World Wristwrestling Championships

By: © Nelson Taylor 2008

Festival Location: Petaluma, CA, USA

Festival State: Californian Festivals

Festival Type(s): Bizarre Sports Events, Strength Sports Events, Bizarre Festivals

Roughnecks, meatheads and warlords have been arm wrestling for centuries. But serious competition didn't really begin until well after the reign of Ghengis Khan. It all began in 1953 when Petaluma hosted an event that has evolved into the Superbowl of wristwrestling.

Now every October, over 250 muscle-mavens pay $20 to compete for $5,000 in prize money. An estimated 1,000 spectators pay $10 to see the afternoon eliminations and nighttime finals. "The reason we do it all in one day," says the stuttering Bill Soberanes, event coordinator, "is because the guys will have a sore arm the next day." Makes sense.