension, satisfaction and laughter always follow.
Y.- What’s your next big challenge?
V.O.- I’d love to master wingsuit flying—it’s mind-blowing. But I’ll keep doing everything else too. Season 3’s challenges are already in the works!
Y.- How far do you want to go?
V.O.- To infinity and beyond! (laughs). Seriously, I’d love to explore our planet—and maybe even a bit of the universe.
