The Florida Man Games is an athletic event which parodies the "Florida Man" internet phenomenon. Intended by its founder Pete Melfi to be a future annual event, the inaugural Florida Man Games took place on February 24, 2024 at Francis Field in downtown St. Augustine, Florida, gaining significant national media coverage.
| Florida Man Games | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | February 24, 2024 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | St Augustine, Florida |
| Founder | Pete Melfi |
| Website | thefloridamangames |
Origin
editThe event is organised by Pete Melfi, who runs the local media outlet The 904 Now.[1] Melfi had already organised a half-kilometer beer run in 2023.[2] He has stated that he came up with the various events in the Games by "reverse-engineer[ing] years of ‘Florida man’ headlines."[3] He has also said that he was told to tone down some parts of the Florida Man idea in order to receive a permit for the event, stating that "the city frowned on it when I asked for drugs and nudity."[1]
2024 games
editThe inaugural 2024 Florida Man Games were first announced in October 2023, touted as "the most insane athletic showdown on Earth" by organisers.[4] Two former stars of American Gladiators , Dan "Nitro" Clark and Lori "Ice" Fetrick, agreed to serve as referees,[5] and organisers stated that athleticism was not required for competitors to enter.[4] Ripley's Believe It or Not! were initially billed to be sponsoring the games.[5]
The event took place on Saturday, February 24 at Francis Field in downtown St. Augustine, Florida, with spectators paying $45[1] or $55 per ticket.[2] It was sponsored by Florida apparel company FloGrown,[1] as well as a car dealership and a gym.[2] It benefitted the Jimmy Jam Community Outreach nonprofit.[6]
Competitors formed sixteen teams in which they would compete,[5] each making up exaggerated personas to gain supporters. Team names included the Red Eyed Gator Huggers, the Cooter Commandos, and Hanky Spanky.[2] In the run-up to the event, teams posted on Facebook, including one team chugging Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and jogging in jean shorts and mirrored sunglasses.[1] The games were introduced with "The Star-Spangled Banner" played on an electric guitar.[1] Team Hanky Spanky received the championship belt for the 2024 Games,[6] as well as $5,000.[2]
Events
edit- Beer Belly Florida Sumo[7] – sumo wrestling while holding pitchers of beer.[1]
- A Catalytic Converter, Two Bikes and a Handful of Copper Pipes: Race Against Time – a three-part theft relay in which competitors each weaved a bicycle through cones while holding a catalytic converter, then picked a padlock on another bicycle to get both back through the course, followed by the theft of a batch of copper piping which they were required to get across the finish line in a trailer.[3]
- Category 5 Cash Grab[6] – competitors had 60 seconds to grab dollar bills while standing in wind machines.[3]
- Chicken Shit Bingo – an audience crossed off bingo numbers corresponding to the numbers on a large bingo card which were defecated on by a rooster and four hens inside a cage.[3]
- Eat the Butt – a pork-eating contest.[6]
- Evading Arrest Obstacle Course[6] – competitors each escaped from handcuffs inside a police car, jumped fences, threw an inflatable alligator through a window, tipped over three wooden cows and rescued a plastic iguana from a pool of mud, all while being chased by real uniformed deputies from St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.[3]
- Florida Ma’am Pinup – the only women's event at the Games,[1] in which women competed as pinup girls.[6]
- Mullet Competition.[6]
- Weaponised Pool Noodle Mud Duel[6] – competitors fought with weapons made from pool noodles and duct tape in an inflatable pool of muddy water.[1]
2025 games
editOrganisers accepted video applications for the 2025 Florida Man Games until September 2024. Requirements were added for teams, including the requirement of at least one woman per team. A "scouting combine" is to be held on 17 November 2024, hosted by wrestler Sam Shaw at Hatchet Pro Wrestling.[8]
Reception
editJeremy Clarkson compared the games to British game show It's a Knockout., humorously proposing the Henley Man Games, Ascot Man Games, and Cheltenham Man Games Gold Cup.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bynum, Russ (February 24, 2024). "At the Florida Man Games, big crowds cheer competitors evading police and wrestling over beer". AP News. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Mazzei, Patricia (February 25, 2024). "In on the Joke at the First-Ever Florida Man Games". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Goddard, Jacqui (February 26, 2024). "What I saw at the Florida Man Games, where sanity is optional". The Times. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ a b "Beer-belly wrestling and 'mud duel' to feature in first 'Florida man' games". Sky News. October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Arianna. "The 'Florida Man Games': Meme Comes To Life In New Competition". Forbes. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Crowley, Kinsey. "Florida Man Games: See photos of the wacky competitions inspired by the headlines". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ Wu, Daniel (November 2, 2023). "Which Florida Man best embodies the state's spirit? A new contest will decide". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ Norman, Lianna; Neely, Samantha. "Gator-throw competitors listen up! Florida Man Games 2025 having tryouts. Here's when, where". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ Clarkson, Jeremy (March 3, 2024). "Jeremy Clarkson: My Ascot Man Games will fall at the first fence". The Times. Retrieved November 16, 2024.