Feeling stuck with the same old sports? There are many unique sports to try that offer thrilling competitive experiences. This article highlights some less-known activities—like Skijoring and Quidditch—to get your adrenaline pumping.
Ready for some action? Let's explore!
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- If you're seeking unique competitive sports to try, consider activities like skijoring, quidditch, and footgolf for a thrilling and unconventional experience.
- Selecting a sport like skijoring or cliff jumping depends on your comfort with risk and adrenaline, while options like quidditch and gel balling offer a blend of strategy and fun.
- To find local communities or competitions, search for niche sports groups on social media or join clubs that host events in your area.
- Popular sports like quidditch have grown from niche hobbies to organized competitions, with world championships and dedicated fan bases.
- For an eco-friendly option, gel balling offers a budget-friendly alternative to paintball, with dissolvable pellets making it an environmentally conscious choice.
Looking For Something New? Here's Our Picks For Top 13 Unique Sports To Try!
Some sports offer a thrilling experience that you may not find in traditional games... Whether on snow, water, or land—these sports promise excitement and competition!
Skijoring
Skijoring means "Ski Driving" in Norwegian. This sport has you on skis, pulled by a horse, dog, motorcycle, or even an ATV. Speeds can hit 40 mph (64 km/h) and jumps reach up to 8 feet (2.4 meters).
Quidditch
Quidditch was inspired by the Harry Potter series. It began in 2005 with 20 college students at Middlebury College, Vermont. Now, there are over 200 teams and about 4,000 players.
The International Quidditch Association (IQA) started in 2010. The first intercollegiate match took place between Vassar College and Middlebury College in 2007. By 2010, the Quidditch World Cup in New York City drew over 10,000 spectators.
Teams use a quaffle to score points through goalposts while dodging bludgers. Players also chase the golden snitch for extra points — just like in J.K. Rowling’s books ... without the magic and flying obviously!
Gel Balling aka Gelsoft
Quidditch not your thing? Try Gel Balling or as some people call it, Gelsoft. This is very similar to a cross between airsoft and paintball but instead of paint or plastic airsoft pellets / BBs, players use an 8mm ball of water-based gel that dissolve after hitting. No need for too much gear; it's comfy and easy. It's also much better for the environment since you aren't leaving tons of plastic pieces or paint splatters.
Game formats include Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and Free-for-All. Equipment costs less than paintball too!
Cliff Diving
Competitive cliff diving is an extreme sport that combines the thrill of free-falling with the artistry of acrobatic diving. Divers leap from heights of up to 85 feet, often off natural cliffs or specially constructed platforms, into deep water below.
While Red Bull's Clif Diving World Series has been going strong since 2009, native Hawaiians developed this as a religious ritual hundreds of years ago. It is believed that Kin Kahekili began this, jumping from the cliffs of Kaunolo on the southern tip of Lānaʻi. Realistically though, I'm sure men ... and probably some women too ... have been jumping off cliffs for as long as they've been able to climb up them.
For instance, the La Quebrada Cliff Divers in Acapulco, Mexico have been an organzied group for nearly 100 years, but drew upon earlier traditions as well.
The sport requires not only immense physical skill and courage but also precise calculation, as divers must control their trajectory and speed to ensure a safe entry into the water. Cliff diving is popular in scenic coastal areas around the world, with notable competitions like the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, which attracts elite athletes who push the limits of what's possible in this exhilarating sport.
Underwater Hockey aka Octopush
Underwater Hockey, also called Octopush in the UK, is played in a swimming pool. Teams use fins, snorkels, masks, and small sticks to push a puck toward the opponent's goal. The sport needs quick descents for air while maintaining speed underwater; this helps lung health.
The game involves two teams aiming to score goals by pushing the puck with their sticks. It is recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee and governed by CMAS, but it has a long way to go before competitors can face off and compete for gold. Played in over 40 countries, it features national and world championships.
Explore this thrilling team sport for an intense workout!
Zorbing
Zorbing is a thrill ride in a giant inflatable ball. This sport began in New Zealand and has spread worldwide. While most commonly experienced as an adrenaline experience like ziplining, people have found ways to turn it into a unique competitive sport as well!
The core context is the same, though. You roll down hills or across the water, cushioned by an inner ball suspended inside the larger one. However, unlike some of the other unique sports on our list of things to try, for the most part the rules of competitive zorbing differ from one arena to the next. It's more of an excuse to have fun.
Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is the only dedicated zorbing park in the U.S. It offers four different lanes for varying levels of excitement. Safety gear and tips are provided—dress appropriately and remove jewelry to ensure fun and safety.
Footgolf
Footgolf combines soccer and golf. Players kick a soccer ball from the tee into an 11-inch-deep cup on a course like golf. It started in the Netherlands in 2008 but has roots back to "code ball" from the 1920s.
The first purpose-built course is Footgolf Cork, in County Cork, Ireland. Argentina boasts one of the first professional leagues for this sport. Both young football players and older golfers enjoy footgolf's unique challenge and fun.
Sepak Takraw
If you enjoy physical activity and acrobatics, you will love sepak takraw. It’s also known as “kick volleyball.” Players hit the ball using only their feet, head, knees, and chest. Team USA snagged double gold medals at the 2022 World Cup in South Korea.
The men’s team defended these gold medals at the King’s Cup in Thailand in 2023.
The sport uses a rattan ball and needs great balance and control. Coach Jeremy Mirken works hard to grow awareness of sepak takraw in the U.S. Costs for international competitions often come out-of-pocket for players...
Bossaball
Bossaball mixes soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, and music. Played on an inflatable court with trampolines, it adds a fun twist to team sports. Players try to score by hitting the ball over the net, like in volleyball.
This sport needs great hand-eye coordination and agility. The trampoline helps players jump high for amazing spikes and scorpion kicks. Music plays in the background to keep everyone pumped up.
People love watching Bossabal because combines many athletic skills for a thrilling experience.
Spikeball
Spikeball brings fast-paced action to your game. Played on a volleyball court with a small, round net at ankle level, this game is a lot of fun to watch and even more exciting to play.
Teams of two hit a tiny ball onto the net for it to bounce back to their rivals. It's like table tennis but more intense and played outdoors. With an underhand serve, players dart around, jumping and diving to keep the ball in play.
Cycleball
Cycleball combines cycling and soccer. Players ride special bikes, using their front wheels to hit the ball. These bikes have a short wheelbase for easy turns and quick moves.
Seats sit far back so players can pop up easily. Vertical bars help them shoot with precision. Players do tricks like tracking, wheelies, and dribbling the ball. The game needs great balance and skill in handling the bike.
Sandboarding
Sandboarding involves riding a waxed wooden board down dunes that can reach up to 500 feet high. Unlike snowboarding, it needs less gear and is safer with fewer injuries. It is also a lot warmer! Each ride feels unique because the sand shifts constantly.
This sport runs all year round and offers thrilling experiences on places like the Oregon Coast. The smooth slides provide adrenaline without much risk, making it an exciting option for adventurous guys looking for new challenges.
Top Sandboarding Locations:
- Huacachina, Peru: Renowned for its towering sand dunes and desert oasis setting.
- Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, USA: Home to the tallest dunes in North America, perfect for sandboarding.
- Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Michigan, USA: A popular spot along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, offering a unique Midwestern sandboarding experience.
- Florence and Pacific City, Oregon, USA: Known for expansive coastal dunes, providing excellent sandboarding along the scenic Oregon coast.
- Namib Desert, Namibia: Offers iconic sandboarding on some of the world's tallest dunes.
- Port Stephens, Australia: Features the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Atacama Desert, Chile: Provides a unique sandboarding experience in the world’s driest desert.
- Dubai, UAE: Combines sandboarding with luxury desert adventures in the Arabian Desert.
- Monte Kaolino, Germany: An artificial dune popular for sandboarding competitions in Europe.
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a sport with roots dating back to the Vedic period in India, and potentially earlier - drawing on ancient traditions and even accounts of Gautama Buddha and Lord Krishna playing the game according to religious scholars.
Modern Kabaddi is played by two teams of seven. A raider chants "kabaddi" while tagging opponents and must return safely to score points.
Each half lasts 20 minutes, keeping the game fast-paced. Defensive players engage only after the raider tags someone. Since 2004, India has dominated international kabaddi competitions. The United States has a national team and like with underwater hockey, there are efforts being made to bring it to the Olympics as well.
Teqball
Move from the rough play of Kabaddi to the precise game of Teqball. Played on a curved table called the Teq Table, this sport began in Budapest in 2014 and is set to be an Olympic sport by 2028.
The players can't use their arms or hands but can use other body parts.
Matches can be singles or doubles. Each player uses a maximum of three touches before returning the ball. This fast-paced and skillful game blends elements from soccer and table tennis...
Try it for a unique thrill!
Conclusion
Thrill-seekers will love these unique sports. Each offers a mix of fun and challenge. Try something new with skijoring or underwater hockey. Push your limits with cliff jumping or gel balling.
Don’t miss out on the excitement!
