Extraordinary talents will have the opportunity to shine in 2024 at unusual competitions such as underwater chess, bird calling, and wrestling in sauce…
To celebrate these unique challenges and the contestants proudly representing their countries, here are the 10 strangest competitions in the world.
World’s Ugliest Dog Contest – California, USA
Scooter, the winner of 2023.
Dogs with the most distinctive appearances gather annually at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma to see who can win the hearts of judges and the audience.
The ugliest dog in each contest will win a prize of $1,500 and an appearance on NBC’s Today show. This annual contest aims to honor imperfect dogs and encourage people to adopt pets in need of a new home.
Bird Calling Contest – Alaska, USA
The Bird Calling Contest welcomes all ages.
The highlight of the Kachemak Bay Bird Festival, organized by Homer Brewing Company, is the participation of bird mimickers of all ages competing to see who can best imitate the calls of various local bird species.
Contestants typically mimic the sounds of eagles, gulls, cranes, and sparrows. Prizes include specialty chocolates, bird-themed t-shirts, and gift vouchers.
American Mullet Championship – Online
Contestants participating in the tournament.
Fans of the iconic 80s hairstyle compete for the title of the most impressive “short in the front, long in the back” hair at the annual American Mullet Championship.
The online contest features categories for both men and women, those over 55 for older contestants, and a separate category for children and teenagers to find the next generation of beautiful hair.
Winners in each category will earn the title of America’s Best Mullet, along with a prize of $2,500.
World Heavyweight Knitting Championship – Joensuu, Finland
The competition celebrates knitting and heavy rock music.
This unusual competition welcomes contestants from countries including Finland, the USA, Japan, Denmark, Latvia, Russia, and Sweden, requiring them to combine knitting skills with dancing to heavy rock music.
The event debuted in 2022, with each participant joining the heavy metal band Maniac Abductor on stage to dance and knit to the music.
Although the 2023 event was unfortunately canceled, the organizers are committed to bringing back the World Heavyweight Knitting Championship in 2024.
World Wife Carrying Championship – Sonkajarvi, Finland
Contestants carrying their wives over obstacles.
In the annual World Wife Carrying Championship, husbands compete by carrying their wives through an obstacle course and a muddy stretch of 250 meters.
Qualifying events are held worldwide to determine who will represent their country at the championship in Finland, the birthplace of the sport.
The winning couple will be rewarded with beer equal to the weight of the wife.
World Pudding Wrestling Championship – Stacksteads, England
Wrestling match in pudding.
Athletes will have the chance to showcase their wrestling skills each year outside the Rose ‘N’ Bowl restaurant, which features a pool filled with delicious Lancashire pudding.
In addition to wrestling skills, contestants are judged on their costumes, humor, and entertainment ability. This fun competition aims to raise funds for East Lancashire Hospital.
World Underwater Chess Championship – London, England
The chess game requires contestants to dive underwater.
Chess skills as well as breath-holding ability will be tested at this annual competition, where players take turns diving underwater to make moves on a chessboard placed at the bottom of a swimming pool.
Contestants are required to move their pieces before surfacing; otherwise, they will lose the match.
Etan Ilfeld, an American chess master, stated that a debate on whether chess should be considered an art, science, or sport led him to create underwater chess to ensure that this version “definitely is a sport.”
World Surfing Championship for Dogs – California, USA
Dogs surfing.
Talented dogs on the waves gather annually at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica to compete and raise money for charity. Dogs that are not good at surfing can also win awards in other competitions, including frisbee catching, ball fetching, and dog fashion.
A portion of the proceeds each year is donated to various non-profit organizations related to dog adoption, surfing, and environmental causes.
World Invisible Guitar Championship – Oulu, Finland
The best air guitarists from around the world converge in Finland annually to pretend to play an invisible guitar while dancing to a song of their choice.
Contestants are judged based on technique, stage confidence, and the elusive concept of “invisibility.” The World Invisible Guitar Championship was established in 1996 with the aim of promoting world peace.
World Snail Racing Championship – Congham, England
The slowest race in the world.
The world’s slowest race returned in 2023 after being on hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The snail race began in the 1960s, with snails attempting to cover a distance of 33 cm to win a huge prize: a tub of lettuce.
The world record for the race was set in 1995 when a contestant named Archie completed the necessary distance in just 22 seconds.
