It’s no secret that sports are popular across the US, with fans from all walks of life coming together to cheer on their favorite football, basketball, hockey, and baseball teams every week.
But, these aren’t the only sports that are well-loved in the country. Here’s a quick rundown of four unique sports that haven’t quite taken off globally in the way basketball or hockey have.
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1. Jai Alai
You could consider Jai Alai somewhat similar to squash, but more extreme. The sport involves bouncing a ball off a wall, but that ball is as hard as a rock and can reach speeds of over 180 mph! It originated in Spain’s Basque region hundreds of years ago, but has since become popular in the Philippines, Latin America, and the USA, particularly in Florida.
Like horse and greyhound racing, Jai Alai was used for parimutuel betting purposes, with nine frontons (buildings where the sport is played) in the Sunshine State at its peak. Today, sports betting remains a complicated and much-debated topic in Florida, but Jai Alai has lost its popularity somewhat, with only one fronton remaining. In its place, daily fantasy sports have become a more popular betting option in Florida, but choosing a suitable sportsbook is crucial given the complex laws surrounding sports betting here.
2. Beer Pong
It might have started as a college party staple, but beer pong now has its own World Series, earning it a place on our list. In fact, the winner of the World Series of Beer Pong takes home a prize of around $50,000!
The aim of the game is pretty simple—it’s more or less like table tennis (ping pong) but instead of batting the ball across the table to your opponent, you bounce it and try to make it land in a glass of beer. However, many players have made up their own house rules to add to the fun, something the official beer pong website advocates.
3. Dog Surfing
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/xT5VWnyXFlQ
If there’s one thing Americans love more than sports, it’s pets. So, what better way to combine these two passions than dog surfing. It’s exactly what it sounds like—dogs hitting the waves as their owners (and a big crowd of dog lovers) cheer on from the shore. Flagler Beach recently held its second annual dog surfing competition, which also served as a fundraiser for various animal charities.
Other events to look out for include the World Dog Surfing Championships in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Surf City Surf Dog Competition, Huntington Beach, California. The sport has even taken off across the Atlantic, with the UK Dog Surfing Championships now in its 6th year.
4. Hot Dog Eating Contests
Perhaps the furthest from a conventional ‘sport’ on our list, hot dog eating contests are popular across the States. The sport is becoming increasingly popular, with the introduction of Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) in 1997 contributing significantly.
The best-known hot dog eating competition is Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, which has taken place annually since the early 1970s. The contest is aired on perhaps the world’s biggest sporting platform ESPN thanks to IFOCE’s support—the organization also ensures fair play during these events, much like any other sporting competition. In 2020, betting on the event was allowed for the first time. Punters can now choose who they think will win, as well as prop bets like over/under a certain number of hot dogs eaten.
Nathan’s contest takes place in Coney Island, New York, but the tournaments have spread across the country. For example, Worcester, Massachusetts’ recent event to raise funds for Worcester County Food Bank.
