Sports are not for the faint of heart: 10 crazy competitions that are hard to believe (11 photos)

Do you think you know everything about weird sports? Are you no longer surprised by football with a flaming ball and chess on a giant board? Not at all! There are sports traditions in the world that will make you exclaim: “How is this even possible?!”





We present the top 10 most ridiculous, dangerous and delightfully absurd sports for which people turn bathtubs into racing boats, launch fish across borders, wrestle in mashed potatoes, like in cartoons. These sports have long gone beyond the usual, logical and reasonable.

1. World Pancake Championships (Scotland)



On the last weekend of September, competitors from all over the world come to the tiny Scottish island of Eastdale to determine the best in the art of launching flat stones on the water. The rules are strict: only natural slate from the island can be used, three attempts are allowed, and the stone must bounce off the water at least twice. There is even a category for “veterans” (humorously called “old bores”). Spectators often come in costume, adding to the fun of the event.

2. International Bathtub Regatta (Belgium)





The most absurd water race is taking place in Dinant, Belgium: participants are sailing on... ordinary bathtubs, decorated in any way they can. There are no strict rules here - the main thing is to get to the finish line, despite the waves, wind and laughter of the spectators.

3. Mashed Potato Wrestling (USA)



In the US, they hold very sticky competitions: wrestlers fight in a pool filled with hundreds of pounds of mashed potatoes. After the event, the "arena" is dismantled, and the remains are fed to cattle.

4. Tau'a - Easter Island Triathlon



This extreme triathlon goes back to the traditions of the Rapa Nui people: participants float on rafts across a volcanic lake, run with a heavy bunch of bananas and finish it all off with a race on boards. In the past, this was how leaders were elected.

5. Log Sliding (Japan)



Once every 6 years, the Japanese city of Suwa hosts the Onbashira Festival: men ride giant logs down a mountain, risking their lives. The winning logs become the columns of a local temple.

6. The Battle of Oranges (Italy)



In Ivrea, Italy, thousands of people throw oranges at each other for three days to commemorate the uprising against tyrants. Participants are divided into "rebels" and "castle defenders" in brightly colored costumes.

7. Bolivian "Cholita Wrestling"



In La Paz, women in traditional skirts and bowler hats take to the ring, turning wrestling into a show with social implications. The word "cholita" used to be offensive, but now it's a symbol of strength.

8. Quidditch in Real Life (Uganda)



Harry Potter fans in Uganda have adapted Quidditch for the real world. The game has become a symbol of equality: everyone can participate, regardless of age or physical fitness.

9. Llama Races (USA)



Colorado hosts a 5-kilometer race where participants run llamas on a leash. It's part of a charity festival to support organ donation.

10. Mullet Throwing (USA)



At Flora Bama Beach, crowds of spectators watch as participants throw mullet fish across the Florida-Alabama border. The fish are then fried and served to anyone who wants to try it.

These strange, fun, and sometimes dangerous sports prove that human imagination knows no bounds.