Events
The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions
introPeople love to compete with each other. And if you ever needed proof, these strange contests – from creative to just plain kooky – are it.
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Events
The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
beardsWorld Beard And Moustache Championships, Nashville (USA) – It all began when local beard clubs (yes, you read that right) in northern Europe began organising annual competitions and inviting their crinigerous cohorts from around the world to join in. Today, the championship event is held in a different location each year, with contestants competing in 16 classic categories – freestyle being the highlight of the occasion. worldbeardchampionships.com
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
guitarAir Guitar World Championships, Oulu (Finland) – And you thought air guitar was just something you do drunkenly at weddings. Ten countries host national contests throughout the year, sending their top pantomiming musicians to the world championship that’s been held in Finland since 1996. There, epic air guitarists battle it out for the best in technical merit, “mimesmanship”, stage presence and “airness”. airguitarworldchampionships.com [Photos: Juuso Haarala]
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
wormsWorm Charming Competitions, Blackawton (England) – This strange and slimy activity came about as a way of gathering bait for fishing, but can also be practiced as a competitive sport. Participants race against the clock to see who can summon the most worms from their assigned plot of dirt in a set amount of time, with methods ranging from creating vibrations in the ground to sprinkling the dirt with tea. No worries – the worms are returned safe and unharmed to the ground after dark, to prevent them falling prey to birds. wormcharming.co.uk
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
babiesBaby Crying Contest, Tokyo (Japan) – Every spring for 400 years, sumo wrestlers-in-training have faced off in an entirely different kind of match, the goal being to make faces and noises until their assigned baby cries. The first baby to cry is declared the winner, and the competition is said to bring good health to the little ones who take part. [Photo: Maria del Carmen Calatrava Moreno/Flickr]
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
toesWorld Championship Toe Wrestling, Ashbourne (England) – This little piggy went to market …and this little piggy became the heavyweight champion of the world. The origins of the sport are difficult to trace, but many agree that toe wrestling rose to popularity in the ‘70s, the object being – similar as in arm wrestling – to interlock big toes and try to force the opponent’s toe off the designated surface, called a ‘toedium’. bentleybrookinn.co.uk
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
mowerLawn Mower Racing, Various Locations in USA, UK & Australia – Lawn mowers: Not just for impeccable suburban streetscapes anymore. The US Lawn Mower Racing Association is a real organisation that hosts real events, pitting speed demons on heavy-duty landscaping equipment against one another in the spirit of safe, blade-free fun. More than an American oddity, the zany sport has also taken off in the UK and Australia. letsmow.com [Photo: USLMRA, letsmow.com]
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
rpsRock-Paper-Scissors, Various Locations – From the playground to the big leagues, this simple pastime is also practiced as a serious(ish) sport in several countries, with legit championships held around the world. Don’t believe us? ESPN once aired an RPS showdown, for which USD 50,000 in prize money was at stake. worldrps.com [Photo: wizardhat/Flickr]
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
gurningGurning Championship, Egremont (England) – Exercise those facial muscles for this offbeat face-off (pun intended). One of the more popular events at the annual Egremont Crab Fair, the Gurning Championship sees contestants battle it out over who’s best at gurning – otherwise known as making an ugly face.egremontcrabfair.com
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Events
The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
cockroachCockroach Racing, Brisbane (Australia) – Australia Day. It’s all about picnics, concerts, fireworks …and speedy cockroaches? It is in Brisbane, where one of the biggest Australia Day events is the Cocky Races, in which insects take the place of thoroughbred steeds to compete in 14 different races, including a steeple chase. “High-calibre entrants” (i.e. high-performing cockroaches) can be purchased before the races, with proceeds donated to charity organisation Youngcare. cockroachraces.com.au
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
beesBee-Wearing Competition, Shaoyang City (China) – Practiced since ancient times, bee-wearing (or bee-bearding) demonstrates a beekeeper’s harmony with his/her tenants. In modern times it has taken on epic proportions, with competitors standing on a scale while queen bees, held in cages attached to the wearers’ bodies, attract thousands of docile drone bees; goggles and earplugs are a must. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the current record-holder is Ruan Liangming, who wore 140 pounds of bees (approximately 637,000 insects) in May 2014.
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
dogsWorld’s Ugliest Dog Contest, Sonoma (USA) – Finally, homely hounds get their turn in the spotlight. Events include a Red Carpet Walk and a Fashion Faux Paw Show, complete with ugly sweaters, before one lucky(?) pooch is crowned ugliest of them all. Somewhat in spite of the name, the event is all about promoting love for dogs of all kinds, while providing a fun day out for Fido. sonoma-marinfair.org
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
clausClauWau Santa Claus Championships, Samnaun (Switzerland) – Santa Clauses the world over descend on this Swiss ski resort to celebrate the seasonal opening of the slopes, and to show the world they’ve got what it takes to be the best St. Nick. Contests include chimney-climbing, rodeo reindeer-riding, sleigh-racing and the final crucible: a ‘journey’ to the ‘North Pole’ on snow mobiles, giant skis and snow tubes – whoever gets there first AND builds an igloo, wins. Ho ho holy crap! myswitzerland.com
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
shin kickingShin-Kicking World Championships, Dover’s Hill (England) – Proving that adults are just giant children, this centuries-old schoolyard favourite has evolved into its own organised sport. Watch as two fully grown humans tussle each other, grabbing arms while they attempt to weaken their combatant with repeated blows to the shin, until one of them hits the ground. To reduce the inherent barbarism, competitors must wear soft shoes and stuff their trouser legs with straw. olimpickgames.co.uk
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The World’s 12 Most Bizarre Competitions.
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