By: Jada Pan, Staff Writer
Breakdancing officially made its debut in the Olympics this summer, making its way from an underground sport to a mainstream one watched by viewers worldwide. This has left everyone wondering which lesser-known sports may be introduced in the future. Although these sports may be too niche to be added, here are four strange and obscure sports you’ve probably never heard of before:
- Cheese Rolling
Originating from England farmlands, this tradition of cheese rolling is believed to be at least 600 years old. The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake takes place every year on Spring Bank Holiday near Gloucester, England. This big event has even attracted competitors outside of the United Kingdom, from countries such as Germany, the United States, and Japan. During the race, a round Double Gloucester cheese weighing about seven to nine pounds is rolled down the hill. A group of ten to 40 competitors line up at the top of Cooper’s Hill then tumble after the cheese as fast as they can. To ensure fairness, separate events are held for men and women. The first to cross the finish line wins the cheese!
- Zorbing
Shifting another type of rolling, zorbing is also known as orbing and globe-riding. Similar to a hamster ball but for humans, this recreational sport involves being inside a big, transparent plastic ball. Participants can choose to roll on a flat surface or downhill inside these plastic orbs which have two layers of flexible plastic to absorb shock. An exciting experience can also be created with options such as inflatable, wooden, or metal ramps for more speed and momentum. With a properly inflated and sealed ball, zorbing is also possible on water for water walking.
- Giant Pumpkin Paddling
Competitors paddle in giant pumpkins in a regatta, a series of boat races. These giant pumpkins which weigh from 400 to 1,200 pounds are hollowed out to create space for the paddler. Carving out the insides of the pumpkins also allows for easier paddling. A well-known giant pumpkin regatta is the Windsor Pumpkin Regatta which is held annually in October, taking place on Lake Pesaquid in Windsor, Nova Scotia. It has inspired plenty of other pumpkin regattas, such as the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Oregon. Paddlers race each other in pumpkins as they would in canoes. Although the race is slow due to the heavy and hard-to-steer pumpkins, both paddlers and the audience have fun during this amusing event.
- Dog Surfing
As the name suggests, dogs are trained to surf alone or with a human on surfboards, bodyboards, and skimboards. Dog surfing competitions take place in many coastal areas on beaches in Florida and California, even here in the Bay Area at Pacifica. A notable dog surfing event is the Norcal Dog Surfing event & World Championships held annually at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica. In these competitions, dogs are judged based off their confidence on the board, technique, and how long the ride lasts. The dogs are divided into separate weight classes for small, medium, large, and extra large surfing heats. Ricochet, a golden retriever from San Diego, was a pioneer in dog surfing and won many competitions.
