Many people love watching and participating in sporting events such as baseball, football, or volleyball. However, there are many sports people around the world do not even know exist. Sports that may seem strange but are many people’s favorite pastime. Sports such as Extreme Ironing and Zorbing are secretly and slowly sweeping the globe.
1. Cheese Rolling
Mark your calendars. The next cheese rolling event is Monday, May 29, 2017. The cheese rolling events take place on Cooper’s Hill near Brockworth and Gloucester, United Kingdom. The annual Cheese Rolling Festival is held every year midday in Gloucestershire on the Late Spring Bank Holiday Monday. The sport itself is the rolling of a 9 pound Double Gloucester cheese. The competitors race, down the hill, after the cheese. This may seem silly and simple; however the cheese has a head start and can reach speeds nearing 70 mph, enough to injure a fan in the crowd. Not only that, but competitors can face several injuries. The hill is steep and uneven. Paramedics stand by to help competitors who may stumble and fall down the hill as a result of not being able to keep their footing. Last year, a man broke his ankle in the first race followed by several others. The first person to cross the finish line at the bottom with the cheese is the winner.
2. Extreme Ironing
Ironing is a simple household task that many find boring and time consuming. However, ever tried ironing underwater? How about on the side of a mountain? While skydiving? Extreme Ironing involves taking ironing boards to remote locations and ironing items of clothing. The Extreme Ironing Bureau says extreme ironing is “the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.” Phil Shaw, who created the sport in the 1990’s came out of retirement in 2015 to train since the sport is once again becoming a fascinating pastime for people seeking adventure, sport, and household chores.
3. Bossaball
A new sport created between 2003 and 2005 by Filip Eyckmans is sweeping the globe. Bossaball is a sport between two teams of 4 or 5. Bossaball mixes elements of volleyball, football, gymnastics and capoeira. The sport requires skill, flexibility, strength, teamwork, and focus. The new sport is taking storm throughout the world although the United States has not yet caught on. It even made it into the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016.
4. Quidditch
Inspired by the Harry Potter series, the governing body, US Quidditch, founded the sport in 2012. The USQ hopes that in the future “every person in the the United States is aware of Quidditch as a sport and has opportunities to play and engage at all levels.” USQ is open to teams of all ages and Title 9 ¾ promotes gender equality and inclusivity. There are 146 participating teams in the USQ throughout the nation. Quidditch is a contact sport mixing elements of rugby, dodgeball and tag. Seven athletes can be on the field at once, and they all must have brooms between their legs at all times while they run around the field. Each team contains one seeker, three chasers, two beaters and one keeper. Four different types of balls are on the field at once: one quaffle and three bludgers. One seeker runs around the field, and if he/she is caught the game is over and the team that captures he/she is awarded 30 points and is the winner. If not, the team with the most points wins.
5. Zorbing
Ever wondered what a hamster feels like rolling around in its ball? Zorbing could help fulfill this dream. Zorbing is a sport where people roll downhill inside a Zorb. Zorb’s are giant inflatable balls that hold the passenger. They can contain harnesses or straps to hold the rider in place or they can be free zorbs that allow the rider to walk freely inside and be tossed around as the ball moves. Some people even add water inside the zorb, known as hydrozorbing. All of the zorbs float on water; however, Water Balls are specifically designed for zorbing on water known as Water Walking or Aquazorbing. There are also Bubble balls for free running or sports such as zorb football or bubble soccer that have the passenger sticking his/her feet out of the bottom of the ball. Created in the 1980’s, inspired by the hamster ball, the sport was born and has been gaining popularity ever since.
6. Pea Shooting
The sport of shooting dried, green peas through a straw or tube – pea shooting. The sport is extremely popular in the United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, the World Pea Shooting Championships have been held there for the past 44 years. However, the sport is slowly becoming more popular in the United States. In fact, the first US National Pea Shooting Championship was held in a mall in Roanoke, Virginia.
7. Chess Boxing
Chess Boxing challenges both the body and the mind. The sport combines chess and boxing as one would think. Participants compete in alternating rounds of chess and boxing. Chess Boxing was invented by Iepe Rubingh. It was initially thought to be an art performance. However, it quickly turned into a competitive sport that many people today compete in. The sport is mainly popular in Germany, Great Britain, India, and Russia. In 2011, the sport took storm throughout the world. Many countries created their own Chess Boxing franchises. The sport gained so much popularity in fact, that Chess Boxing Global created a World Championship in 2013 that took place in Moscow.
8. Wife Carrying
Mark the calendars one more time. The 18th Annual North American Wife Carrying Championship will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017. Wife carrying originated in Finland and is based around the 19th century legend of Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen, or “Ronkainen the Robber.” Competitors race against competitors through a course 254 meters or 278 yards. The husband carries his wife on his back throughout the course. If the wife hits the ground at any point throughout the race, a penalty is put into place. The course includes two dry obstacles and one water obstacle. There is a Wife Carrying in North America as well as a World Competition. This is definitely a unique way couples can become closer – literally.
9. Shin Kicking
Shin Kicking is just as it sounds. Competitors hold each other and kick each other’s shins until one falls over. Played in Britain, the sport is more popular than many would think. Competitors stuff their pant legs with straw before the competition takes place to try and soften the blow. They are required to kick between ankle and shin while holding on to each other, and it has to be a fair trip rather than simply pushing their competitor over. However, those are basically the only rules to the competition. Shin Kicking is part of the Cotswold Olimpicks, a collection of largely harmless and fun activities. It is held in Gloucestershire, just like the cheese rolling competition. The Cotswold Olimpicks date back to 1612 when they were created by Robert Dover. Shin Kicking is one of the main events that everyone comes to watch in the Cotswold Olimpicks.
10. Toe Wrestling
Toe wrestling may seem fictional, however, it has become a favorite sport to some people. It has gained enough attention, in fact, that people have asked for it to be in the Olympics. The sport was born in 1974 in a bar in Wetton, Staffordshire. The sport is similar to arm wrestling, just with feet instead. Before the competition, a full toe inspection is performed before the competition can begin. During the three round battle, switching feet each round, competitors interlock their toes and then fight to pin one another’s feet. For 12 years, Englishman Alan ‘Nasty’ Nash has held the title of toe wrestling champion, keeping the UK on top of the sport they created years ago in Ye Olde Royal Oak Inn.
