Bog Snorkeling (also with Mountain Bikes!)
The world's premier Bog Snorkeling event is held in August each year along the dense Waen Rhydd Peat bog near Llanwrtyd Wells, in Powys, Wales. Bog snorkeling was conceived in 1976 as many great ideas over a pint of beer at the local pub, with the first World Bog Snorkeling Championship held in 1985.
The race is along a 55 m (60 yard) bog trench, in which the contestants must complete two lengths. Conventional swimming strokes are not allowed, though snorkels and flippers are mandatory, and wet suits are optional but advisable. There are competitions in mens, ladies and junior categories, which attract up to 150 entrants.
In 2011 a new champion emerged. Andrew Holmes of West Yorkshire smashed the existing record for the return lap along the bog, finishing in 84 seconds, beating the old record by a whopping 6 seconds.
Spectators along the bogIn recent years they have added other events, held in the month before the Bog Snorkeling in the same bog - Mountain Bike Bog Snorkeling and Bog Triathlon events. Riders compete on specially prepared mountain bikes. In 2009, Bryan Evans from Bridgend in South Wales set a new world record in the World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkeling Championships. He completed the two lengths of the 135-foot murky bog in 54.91 seconds to put himself into the Guinness Book of World Records.
In 2012, the World Alternative Games was organized, with the bog snorkeling championship part of that event. The World Alternative Games is planned to be held every two years.
Related Pages
- Videos of unusual sports, including the World Bog Snorkeling Championships
- More unusual sports
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