Russia's White Collar Daredevil

Feb 15, 2017 - 03:00 pm

Flyboard is a relatively young but fast-developing extreme sport. My goal was to perform at least one awesome stunt while still wearing my suit. I decided on a back flip, which I have mastered in quite a few sports (snowboarding, wakeboarding, parachuting etc). The Flyboard Russia team took about an hour to teach me how to do the trick. After practicing, my body was like one big bruise and my jacket was almost completely torn. Alexei Minaev / For MT

Traveling around China can be difficult, but rewarding. The country has lots of interesting sights, traditions, precious artifacts and a rich culture. China is more oriented toward domestic tourism, so a European tourist is a rare visitor. It's quite easy to get a visa for China, but you may face problems communicating — apart from the younger generation, Chinese people speak almost no English. There are also still echoes of the Iron Curtain, as Google and Facebook either do not work or are forbidden. This photograph was captured on the roof of a skyscraper in Shanghai, which is one of the top 10 most populated cities in the world. Until recently, there were shacks and rice fields here instead of stunning skyscrapers. Pavel Makarov / For MT

During our trip to China, the team covered a distance of around 6,000 kilometers on 5 planes, high-speed trains, ferries, buses and taxis. China quickly became one of my favorite travel destinations, and it is definitely one of the most exciting, epic, technologically-advanced and innovative countries in the world! This photo was taken on Huashan Mountain, where you can see some really amazing views. Its name comes from the word "hua" (flower) and "shan" (mountain). When you look at the mountain from afar, it resembles a lotus flower, which blooms with the first rays of the rising sun. Pavel Makarov / For MT

My project first began with the realization of my childhood dream — a parachute jump. I woke up early in the town of Kirzhach in the Vladimir region to experienced the rising roar of the aircraft's engines. As I watched the other skydivers, I was drenched by cold sweats, fear, adrenaline and cold, followed by 50 seconds of free fall and then absolute freedom. Now I hear the sky calling to me all the time. I can't live without it. Sergei Fomenko / For MT

This photo was taken in the Sahara Desert during a road trip from Moscow to The Gambia, West Africa. Over the course of three weeks, our team traveled through 15 countries and covered a distance of about 10,500 kilometers. We visited 20 cities, climbed the highest mountain in West Africa —Toubkal — and went snowboarding through the sands of the Sahara. Today, West Africa is very accessible to travelers — flights are becoming cheaper and obtaining a visa is easier. Snowboarding on sand is called sandboarding. There's no difference in what you ride, be it snow, water or sand. The main thing is to enjoy the ride. Sergei Kudryashov / For MT

Ruta 40 is not just a road: it's a lifestyle filled with adventures and challenges, just like Route 66 in America. Ruta 40 stretches all the way from Alaska to the southernmost point of South America — Patagonia. Many travelers dream of traveling its length, but not all are successful. This is because the road is rough, with high mountain passes, serpentine turns and littered with unfinished sections. During my trip to Latin America, I covered drove several thousand kilometers along the route. I was fortunate to see plenty of UNESCO sites on the way, including the Salta Valley, Cactus Valley, Valley de la Laguna and Valle de la Luna. Alexander Abramov / For MT

This picture is not a still from Interstellar or The Matrix: it was taken inside Moscow's ZILART, which is currently being built. When completed, it will be the biggest art quarter in Moscow. Its based on the site of the former Likhachyov automobile plant, also known as the ZIL center. During the Soviet era, the plant produced appliances and cars for the Soviet Union. Sergei Petrov / For MT

Divnogorye is a temple complex located on the banks of the River Don near Voronezh. Its monasteries, carved into gleaming white rock (the dunes), have attracted hoards of pilgrims and believers over the years. From a geological point of view, it is similar to Turkey's Cappadocia or Georgia's Vardzia. The name "Divnogorie" comes from chalk pillars, called divas ("диво [divo]" — "miracle") by the locals. This spot rejuvenates your energy and helps you to find peace. Pavel Makarov / For MT

The Neglinnaya River flows through the center of Moscow and gave its name to many of the city's streets, squares and metro stations. The river flows for 7.5 kilometers along this pipeline. It's not easy to access, especially if you're hoping to wakeboard. Ravil Kashayev / For MT

This unique spot in China's Zhangjiajie national park has beautiful lakes, mountain streams, magnificent waterfalls and a view of the Ulinyuan floating mountains. The mountains were formed by the weathering of sandstone and limestone, leaving the cliffs and peaks with interesting twists and contours . This feat of nature inspired the director David Cameron before the filming of Avatar, and the mountain was renamed Mount Avatar after the movie was released. Being there really is like visiting another planet — you feel as if you're on Pandora. Alexei Minaev / For MT

Renting an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP) is even easier than renting a car. The powerful roar of the diesel engine, its pull, speed, and off-road driving ability remind you of the vehicle's purpose on the battlefield. Snowboarding while being pulled by a BMP is a peaceful use of military technology, exclusively for sport. It's a reason to come to the negotiating table without spilling human blood. A promise to hold hands together as nations. We only have one world, and it's the only one there is. Make peace, not war! Dmitry Vesyolov / For MT

Skiing and snowboarding with the aid of a BMP is no more difficult than doing these things in the mountains. However, I did have to jump over trees, slide through puddles and avoid branches, as well as trying not to hit other riders. Dmitry Vesyolov / For MT

In remote and rural Russia, a young horse runs across a snowy field at a speed of just under 40 kilometers per hour. A snowboarder is being pulled behind him. Skijoring is a new sport that involves racing on skis (or a snowboard) while attached by a harness to horses. It originated in the Far North, where horses and dogs are the only means of transport. Skijoring first appeared at the 1928 Winter Olympics in Switzerland. Alexei Minaev / For MT

Plans, charts, coffee, budgets, documents, negotiations, deadlines... it's just another day in the life of ordinary office clerk Pavel Makarov. He wears a shirt with cufflinks, a slim tie, trousers, a jacket and sunglasses. His responsibilities include putting coffee in the coffee machine.

But outside the office, Pavel's life is rather different. Still donning his suit and tie, he plunges into the world of extreme sports, adrenaline, and adventure travel. With the aid of a camera, he began documenting his activities in his Instagram travel blog "The Office Plankton" (@macpava), which currently has more than 25,000 subscribers. It's worlds away from life at the office.

This photo gallery is a story written by Pavel.

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