Top 10 Contenders For Most Bizarre Contests In The World
Around the globe hundreds of ludicrous competitions exist. Many date back to century old traditions, others have been conceived in recent years. Have you found your hidden talent yet? Maybe it lies in one of these…
1. Extreme Ironing Championships
Over a decade has past since the one and only ever World Ironing Championships that took place in Germany. The competitions acclaimed forefather Phil Shaw, known in the ironing world as ‘Steam’, has revealed he will be coming out of retirement to bring the sport back.
The contest involves people undertaking the domestic chore in extreme environments, such as in a fast flowing river or up a climbing wall. Yes you read that correctly, ironing up a climbing wall! One things for sure – mum, your picked, keep practicing.
2. Baby Crying, Sumo Style.
In Japan a 400-year-old festival sees mothers handing over their babies to student sumo wrestlers in a bought to they bawl. The aim of the game is to make your baby cry, the fastest wins. If the babies cry at the same time, then the loudest one is the victor.
If this contest couldn’t get any weirder, when neither baby breaks then the referee dons a devil mask until they do. The game is based on the proverb that “crying babies grow fast”. It is believed that a loud cry from an innocent baby will scare away demons.
3. Bee-Wearing Contest
I’m not sure about you, but when I see a bee there’s only one thing I do – run in the opposite direction whilst flailing my arms in the air as if independent from my body. Two beekeepers in China however, do not seem to share this view.
In fact, the aim of their contest is to do the exact opposite. Contenders have to attract as many bees to themselves as possible in 60 minutes, with only a pair of shorts, nose plugs and goggles for protection. Ouch. It has got to be up there with the strangest thing I’ve ever heard, but surely has to be applauded. The eventual winner was wearing 26kg of bees, which is equal to 26 standard sized bags of sugar!
4.Chess Boxing
A hybrid fighting sport that combines the cr me de la cr me of civilised mind-play with the brutality of a punching battle. Chess and boxing, the ultimate winning package of brains and brawn. The two go hand in hand, right?
5. World Toe Wrestling
A foot fetish lovers dream, a podophobic persons nightmare. Toe wrestling does what it says on the tin, it’s the ultimate game of footsie.
6. Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll
One of the more familiar contests The Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll is an annual event held in Gloucester. An old English tradition that now attracts contenders from all over the world to chase down the steep hill after a block of Gloucester cheese. Although for many runners the competition comes at price, resulting in dozens of injuries.
I love a stick of cathedral city cheddar every once and a while, but i’m not sure I’d risk breaking my legs for it. How far would you go for your food love?
7. World Custard Pie Throwing Championships
The rules of this contest are simple: Two teams of four stand eight feet away from each other and yes, you guessed it, throw custard pies at their opponents. Teams score points depending on the part of the body they hit, a face shot racking in six points.
This years Championship, held in Kent, saw 17 British teams and one Japanese take part. Ultimately Japans ITTE-G were too strong for The Fairy Cakes, proving their 5,845 mile trip was worth it.
8. The World Gurning Championship
The World Gurning Championships are held annually during the Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria. The fair itself dates back to 1267, but the competitions initiation is unclear. Although a description of the event was reportedly accounted in a local newspaper in 1852.
Contenders put their gurning capabilities to the test whilst their face is pushed through a horse collar, known to locals as “gurnin’ through a baffin”. It is believed that contenders with little or no teeth perform best. So if you fancy a day out with your grandparents why not pop up to Cumbria and try your luck?
9. The World Sauna Championship
The Sauna Championships take place once a year in Finland. To taste victory competitors would have to withstand 110 C the longest, yep, 110 C! Sadly, the contest has now been cancelled following the death of one individual.
10. Wife Carrying World
Championships
The international wife carrying race is 253.5 metres long and contains two dry obstacles and one water. The victor is the couple that completes the course in the shortest time. The name could be considered misleading as a neighbours wives can also be used.
So if your wife has consumed one too many burgers this summer, maybe the lady next door would be the easier option!
If any of these competitions have taken your fancy why not give one a whirl? Although, it is important to remember that many come with an element of risk, something that the man who surfs the worlds most dangerous waves knows all about. Gnarly, dude.