Around the world, enthusiasts, daredevils and offbeats have found the typical, popular sports just won’t do. For those people and more, just underneath the surface in countries large and small there’s a community of athletes who are pushing the limits, creating new sports or riffing on old traditions.
Going to see these games and contests can be adventure-worthy events in themselves, so here’s our list of the world’s most unbelieveable sports – the ones you have to work to find.
Jack Jumping – Dover, VT
The California Gold Rush era wasn’t all about the sparkle in the mountain, it was also about the sparkle on the mountains. Jack Jumping started in the 1850s as a fast way for prospectors and support staff to get down the mountain and quickly became a competitive sport after gold-digging hours. It gave birth to modern competitive skiing and held its own as a premier competition in the region for a good 80 years. After a lull, jack jumping has seen a rebirth in, of all places, Vermont. Rooted to a history in French-Canadian logging, skiers race down the hill in homemade, seated skis and riders leash themselves to the skis to prevent runaways.
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