Obscure Sports to Bring Out the Champion in You (or your toes)
Eddy Calkins '22 Managing Editor
As quarantine continues to test the creativity of my Google searches, I found some of the weirdest and most obscure sports in which anyone could become the next world champion. These “sports” are strange enough to use everyday skills that can be turned into substantial prizes.
Cheese Rolling
Do you remember rolling down hills when you were a kid? Well, every year at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, England, hundreds of people line up to chase a round of cheese. Yes, chase a round of cheese. A nine pound round of cheese is rolled down the hill and participants ranging from 14-40 years old try to beat the cheese down the hill. The first person over the finish line wins the round of cheese. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, but a ceremonial cheese round was rolled at 5:30 a.m. the day of the competition.
Pea Shooting
Do you remember rolling down hills when you were a kid? Well, every year at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, England, hundreds of people line up to chase a round of cheese. Yes, chase a round of cheese. A nine pound round of cheese is rolled down the hill and participants ranging from 14-40 years old try to beat the cheese down the hill. The first person over the finish line wins the round of cheese. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, but a ceremonial cheese round was rolled at 5:30 a.m. the day of the competition.
Pea Shooting
It is never okay to throw your food...except in the annual Pea Shooting Championship. The event takes place on the second Saturday in July in Witcham, England. Contestants use peas and a pea shooter to attempt to hit a one foot wide target from a distance of 12 feet (archery style). Challengers can bring their own pea shooters (many equipped with laser sight vision). All contestants must purchase a bag of official peas to ensure no peas are “pre-smoothed.” Until pea shooting makes it to the Olympic Games, the prize remains worldwide bragging rights and the John Tyson Shield (named after the founder of the championship). The event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19
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Hot Dog Eating Championship
Are you hungry? If the answer is yes, do you think you think you can eat 75 hot dogs in the next 10 minutes? The annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is on the Fourth of July. The event is held in the heart of Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. Participants are given 10 minutes to chow down as many hot dogs as possible. The competition is divided into men’s and women’s contests. The winner of each contest receives $10,000 and the “Mustard Yellow Belt”. Last year’s winners: Joey Chestnut (75 hotdogs) and Miki Sudo (48.5 hotdogs).
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Competitive Sleeping
Sleeping is everyone’s friend. Promoting the new sport of “sleep racing,” the World Sleep Championships in Spain is becoming the next extreme sport. Spain attempted a similar competition in 2010, but has “rebranded.” Founded only last year, the sport is gaining popularity faster than you can fall asleep. Contenders are tasked with getting the best sleep score (using an electronic device such as Oculus). The competition lasts two weeks, starting with a 3 night “round robin”. The winner receives a cash prize that has not yet been announced.
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Toe Wrestling
One, two, three, four, I declare a toe war. Another wild England sport involves two toes wrestling, similar to an arm wrestle. Debuting in 1976, toe wrestling has been denied by the Olympics twice. The sport still holds strong, and many say that it is England’s baseball. Participants set up their feet in a small box and touch toes. To win, you must have your opponent’s foot hit the side board. The competition consists of best-of-three rounds until the winner is crowned. The best part of the competition is the entry fee money is given to charity, leaving the winner with bragging rights
One, two, three, four, I declare a toe war. Another wild England sport involves two toes wrestling, similar to an arm wrestle. Debuting in 1976, toe wrestling has been denied by the Olympics twice. The sport still holds strong, and many say that it is England’s baseball. Participants set up their feet in a small box and touch toes. To win, you must have your opponent’s foot hit the side board. The competition consists of best-of-three rounds until the winner is crowned. The best part of the competition is the entry fee money is given to charity, leaving the winner with bragging rights