World’s Wildest Competitions

Could you outrun a T. rex? How about hundreds of people in inflatable T. rex costumes? Every year people suit up and race in the T-Rex World Championship in Auburn, Washington. The event, which takes place on a racing track, started as a company’s team-building activity. It’s been open to the public since 2017.

Racers who bring their own dino suits can enter the race for free. In 2023, more than 200 people competed!

After a series of qualifying heats, the nine fastest dinos go head-to-head in a final sprint. Ocean Kim of Hawaii, barely edged out two other contestants who crossed the finish line at almost the same time. “I’m very proud,” said Kim, who raced under the name Boto Rex. “I’ve been training for this all my life,” he joked.

Could you outrun a T. rex? How about hundreds of people in T. rex costumes? Every year people suit up and meet at a track in Auburn, Washington. Then they race in an event called the T-Rex World Championship. The competition started as a company’s team-building activity. It’s been open to the public since 2017.

Entering the race is free. Runners just need to bring their own dino suits. In 2023, more than 200 people competed!

Racers first compete in qualifying rounds. Then the nine fastest dinos go head-to-head. Last year, three finalists crossed the finish line at almost the same time! Ocean Kim of Hawaii was declared the winner. “I’m very proud,” said Kim, who raced under the name Boto Rex. “I’ve been training for this all my life,” he joked.

This peat bog in Llanwrytd Wells, Wales, is extremely cold and muddy. It has an inescapable funky smell. But every year, people travel there to don snorkels and flippers and jump right in! They’re racing for glory in the World Bog Snorkeling Championships.

Peat bogs form as plant material decomposes. To prepare for the race, organizers dig a trench through the soggy wetland. Competitors are timed as they swim across and back, dodging clusters of slimy reeds.

“It’s completely pitch-black underwater,” says five-time champion Neil Rutter of London. “It isn’t a great deal of fun while you’re doing it, but it’s very satisfying when you’re done.” Rutter was surprised to win the men’s race the very first time he tried. After four more victories, he plans to take a break this year—but not forever. “I don’t think the bog has seen the last of me,” he says.

This peat bog is in Llanwrytd Wells, Wales. It’s extremely cold and muddy. It has a very funky smell. But every year, people put on snorkels and flippers and jump right in! They’re racing in the World Bog Snorkeling Championships.

Peat bogs form as plant material breaks down. Organizers dig a trench through the bog to prepare for the race. Competitors are timed as they swim across and back. They have to dodge clusters of slimy reeds along the way.

“It’s completely pitch-black underwater,” says Neil Rutter of London. “It isn’t a great deal of fun while you’re doing it, but it’s very satisfying when you’re done.” Rutter has won the men’s race five times. He plans to take a break this year. But he’ll probably be back, he says. “I don’t think the bog has seen the last of me.”

On your marks, get set . . . STOP! Stop doing anything, that is. That’s the goal of the Space-Out Competition. Since 2014, costumed participants in Seoul, South Korea, have competed to “space out” better than anyone else for 90 minutes. Judges measure each competitor’s heart rate every 15 minutes. They award points for heart rates that stay steady or slow down—a sign of being calm. Players also receive an artistic score based on how spaced-out they look. A combination of these scores determines who is crowned the champion.

An artist who goes by the name Woopsyang invented the contest. She realized she felt pressure to stay busy all the time. “Once I committed to doing nothing, my anxiety disappeared,” she says. “This is the only competition in the world where you can do nothing to win prizes.”

On your marks, get set . . . STOP! Stop doing anything, that is. That’s the goal of the Space-Out Competition. It’s been held in Seoul, South Korea, since 2014. Competitors try to “space out” better than anyone else for 90 minutes. Every 15 minutes, judges measure their heart rates. They earn points if their heart rates stay steady or slow down—a sign of being calm. Players also receive an artistic score based on how spaced-out they look. A combination of these scores determines who wins the event.

An artist named Woopsyang invented the contest. She realized she felt pressure to stay busy all the time. “Once I committed to doing nothing, my anxiety disappeared,” she says. “This is the only competition in the world where you can do nothing to win prizes.”

Every year, a hotly anticipated equestrian event takes place in Helsinki, Finland. Hundreds of riders and their horses gather to jump over hurdles and perform precisely coordinated routines. But the competitors aren’t riding living, breathing horses. Instead, they’re galloping, trotting, and jumping with miniature horse heads on a stick!

These classic toys, called hobbyhorses, are popular with young people in Finland. “Riding” them has grown into a sport for an estimated 10,000 Finnish kids. Though it might look silly, hobbyhorse riding is physically demanding. “You’re using your own body instead of a horse’s,” says Alisa Aarniomäki. She competes and coaches others in the Finnish Hobbyhorse Championships.

“I totally understand that it might look funny,” Aarniomäki adds. “But it’s about me having fun and enjoying myself.”

Every year, hundreds of riders and their horses gather in Helsinki, Finland. They jump over hurdles and perform artful routines. But the competitors aren’t actually riding living horses. They’re trotting and jumping with miniature horse heads on a stick!

These classic toys are called hobbyhorses. They’re popular with young people in Finland. “Riding” them has become a competitive sport. An estimated 10,000 Finnish kids participate!

Hobbyhorse riding might look silly. But it’s very physically challenging. “You’re using your own body instead of a horse’s,” says Alisa Aarniomäki. She competes and coaches others in the Finnish Hobbyhorse Championships. “I totally understand that it might look funny,” she adds. “But it’s about me having fun and enjoying myself.”