Honestly, your guess is as good as mine when it comes to why someone might risk life, limb, and oar for this.
There’s something particularly magical about being able to paddle your way down Broadway.
Earthquake BMX Bikers
As this shot taken after the huge earthquake in Christchurch, NZ in 2011 clearly demonstrates, wrecked pavement is not only for skateboarders.
Blizzard Snowboarders
Blizzards are another prime example of extreme weather phenomena that will transform an urban environment into a veritable playground.
Hurricane Surfers 
Especially noteworthy in California during Hurricane Sandy, hurricane surfing is as intense as it is dangerous– but when you’ve got to ride a legendary swell then there’s almost no better time to do so.
Flood Kayakers
I’m willing to bet that every single one of these people who kept kayaks in their small apartments were really stoked when they realized they could use them for something other than that rare trip out to the coast.
Typhoon Wind Surfers
Imagine: A sporting event that only exists during extreme weather conditions. Enter: The insanity that is Red Bull Storm Watch. By closely tracking hurricane, tsunami, and typhoon patterns, the team at R.B.S.W. literally select the most volatile conditions for their windsurfing competitions.