Weird and Wacky Sports: Extreme Ironing and Beyond
Daredevil? Me? …Not so much. Like food, I’m willing to try most things at least once, but admittedly draw the line where I see potential life-endangerment. This might explain why I spent my latest ski holiday curled up in a ball by the fire sipping grappa. Of course I had some regrets about not hitting the slopes, but those quickly abated after my flatmate came back with a giant lump on her head following a minor wipeout.
That being said, once in a while a good deal pops up, and the economist in me can’t help doing a cost/benefit analysis. Which would explain my decision to attempt the black slope on my first ever ski outing. Two for one? I’m in! After seeing today’s deal for Sphering – aka extreme entertainment and a massive adrenaline rush – I couldn’t help thinking about what other extreme, unusual sports might go on in the UK…
And oh boy, did I find some.
Extreme ironing
For some, ironing is serious business. Take one of my friends: trousers, jeans, knickers, socks – you name it, he’ll have it steamed and pressed. Others take it to a new level – or rather, a remote location, be it underwater, on a mountainside, or even whilst bungee jumping. And, believe it or not, this past-time started in the late 1990s in Leicester, England. The first ever contest, held in Germany, ended with Britain taking home both Bronze and Gold medals. Channel 4, and later National Geographic, even screened a documentary entitled Extreme Ironing: Pressing for Victory.
Poohsticks
Named after the famous character, Winnie-the-Pooh, Poohsticks is a rather simple unusual past time. Players drop sticks from the upstream side of a bridge – the player whose stick reaches downstream first is declared winner. Perhaps not the most exciting of games, the annual World Poohsticks Championships are nonetheless held each Day’s Lock since 1984 on the River Thames.
Lawn Mower Racing
Rather self explanatory. Lawn mower racing is a motor-sport where competitors race modified lawn mowers. It was apparently invented in West Sussex in 1973 by a group of men lamenting their inability to participate in most auto-sports. Today the organisation is supported in similar vein, advertised by the British Lawn Mower Racing Association as the “cheapest form of motorsport”. Since its inception, the sport has been exported to the States and now includes multiple national organisations.
Sphereing
Sphering basically involves high speed racing down a slope in a large inflatable ball, with a choice of between ‘Harness’ (basic strapped in), ‘Aqua’ (strapped in – with water!) or ‘Eclipse’ (strapped in and pushed in in total darkness). A definite adrenaline thrill, one of the perks for me is that it can also be done with a friend. Another perk… Sphereing sometimes been cited as an abdominal workout!
Do you know of any other weird and wacky sports/experiences? Fill me in!
Photography by planetxau, b1ue5ky and The British Lawn Mower Racing Association
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Re: Spheremania. Never even got to try it. Nightmare web-booking system. Wasted most of a whole day trying. Eventually managed to speak to a person two days later. Only one person there, Jen, seemed to use own initiative and common sense. Manager was just rude and a real jobsworth.
I am really glad we did not bother to complete the booking and turn up. Rather lose my fees than go through the hell of the experience with them.
Never ever want to have anything to do with this company.
Groupon Customer Services were the exact opposite. Brilliant. Every time. That is how CRM should be.