Obscure Sports

Ruth McGinnis: The Queen of Billiards

Back when pool was a serious sport that grabbed the attention of the nation, one woman smoked the competition

We've got you covered.

Five Whimsical Words of the Winter Olympics, from 'Skeleton' to 'Salchow'

The sports are hard. The words are harder. We're here to help

Understanding the Doping Controversy That's Hit Sled Dog Racing

Four-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey's dogs tested positive for banned substances, but Seavey claims it was sabotage

Evel Knievel's Famous Snake River Canyon Jump

On September 8th, 1974, famous daredevil Evel Knievel climbed into a steam-powered rocket and attempted to blast across Idaho's Snake River Canyon

The Daring Stunt That Put Bungee Jumping on the Map

In 1987, two adventurers from New Zealand made a daring--and illegal--televised bungee jump off the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Nanocars Will Race Across (a Very, Very Tiny Bit of) France

Ladies and gentlemen, start your molecules

Chris Bertish at his finishing line in Antigua

Man Crosses the Atlantic On a Stand-Up Paddleboard

South African surfer Chris Bertish spent 93 days paddling 4,050 miles between Morocco and Antigua

Ron Hill celebrates fifty years of running every day

World's Longest Running Streak Comes to an End

After running a mile a day for 52 years and 39 days, running legend Ron Hill finally took a day off due to heart problems

As a professional falconer, Rosen has trained all of her birds, which now number close to a dozen. Her brood includes Ziggy, a hybrid prairie-gyrfalcon.

Why Winemakers are Turning to Falconry to Tackle Pests

Napa Valley vintners are finding this tried-and-true deterrent more effective than modern technology

Book carts can already get out of control quickly, so careening them along a twisty course was treacherous indeed.

Librarians Have an Olympics, Too

Brains met brawn in a bookish competition for the ages

Which of These Summertime Athletes Should Be Displayed on the Walls of the National Portrait Gallery?

Vote now for your pick!

Racers warm up before the annual Regata di Murano.

How to Row Like a Venetian

The art of Venetian rowing has sustained Venice for centuries. Spend the day learning to row from a local expert

Competitive Tree Climbing Is a Thing

It’s on, arborists

Players from the University of Sydney and McGill University grapple over the quaffle during the 2014 Quidditch World Cup in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Muggles, Rejoice: Quidditch is Becoming a Serious Sport

The Harry Potter-inspired game is now played by more than 300 teams around the world

Robot jockeys ride camels in Abu Dhabi.

The Latest Sign That the Robot Uprising Is Nigh? Camel Racing

A centuries-old pastime in the United Arab Emirates gets a reboot

Former Brazilian soccer player Valdo kicks a ball down the footgolf green in Bellefontaine near Paris — October 2013.

How the Soccer Ball Could Save the Golf Course

Enter the sport of footgolf, which is exactly what it sounds like

"Look Ma, No Hands!" A Rock Climber Scales Cliffs Without Using His Hands

Famous British rock climber Johnny Dawes puts a twist on his sport

Halfway through the 2015 Super Bowl, Seattle Seahawks strong safety DeShawn Shead #35 lines up for a kickoff

There’s a Competition to Be the Last to Hear About the Super Bowl Winner

It’s hard to last past Monday morning

Pat Millin eyes an unridden Arctic wave moments before he paddles out

Meet the Insane Surfers Who Travel to the Arctic Ocean to Catch a Wave

Photographer Chris Burkard takes pleasure in working through the misery of the ice-cold waters of Norway

A female German fighter rests after competing in the first World International Medieval Combat Championship.

The World Championships in Medieval Combat

Steps from a 15th century Spanish castle, combatants took to arms

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