10 Unusual Sports that You’ve Got to Try before New Year’s

6. Ice Yachting

Ice yachting is an unusual combination of sailing and
ice skating, except that the boat has the skates. Ice yachting
is a very popular sport in Europe, but it has been gaining
popularity in North America. With ice yachting, you can become
a competitive athlete, competing at world-class events, or a
recreational one enjoying the excitement the skating in a yacht
can bring.

7. Robot Combat

Robot combat is a hobby sport whereby participants build robots that can be remotely controlled and put them out for a combat with other robots. The Robot Fighting League (RFL) has been created to oversea Robot combat competitions. It explains many of the rules that govern competitions and standards for building robots. Many of the competitions take place in the U.S. (though there are competitions in other countries as well )and they are based on class of robots which is defined by robot’s weight. If you are looking for a geeky challenge or just want to witness an unusual event, then robot combat is definitely for you.

8. Orienteering

Are you an outdoors enthusiast? Do you love adventurous challenges that get your blood flowing? Then try orienteering. Orienteering is a sport that tests both your physical limits as well as your mental ones. The basic idea behind orienteering is to navigate through an unfamiliar terrain using a variety of tools such as maps and compasses while also running, skiing, biking or using other means of movement. It’s a serious sport which is overseen by the International Orienteering Federation and it often features major events such as world championships and national championships. It’s great for anyone in any age group. As long as you enjoy the outdoors and the physical challenge that comes with it, orienteering is definitely a sport that you got to try.

9. Underwater Hockey

To all hockey fans out there who also love the water, there’s a sport that caters to your needs: underwater hockey. Underwater hockey is played in a pool by two teams of 10 players: 6 are in the water and 4 are substitutes. The purpose of the game is to pass a puck underwater and score a goal, very much like regular hockey. But the difference is that you would use a short hockey stick of about a foot in length and a puck that weighs about 3 lbs. As soon as players see the puck, they submerge underwater (using snorkeling equipment), chase the puck and try to score a goal. This is a serious sport that organizes international tournaments. If you are interested in more details, visit the World Aquachallenge Association.

10. Trick Shot

Entertainment, challenge, and skill are the hallmark of trick shot. Trick shot is a sport that is very similar to Billiard. But the challenge is to get the ball into the hole by getting it first over an obstacle or specially-constructed cues. It’s much harder said than done because of the tremendous amount of skill required to precisely shoot balls. If you are interested in the more competitive nature of this sport, check out the rules set out by Artistic Pool and Trick Shot Association.