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From the historic Greek Olympics to casual card games, humanity has always sought diverse ways to challenge themselves against others. As modern culture evolves, new and eccentric competitions emerge—some of which might astonish you with their existence.
Discover 10 unique contests that cater to humanity's innate desire to compete and win!
10. Mobile Phone Throwing
Move over javelin and discus—traditional sports pale in comparison to the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships. Launched in 2000 in Savonlinna, Finland, by the translation firm Fennolingua, this event encourages participants to release their frustrations by tossing mobile phones. It also promotes recycling, with sponsors providing recycled phones to ensure no personal devices were harmed in the process.
Over the years, the competition gained popularity in Finland and eventually became a global phenomenon. Participants of all ages now gather at tracks and fields across Europe and worldwide to compete for national championships.
The Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships feature two primary categories: Original/Traditional, where distance is measured for an over-the-shoulder throw, and Freestyle, which focuses on creativity and artistic flair. Taco Cohen, a 19-year-old Dutch circus artist, clinched the freestyle gold in 2007 with a jaw-dropping routine combining juggling and acrobatics. The current world record, set in Belgium in 2021, stands at an impressive 110 meters (360 feet).
9. Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest
What might seem like a playful activity at a bridal shower or kids' party is actually a prestigious annual event in New York. Contestants craft elegant gowns and headpieces using only toilet paper, tape, glue, and basic sewing tools. Far from resembling mummy wraps, the designs are breathtaking and rival high-fashion creations. Twelve finalists are chosen based on photo submissions, and their dresses are carefully transported to New York City for a runway show, where the winner takes home a $10,000 prize.
The runway at the Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest showcases intricate designs like papier-mâché bodices, crocheted toilet paper, and delicate floral embellishments. These exquisite creations are so refined that it’s hard to believe they started as simple rolls of toilet paper.
8. Hobby Horsing
Hobby horsing has become a unique passion for a dedicated group of young girls in Finland and is now spreading to other nations. The annual Finnish Hobby Horse Championships mimic traditional equestrian events, but participants use stick-mounted hobby horses instead of real ones—reminiscent of those from Enid Blyton stories or the children's show Romper Room. Modern hobby horses feature upgraded designs with soft, fabric heads.
Participants, mostly pre-teen and early-teen girls, treat Hobby Horsing as a serious sport rather than a childish activity. The equestrian event involves navigating a course, jumping over hurdles, and mimicking a horse's canter. In dressage, competitors perform graceful, music-synchronized movements while maintaining a steady upper body.
The hobby horse community fosters a strong sense of camaraderie, involving students, coaches, judges, and local competitions. The origins of this movement are somewhat enigmatic, as Finnish teens developed it independently. Filmmaker Selma Vilhunen stumbled upon online forums in 2012, inspiring her 2017 documentary, The Hobby Horse Revolution.
7. High Heel Drag Queen Race
It’s impressive enough that drag queens can perform on stage in towering heels, but they also compete in an annual three-block sprint. The 17th Street High Heel Race in Washington DC is a vibrant celebration of LGBTQI diversity and freedom. Held just before Halloween, participants don extravagant drag outfits and high heels, parading in front of massive crowds. While a few serious runners train specifically for the event, most are content with a lively, joyful stroll down the street.
What began as a casual gathering among friends in the 1980s has grown into an official event supported by the Mayor’s Office in Washington DC. The race has also inspired similar high heel charity events worldwide. Thankfully, first aiders are always nearby to assist with any unexpected tumbles or ankle injuries.
6. Ugliest Dog Contest
Fortunately, the competing dogs are blissfully unaware of the contest’s title and can trot off proudly. Held annually at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, since the 1970s, the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest champions rescue, love, and adoption for all dogs, regardless of their appearance.
The contest was the brainchild of Petaluma resident Ross Smith, who originally envisioned it as a small-town activity for kids. Little did he know it would gain international fame, attracting media attention for its unique and endearing winners.
Two recent winners, both rescue dogs, claimed the prestigious title: Zsa Zsa, an English Bulldog with crooked teeth and a tongue nearly touching the ground, and Scamp the Tramp, a scruffy, wide-eyed dog with an untamable coat. These beloved canines transitioned from homelessness to stardom, even traveling to New York for media appearances.
5. Air Guitar Playing
While one might assume a real guitar is necessary for a guitar competition, the Air Guitar Championships defy expectations. Known as “Airheads,” participants take the stage worldwide, miming guitar performances to enthusiastic crowds—all without a physical instrument. Spectators are treated to rock and heavy metal music, vibrant costumes, and dramatic stage antics.
The pinnacle of air guitar is the Air Guitar World Championships, held every August in Oulu, Finland (a recurring theme!). National champions showcase their skills and charisma on the global stage. A wildcard opportunity, the “Dark Horses Qualifying Round,” occurs the night before the finals. The competition features two rounds: a 60-second performance to a selected song and another to a surprise track. Props are allowed, except for instruments, and “air roadies” can assist—though backup bands are prohibited. Ironically, the winner receives a custom, handcrafted guitar.
Though air guitar isn’t a new concept (Joe Cocker famously mimed at Woodstock in 1969), it gained popularity in informal settings during the 70s and 80s. The Air Guitar World Championships debuted in 1996 as part of the Oulu Music Video Festival and have thrived since. Founded by Finnish musician Jukka Takalo, the event champions world peace and equality under the motto “Make Air Not War.”
4. Bed Racing
Beds aren’t just for sleeping—they’re also for racing! Every June, the town of Knaresborough in Yorkshire, UK, hosts the Great Knaresborough Bed Race. The event kicks off with a parade showcasing creatively decorated beds and runners, themed differently each year. After the parade, teams strip the decorations and prepare to race. Ninety teams, each with six runners, navigate grassy slopes and village streets while pushing a wheeled bed carrying a passenger. The passenger, wearing a helmet, directs and motivates the team like a rowing coxswain. The race concludes with the entire team swimming their bed across the chilly River Nidd to reach the finish line.
Don’t picture a massive bed—each racing bed is custom-built by teams and their consultants to meet strict size and wheel specifications. Local craftsmen contribute to the bed designs, while seamstresses create costumes for the teams. Since 1966, this lively event has followed the same 3.8-kilometer (2.4-mile) route, raising funds for charity. Originally organized by the Knaresborough Round Table, the event is now managed by the Knaresborough Lions Club.
Rain or shine, bed racing enthusiasts gather annually for this demanding yet joyous event. Despite Yorkshire’s unpredictable weather, the race has never been canceled. However, in 1972 and 1998, the river crossing was skipped due to heavy rains flooding the River Nidd.
3. Extreme Ironing
Adventure and ironing rarely go hand in hand—unless you’re an “Extreme Ironer.” These enthusiasts take their ironing boards to remote and daring locations to press clothes. Known as “ironists,” they’ve tackled ironing on mountain edges, while skydiving, and atop iconic landmarks. Not to be outdone, some have even ironed on water, whether water skiing, canoeing, or scuba diving.
Extreme ironing began modestly in a Leicester, UK, backyard in the late 1990s. Phil Shaw, the founder, started ironing outdoors to break the monotony, telling his baffled housemate he was “extreme ironing.” Soon, Phil (nicknamed “Steam”) and his housemate Paul (“Spray”) became trailblazers, recruiting friends to join their unconventional adventures.
In 1999, Steam launched an international tour to promote extreme ironing, and by 2002, the first Extreme Ironing World Championships took place in Munich, Germany.
Since then, daring ironists have pushed limits globally, competing solo or in teams. The Guinness World Record for “The Most People Extreme Ironing Underwater” was set in March 2011 by the De Waterman Diving Club in the Netherlands, with 173 participants ironing underwater for 10 minutes.
2. Santa Claus Championships
The unique Santa Claus World Championships, also called Clau Wau, take place every November at Switzerland’s Samnaun Ski Resort to kick off the ski season. Since 2001, teams of costumed Santas have competed in a two-day series of holiday-themed events.
Among the toughest challenges, as Santa enthusiasts agree, is the chimney climbing event. Participants climb a tall brick structure while carrying a gift, which they deliver down the chimney upon reaching the top. The Santas also engage in sleigh driving, snowmobile races, gingerbread decorating, and a mechanical reindeer rodeo.
1. Chess Boxing
Who could have imagined combining chess and boxing? Chess Boxing is the ultimate fusion of brains and brawn. Participants alternate between three-minute rounds of chess and boxing. After each chess round, the noise-canceling headphones are removed, gloves are put on, and the chess table is rolled away. Victory can be achieved through checkmate, knockout, or points, with no room for delays in the fast-paced chess rounds. Mastery of both chess strategy and boxing skills is essential—a boxer who can’t strategize with rooks and bishops or a chess player lacking punching power won’t succeed. One can only imagine the dual trainers in each corner: a boxing coach and a chess expert analyzing the board.
Chess Boxing originated in the early 2000s as performance art. Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh adapted the concept from French comic writer Enki Bilal’s 1992 work, The Nikopol Trilogy, which depicted a fictional Chess Boxing Championship. A decade later, Rubingh transformed the idea from art to sport.
The inaugural Chess Boxing World Championships took place in Amsterdam in 2003 and have since been held yearly in different nations. Numerous national championships also occur worldwide. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020, London Chessboxing made history by streaming the first pay-per-view Chess Boxing event to viewers across the globe.
