Try these 6 weird sports to fuel your inner athlete

There’s a month left until the 2016 Summer Olympics, and all those insanely fit athletes are making you feel like you want to get out there and embrace your sporty side. Say, in volleyball, swimming and diving. But why go your usual workout route when you can spice things up a little bit?

We’re rounding up the unsung sports that need a little more attention purely because they have the "weird factor" in spades.

1. Artistic roller skating

Don’t get it twisted: Artistic roller skating is a tough sport. Tougher, in fact, than its more "normal" counterpart artistic ice skating.

Sure, there’s a lot of crossover between roller skating and ice skating — but unlike with ice, floor doesn’t give much of an edge to push off from, making jumps more difficult. Heavier skates don’t help, either.

2. British baseball

British baseball is a weird one, even among this list’s oddities. And no, it’s not just playing baseball somewhere in the British Isles.

There are lots of differences, from how the ball is thrown (underhand) to the bases (poles, not bags), but probably the biggest difference is the fact that you can hit the ball anywhere and in any direction and still score. Cap off your workout with some tea and crumpets for full effect.

3. Chess boxing

If you’ve got brains and brawn and want to work out both at the same time, chess boxing is your calling.

It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like: alternating rounds of speed chess and boxing. The activity, which started out as a piece of performance art, is now a legit thing and has taken on a life of its own as a competitive sport. Interested? Check out the World Chess Boxing Organisation.

4. Competitive pillow fighting

The first rule of Pillow Fight League is don’t talk about Pillow Fight League. I’m breaking this rule here, but only for your benefit.

PFL is a real thing with events hosted in Montreal, Quebec and even New York City. The idea is simple: MMA-style pillow fights. It’s definitely not your middle school sleepover fare.

5. Wife-carrying

Sigh. Yes, wife-carrying is a real sport, and unless you can find a female partner who is willing to subject herself to this level of tomfoolery, you’re out of luck.

More specifically, male competitors run around an obstacle course with their "wives" — a.k.a. a female partner — clinging to their backs as they complete the course. Unfortunately, there’s no husband-carrying equivalent...yet.

6. Extreme ironing

Extreme ironing combines all the fun of being in a remote, possibly dangerous location with the sensible activity of ironing a few items of clothing.

Basically, that’s the whole gist of the thing — you take your iron and ironing board to a remote location and finish your chores. Seems like a win-win situation.