Competition | Huck
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Competition

Inside the searing, strangely wholesome world of competitive chilli eating

Red hot — Exploding out of pandemic-era isolation, a growing community of chilliheads are competing across the globe, devouring millions of Scoville units and fighting off agonising capsaicin cramps in the process. Hannah Bentley speaks to some of the scene’s key figures to find out why.

  • Sport
  • Hannah Bentley
Elderly man with white beard in green t-shirt standing by weathered wooden shed, arms crossed, showing tattoo on forearm.

Unrolled oat perfection at the World Porridge Making Championship

The Golden Spurtle — Each October, hundreds of people descend upon Carrbridge, a tiny village in the Scottish Highlands, to find out who can make the best bowl of porridge. Constantine Costi’s new documentary captures its idiosyncratic community energy.

  • Culture
  • Kez Cochrane
Smiling person in white winter hat and jacket with face covering, wearing black gloves, snowy mountain landscape background.

Jess Kimura is rallying snowboarding’s ‘Uninvited’

Riding street — Growing out of an era when much of snow’s focus was pointed towards men, the street snowboarder – a discipline that blends snow and skate – is inspiring and platforming a new generation of women with her contests and films.

  • Sport
  • Sam Haddad
Dark blue double-decker bus displaying "Stagecoach" branding parked on seafront road beside white railings and lamp post under overcast sky.

Inside the UK Bus Driver of the Year Competition

Terminating here — The annual tournament takes place in Blackpool, where over 100 bus drivers from around the UK are invited to show off their proficiency behind the wheel, from bus stop manoeuvres and the dreaded ‘tailswing test’, to a notoriously hard theory quiz. George Francis Lee reports.

  • Sport
  • George Francis Lee
Man in blue sports shirt covers face with hand whilst sitting on stage, crowd of spectators watching in background under cloudy sky.

The Tossers: Inside the world of competitive egg throwing

The Obsessives — From Russian Egg Roulette to the showpiece Throw and Catch, the World Egg Throwing Championships is a cracking tournament. Ginnia Cheng joined this year’s edition, and scrambled to keep up.

  • Sport
  • Ginnia Cheng
Crowded pub with people sitting on the floor, some holding drinks. Assorted items on the floor including a sign and a bottle.

The grit and glory of British toe wrestling

The Obsessives — Born out of a Derbyshire pub in the ’70s, the foot clenching sport has gradually built a cult following in rural England. Ginnia Cheng reported on toe wrestling’s London debut from a south Tottenham pub.

  • Sport
  • Ginnia Cheng

The hidden world of Monopoly and its anti-capitalist roots

More than a game — To mark the board game's 85th anniversary this month, writer Sean Cole investigates Monopoly's socialist origins and the fierce tournament scene keeping the game alive today.

  • Outdoors
  • Sean Cole

The wild, misunderstood world of competitive Scrabble

Word play — Despite its humble origins, for many players, Scrabble is much more than just a game, but a fiercely competitive, lifelong commitment. Writer Sean Cole speaks to some of the world's leading players to find out what it takes to rise to the top of the ranks.

  • Outdoors
  • Sean Cole

Cycling for equality in Europe’s bike messenger scene

The race is on — This week, couriers from across the continent and gender spectrum are racing around Brussels in pursuit of the European Cycle Messenger Championship.

  • Bike
  • Michael Henson

Europe’s most epic mountain cycling climbs

Man against mountain — Incredible photography captures the most brutal challenges you can put yourself through on a bike.

  • Photography
  • Alex King

Skate O.G. Chris Cole on competitive skateboarding

Keeping the young guns at bay — Chris Cole proves that you can combine competitive skating with a relevant contribution to the culture. We get his take on Street League and Olympic skateboarding.

  • Skate
  • Hannah Bailey

Photographer Jenny Riffle on her Pilkington Prize winning image Snoqualmie Evergreens

100 Mile Radius — Photographer Jenny Riffle wins curator Stuart Pilkington’s latest competition, in which he encouraged photographers to look for captivating images in their own backyards.

  • Photography
  • Alex King

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