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Odd Sports Competitions from Around the World
People can find competition in almost anything, including art. The goofier the sport, the more it makes some people nostalgic for long-gone gym classes.
Below, we present just ten of the many odd competitions that have popped up around the world. Some are deeply engrained in their respective societies, and some have gone from tongue-in-cheek to serious stuff. They all look fun and slightly dangerous, which is really what sports are about.
Hogs Gone Wild
You’d think after a long self-assignment and you find yourself still caked with pig slop in your ear, it’d be a shitty day. And you’d be right, it was a shitty day, a wonderfully shitty day.
If you’re going to get filthy, do so in Wisconsin, home of Hog Wrassling, part of the annual Wild West Days in Viroqua.
(BTW, I swear to Baby Jesus, I’m smelling bacon while typing this entry, which is better than the stench I smelled on Saturday.)
There’s something I’m diggin’ about Wisconsin. And it’s not just the insanely addictive fried cheese curds. People there are funny and quirky, two of my favorite traits.
Last year, Bittle and I roadtripped from Chicago to Hayward, ‘sconi for the Lumberjack Champs. This year, we drove to Wisconsin’s Amish country to go back in time in a big way.
Viroqua goes all-out for its Wild West celebration. Felt like I was on the set of Deadwood, a much more hygienic version anyway.
They had shootouts, hangings and a town drunk. A stagecoach shuttled people from 2010 to 1870. Dare I say it was wild?
I actually had to pace myself a little that day. Bittle and I were there for the hogs and I didn’t want to lose steam – or CF card space – with that wonderful western distraction.
Access for the event was great. Too good in fact. Unless you happened to have a change of clean clothes for the drive back.
It was interesting editing through my 70.1 GB of RAW images. Overall, I had no sense of what I got. The action was faster than you’d imagine and I simply hammer-locked on anything that looked interesting. The Decisive Motor Drive ™ in action (**)!
I was happy to discover that most of my images were tack sharp. Felt smart that I spent a recent day with good buddy Dan Root, calibrating all our gear in his backyard. WWDRD?
Brompton Bike Competition, England
The makers of these lightweight, foldable commuter bikes sponsor the annual Brompton World Championships every year, and this year’s will be on October 3rd in Oxfordshire, England. Jackets and ties are required.
Cheese Rolling, England
Every spring, the citizens of Gloucestershire throw a wheel of cheese down Cooper Hill and chase after it. The winner of the race gets to keep the cheese. Due to hill’s steepness, the wheel can reach speeds up to 70mph, injuring many racers along the way. Safety concerns like this led the 2010 race to be cancelled.
Korfball, Netherlands
This is a Dutch version of basketball that’s also played throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. As one of the few mixed-gender ball games, it was a demonstration sport in the 1920 Olympics in Belgium. There’s a beach version of the game too.
Iceboating, United States (Great Lakes)
Similar to sailboats, but fitted with skis and runners, traditional iceboats were used to ship goods across frozen lakes in the 19th century. Iceboats are now more often used for recreation and racing. To me, they look more beautiful than odd against their frozen backdrops.
Camel Racing, Middle East
While popular in the Middle East and India, the most notable camel racing event occurs in Alice Springs, Australia. While the sport has a questionable number of children as jockeys, there is a growing trend to hire adult racers. Regardless, camels are just plain funny, so I can see why the sport draws crowds.
Kickball, United States
For many of us, this sport serves as a reminder of a time when all we had to worry about was whether we could kick a rubber ball that was never inflated enough. Many adults are taking up the sport again, and teams with no sense of irony appearing all over the US. Unlike, the Brompton race above, tube socks and pigtails are strongly encouraged.
Chessboxing
We’ve covered it before, and we’ll cover it again. This is like beer pong for nerds.
Toe Wrestling, England
The World Championships started in 1976 in Derbyshire, UK. The object is to lock big toes and force your opponent’s foot to the ground. Not a game for the foot-phobic.
Snowmobile Racing, United States
This sport, popularized in places with lots of space and snow such as the American Midwest, Alaska, and Scandinavia, can be grueling, with some races going as long as 500 miles. While probably the least eco-friendly of all these sports, the photos are lovely.
Fire Jumping, Middle East
While this fire jumping shot was taken as part of an urban race in California, the sport has roots in a Persian New Year ritual that dates back the Zoroastrian era. Meant to symbolize rebirth–or in these guys’ case, bromance–it’s pretty exciting too.
Cardboard-Tube Dueling
Members of the Cardboard Tube Dueling League fight on the battlefield of Gas Works Park in Seattle. The individual winner receives a fancy, custom-made cardboard tube. Losers risk bruised egos and paper cuts.
Underwater Hockey
Also known as “octopush,” underwater hockey involves pushing a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into goals. Above, teams compete at the 2006 world championships in Sheffield, England.
The Mud-Pit Belly Flop
Spectators get sprayed at the mud-pit belly flop, the highlight of the annual Summer Redneck Games in East Dublin, Ga. Other events include a hubcap-discus throw and bobbing for pigs’ feet.
Bossaball
Similar to volleyball, the Belgian sport of bossaball also includes elements of soccer, gymnastics and capoeira. Each side of the court has an integrated trampoline, allowing players to bounce high enough to spike the ball.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot. Fire Away
Back in May, I traveled cross country to shoot what was – at the time – the largest dodgeball game in the world. That was cool and all. But damn if dodgeball isn’t also literally in my backyard.
I’ve had Funday Monday at Col. Sanders Park on my radar for some time, even bookmarking it on my calendar, as if I could forget it happens every Monday.
Sometimes, it’s hard to get motivated for something I can walk to. It’s always there. What’s the rush, right?
Well, here it is, finally.
One of the things that makes the PDX version of dodgeball better is that the court is much more intimate. Less hiding spots. In NYC, folks hung out in the back of the spacious volleyball court, letting others take the fall for them. Smart, but not quite the spirit of this game.
