If there is one thing people love to do in life, it is to show everyone else just how great they are. These burly competitors take things to a whole new level. If you are good at something, no matter how odd, you might as well get some much deserved recognition for it right? Take a look at some of the most bizarre competitions from around the world.
1. World Beard and Mustache Championship.
With over 15 different categories ranging from all natural to the crazy freestyle, this beard competition has been held in various locations around the US and Europe since 1990. These range from manly as hell, to full on crazy.
2. Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake.
Competitors chase after a 9 pound wheel of cheese down a steep hill and the first person over the finish line at the bottom wins the cheese. So many people are injured that, in 2005, the races had to be held up a while in order for the ambulances to return from the hospital. Cheese is pretty good, but I’m not sure it is worth an ambulance ride.
3. Air Guitar Championships.
There are competitions held all over the world, but The Annual Air Guitar World Championship Contest is the biggest. It has been held annually since 1996 in Finland. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I suppose.
4. Worm Charming Championships.
Worm charmers get a small plot of soil and try to get the most worms in a set amount of time. The World Worm Charming Championships have been going on in England since 1980. The record for most worms is 567 held by a 10-year-old girl. I wonder if there are worm whisperers.
5. Wife-Carrying Races.
Wife-carrying races are popular in many countries, and the world championships are held in Finland every year. This looks pretty fun. That’s easy for me to say because I would be the one being carried.
6. Baby Crying Contest.
This 400-year-old contest is held in Tokyo every spring. Student sumo wrestlers try to make their assigned baby cry first by making faces and noises. It is said to bring good health to the baby. Those are going to be some healthy babies.
7. Toe Wrestling.
The World Toe Wrestling Championship is held annually in England at the Bentley Brook Inn. It was started in the 1974 by 4 guys at a local pub…shocking. That is some serious toe business right there.
8. Lawn Mower Racing.
It may not be quite as popular as Nascar, but there are multiple national organizations in the US. It is also very popular in the UK and Australia. That looks like a blast!
9. Rock-Paper-Scissors.
There are many different competitions held in various countries, and there was even a league sponsored by Bud Light. Even though it seems like winning is random, contestants try to pick up on subtle clues given off by their opponent’s behaviors.
10. Gurning Championship.
Gurning is making an ugly face, and the world championship is held every year in England during the Crab Fair. Proof there is a competition for everyone out there.
11. Cherry Pit Spitting.
For 41 years now the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship has been held at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Michigan. The record distance in competition is 93.5 feet!
12. Black Pudding Throwing.
The World Black Pudding Throwing Championships are held annually in England on the second Sunday in September. In the competition, you have three attempts at throwing a black pudding wrapped in lady’s tights. You must throw it underhanded and try to knock down as many Yorkshire puddings off of a 20-foot-high platform as you can.
13. Cockroach Racing.
On Australia Day, the main event in cockroach racing is held at the Story Bridge Hotel. Contestants bring their own cockroaches which are released at the center of a tarp and the first one to the edge is the winner.
14. Areca Tree Climbing.
The Areca Tree Climbing competition is held on Independence Day in Bondowoso, Indonesia. The 30 foot trees are greased and teams climb together to grab the gifts placed at the top.
15. Bed Racing.
There are bed races all over the world and they require at least one member of the team to ride on the bed. Many are held to raise money for charity. Next year will be the 50th Great Knaresborough Bed Race in England, which is a 2.4-mile-long race. Check out the lady just sitting on the bed in the picture below.
16. A bee-wearing or bee-bearding competition
Held in China every year. The winner is decided by the most weight of bees. The Guinness World Record holder wore around 87 pounds, which was around 350,000 bees.
17. Shovel racing.
Shovel racing started as a way for ski lift operators to get down the mountain. It can be done on regular or modified shovels and reach speeds of 60 mph. It was even in the first X Games, but was removed due to safety concerns.
18. Nailympia
The “Olympics of nails” has been going on for 10 years now. There are more normal categories like French manicure, but the sculptures of the fantasy category are crazy. I wonder how they do other things with those nails….
19. Baby Crawling.
Apparently these competitions happen in a lot of places. The largest one, according to the Guinness Records, was in China with 451 babies competing.
20. Cell Phone Throwing.
These competitions are held in many locations with the world championships held in Finland. Many events are sponsored by recycling companies and competitors throw old phones in hopes of winning a new one. The record throw is just over 360 feet. I want to throw my cell phone on a daily basis, I should enter this.
21. Air Sex World Championships.
If air guitar isn’t wild enough for you, go compete in the Air Sex World Championships. Since 2009, there has been a nationwide tour across the US where they crown regional winners that go on to compete in a final tournament to crown the ultimate victor. I wonder how one becomes a judge for these things.
22. Ostrich Racing.
Popular in Africa and some parts of the US, ostrich racing is similar to horse racing. The ostriches are a little more uncontrollable though, making for an exciting event.
Who knew making ugly faces and having air sex could be a good thing? Just think of all the everyday things that there could be bizarre competitions for. If napping is one, I just might have a trophy in my future.