Wife Carrying
A sport that was created in Finland, Eukonkanto, or wife-carrying, has spread across the world since the late 1800s. It is a sport aptly named even though the requirement of a "wife" is no longer a strict rule. According to USA Today, in an article written in October of 2008, winners of the Wife-Carrying Competition held in Maine each year are awarded the "wife's" weight in beer. Obstacles, changes interrain, and 253.5 meters define the course. If you are looking to enter yourself into the World Championships in Finland, the North American Wife Carrying Championship in Maine is a great place to start!

Beard and Mustache Contest
Please, please, please go visit the World Beard and Mustache Championship website at www.worldbeardchampionships.com. You will not believe your eyes! The U.S. Team is on a quest to upset the Germans this year so check out their contestants at www.beardteamusa.org. Coney Island, Austin, and Seattle are just some of the places in the U.S. where you can enter into beard and mustache competitions but if you want to enter the World Championship which will be held in Alaska this year (2009) (only the second time the World Championship has been held in the U.S.) you have less than 4 months to prepare!

Toe wrestling
Made popular by the British, Toe Wrestling has been a "sport" since the 1970s. The World Toe Wrestling Federation (WTWF) has applied for a spot in the Olympics, but it has yet to be approved. Maybe the problem is a lack of experienced judges.

Unicycle Hockey
With new twists and turns, Unicycle Hockey is another growing sport. Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, and the USA are all countries boasting of unicycle hockey clubs. If you would like to see the club closest to you visit the International Unicycle home page.

Here are some more crazy competitions and where you can see them:

Cheese Rolling (the cheese rolls downhill and you roll after it): UK, Canada
Zorb Ball / Zorbing (becoming a human gerbil going downhill): New Zealand
Bossaball (Imagaine volleyball with soccer and a trampoline): Brazil, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Kuwait, Ecuador and Saudi Arabia
Lawnmower racing (self explanatory): Australia, U.K., and the U.S.

Start your own crazy competition and see if it sticks! Send us your own zanny sport and we'll post it here!