Gallery: Ostrich Races, Naked Bike Rides, and Other Weird Sports of the World

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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    01

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    Riders racing ostriches is a common sport in Africa. It's still not exactly clear how it arrived in Virginia City, Nevada.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    02

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    The Dirty Dash is a mud run obstacle course mixed with military boot camp. One of the first tricky hurdles to overcome is a series of super slick six-foot walls.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    03

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    During Red Bull's Miami Flugtag, participants launch homemade, human-powered airplanes into Biscayne Bay.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    04

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    Lingerie basketball.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    05

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    A tourist sandboards in the early morning during a camel trek into the Sahara Desert.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    06

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    The annual Santa Speedo Run in NW Portland.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    07

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    The North American Wife Carrying Championship was founded in 1999 at Sunday River Resort in Maine and has been held annually in mid-October at that location ever since.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    08

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    The format of chessboxing is pretty simple: a round of chess followed by a round of boxing. That repeats until an opponent wins either by checkmate or knockout.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    09

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    Breanna Ziehlke encourages her frog to get on with it at the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    10

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    Perhaps the weirdest part of Swamp Buggy Races is the celebratory mud bath. Here race winner Eddie Chesser takes a dip with the queen.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    11

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    The Color Run.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    12

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    The home of bog snorkeling is Llanwrtyd Wells, Great Britain. Competitors must wear snorkels and flippers and complete the course without using conventional swimming strokes. Wet suits are not mandatory, but the smarter swimmers sport them.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    13

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    Inspired by the Harry Potter book series, Quidditch is a co-ed contact sport with a unique mix of elements from rugby, basketball, and dodgeball. A team is made up of seven athletes who play with brooms between their legs at all times.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    14

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    An attempt to stage the world's largest water balloon fight in Seattle fell short of its goal, but it did raise $55,000 for charity. Kiddie pools used for storage also allowed for a fun, post event urban surf.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    15

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    The Annual National Chuckwagon Races in Clinton, Arkansas.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    16

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    Brandy Rettig hugs French Toast, aka The Awful Waffle, one of the popular characters at Kaiju's Live Monster Wrestling.
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    Photo: Sol Neelman
    17

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    Unicycle football.
  • Image may contain Human Person Clothing Apparel Pants Festival Crowd and Markus Stockhausen
    Photo: Sol Neelman
    18

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    Bloody zombies relax on the lawn while waiting for their shift to begin at Run For Your Lives, an apocalyptic zombie fun run.
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