10 World’s Strangest Extreme Sports You Didn’t Know Existed (4 of 6)

Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling (England)

Just imagine a bunch of UK lads of different ages, from 16 to 60, racing down a hill, trying to catch a rolling wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. Sounds nuts, but it’s a real sport, and it has its own set of rules. Oh, wait, were those all the rules? People reach wild speeds, trip, tumble, and somehow keep going. There are catchers at the bottom (thank goodness), who will stop you if you can’t do it yourself. The winner of this cheese competition takes home the smelly wheel and eternal bragging rights (plus a bunch of bruises that tell a great story).

Underwater Rugby

Think water polo, but three-dimensional and quiet. Two teams battle in the deep end, trying to sink a saltwater-filled ball into baskets on the pool floor. Players hold their breath, tag in and out constantly, and tackle the ball carrier—and yes, all that and more goes down underwater. It’s like playing a sport inside a screensaver, if the screensaver could body-check you.