Notable non-traditional sports seen on ESPN channels

Though technically not a sport, Air Guitar can be considered an art form — and a legitimate source of entertainment worthy enough to be aired on any of the ESPN channels. The US Air Guitar Championships are quite a big deal, and draw plenty of interest — much like a lip-sync contest. Perhaps the main appeal to watching Air Guitar is that it is something that anybody can do. And, just about everyone who has listened to a song at one point in their life has done — usually within the confines of home when nobody else is around.

Specifically the "Noblesville Bed Races." This central Indiana town has become known for what it calls the "The Greatest Spectacle in Bed Racing.” The event, which features a participant, usually dressed in some sort of get-up or costume, sitting on lying on a mattress on a wheeled bed frame, which is pushed by four other teammates, raises money for charity. The hype surrounding the 2022 event, that ESPN made the race part of its 24-hour programming of non-traditional sports dubbed ESPN8: The Ocho.

This basically suggests that any mechanical device can be rigged and souped up to turn into a racing mechanism. In the case of belt sander racing, there are those who prefer to put a thick, wood block on top of the mini machine, then sit atop and go along for the ride in a sprint-like race. However, the races shown on ESPN don't involve human riders, but the sanders (usually designed or featuring a toy/model race car fastened on top) race on a straight-line track with borders that somewhat mimic a pinewood derby setup.

Playing tag (or "It"), has long been a right of passage for children around the world. So, why did it take so long for there to be an actual official competition that is worthy of inclusion on the ESPN family of networks? World Chase Tag was founded in 2012, and just like playing tag amid playground equipment, more refined and easily maneuverable obstacles are in place for the competitors to navigate during a certain time period. So simple, yet highly entertaining and enough to keep us from changing the channel for a bit.

In the spirit of traditional track and field events like the shot put and discus, competitive Cherry Pit Spitting is all about distance. The International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship has been held in Michigan since the early 1970s. In this particular event, each contestant chews a cherry down to the pit, then spits it. They get three chances, with their longest measured spit held as their official entry. For years, members of the Krause and Lessard families have reportedly dominated the sport. As of 2023, Brian “Young Gun” Krause holds the world record of 93 feet, 6 1/2 inches, set in 2004.

Also known as Bean Bags or Bags, this favorite backyard, driveway and tailgate game has become one of the more popular professional competitions to earn a regular spot on the ESPN channels. Competitors are sponsored, major universities are fielding teams, and unlike regular folks playing the game for fun with beer in hand, the pros simply deliver on every shot. Meanwhile, the announcers are not up to the level of the legendary Dodgeball duo of Cotton McKnight (Gary Cole) and Pepper Brooks (Jason Bateman), but the seriousness when it comes to talking cornhole strategy is pretty amusing.

The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has become appointment viewing on whichever ESPN channel is host. Takeru Kobayashi had been called the "godfather of competitive eating" until he was taken down by American Joey Chestnut, who has reigned supreme for years. Being a successful competitive eater, whether talking hot dogs, burgers, wings, chicken tenders, etc., takes serious skill and discipline, which many casual viewers have no idea is needed to make a living in the sport. Yes, this is a sport. 

Perhaps the most popular non-human competition on this list. Corgi racing packs in a serious crowd, and ESPN isn't the only network or media to cover the number of events that take place throughout the world. In Washington state, Emerald Downs horse race track did a nice job of filling the main grandstand when the Corgis raced. These beautiful dogs can certainly scoot in a sprint that can get physical at times. Please note that these pets, like other competitive animals on this list, are in exceptional shape and well taken care of by their owners.

According to ESPN, 130 million either watched or streamed the 2018 Døds Diving World Championships from Norway. Døds, reportedly, is the original style of Death Diving, birthed in Norway — and since having taken off around the world. Now, the word "death" might be too strong, though the competition really does offer a healthy dose of reckless abandon, with twists and turns that tend to land the competitors either chest-first (or back-first) into a pool of water, where the bigger the splash, the better.

He's begin described as the "Michael Jordan of Dogs" and been profiled on ESPN. We're talking about Spitfire, now 10 years old, who has been dominating the sport of dock diving for years. A breed of whippet, "Spitty" is from Olympia, WA, owned by the Mackey family, and handled by their teenage daughter Sydney. While Spitfire has long been the gold standard of dock diving, a distance/height/retrieval competition, the sport has been a longtime hit on the ESPN channels, captivating viewers through some seriously athletic dogs.

The skills that are needed to go out-of-the-box on a pogo stick tend to reach epic proportions, at least within the realm of such an extreme sport. Hence "Pogopolooza," which was part of 2022's aforementioned ESPN8: The Ocho. The apparent best of the best compete in such events like attempting to clear what is essentially a traditional pole vault-bar set-up and completing stick tricks, which also involve various platforms or obstacles that only add to the fun. Of course, like other competitions on this list, don't try it at home – unless you're ready for some bumps and bruises.

The American Kennel Club sponsors this popular sport that's open to dogs of any breeds, as long as they are 15 months or older. These are some of the fastest dogs around, and they compete in a relay-style event on a straight-line lane, where they sprint over a mini hurdle to an end springloaded box, which they paw to release a ball that is caught in their mouth, then sprint back. It's a combination of speed and focus that need to be mastered. We like how the dog's legs are taped to prevent injury. There are countless Flyball clubs around the country, and is a showcase for some truly impressive athletic dogs.

On first glance, Headis might seem completely idiotic and hard on the head. However, it would seem like one of the more difficult competitions to master. The game is played on regulation ping-pong/table tennis table (though the net is comprised of metal) with a rubber ball that weighs about 3.5 ounces and has roughly a 20-inch circumference. The best part of the game, perhaps, is that any part of a competitor's body can touch the table. Meaning, a player can be laying/standing on the table during a volley, which is a sight to behold.

On first glance, an OmegaBall game looks like an average soccer match. However, those in the know claim it is revolutionizing the game with more excitement and less down time. According to the official website of OmegaBall, the sport, which was birthed in the early 2020s, features three teams of five players on the field at one time. There are three goals in play, no offside (with cherry-picking encouraged) and no throw-ins, among the most significant differences between this and a traditional soccer match. Though there is a professional association and leagues popping up, we'll see what kind of shelf life OmegaBall will have.

Talk about a sport sweeping the nation. And, maybe even the world. This seemingly simpler, less physically taxing form of tennis has become popular with participants of all ages. The court is smaller, net lower and competitors play with paddles (somewhat similar to ping-pong, but larger) and a whiffle ball. ESPN showcased the sport in 2023 when tennis legends John McEnroe and Michael Chang teamed up to face Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick in a Pickleball match. The network also dug deep into the history of the sport, which features leagues and various national/international championships.

Now, this is just straight-up a good time. Fans of basketball, football and hockey should love SlamBall, which recently inked a two-year deal (through 2023 and '24) with ESPN to televise the sport on its platforms. Created in the late 1990s, SlamBall sees teams trying to score on a regular basketball backboard and rim, while also taking advantage of those floor trampolines that lend to a high-air element of excitement. In addition, competitors can physically block and check each other amid the confines of the arena court. Current SlamBall League teams include the likes of the "Gryphons," "Lava" and "Buzzsaw."

The title of this hilarious competition is rather self-explanatory. A large set of stairs are constructed and a tarp-like material covers the surface. Then any type of potentially slippery liquid like dish soap or lubricating gel is amply applied to the surface, thus making it a challenge for the five competitors to climb as they try to be the first to make it to the top and ring a bell (at least in the ESPN-televised version). The sport, in which competitors wear skin-tight body suits and helmets, reportedly first gained fame in Japan (where ice was used) during the mid-to-late 2010s.

Spikeball isn't limited to those showcased on the ESPN channels. In fact, it's become quite popular at family gatherings, on college campuses and during down time at American high schools. For those unfamiliar with this budding sport, Spikeball features a two-on-two format, where a ball is served onto a bouncy, round net on the ground. From there, the game takes on an almost volleyball feel, with the ball bumped, then spiked into the net (no more than three times for one team). There are no boundaries or out-of-bounds. Miss the net, lose the point.

Stacking cups without them falling can be quite the challenge. Doing the same thing at a rapid rate of speed, against an opponent in a relay format, can be even more daunting. Welcome to the world of competitive sport stacking. Yes, this is something you can do in your own home, and if good enough, make some money. There's even a national team for such competitions, as the sport has been quite popular on the international front. As noted, the best part of stacking is that literally anybody of any size, shape or age can be involved. 

As we've seen on several occasions thus far from this list, some of the more entertaining competitions that rate television air time are that of the most simple and traditional endeavors that just about any human has partaken in at some point or another. How many out there have flung a stone onto a body of water waiting to see how long and far it can skip? Some of the most notable stone skippers around the globe, or who at least that made their way on to ESPN, include Kurt Steiner and David "Spider-Man" Ohman.