5 activities you probably didn't know hold world championships

Legend has it that someone once died from spitting a cherry pit from a balcony so forcefully that they fell down after it. They received the Darwin Award for the stupidest way to die. It would be better to stay on the ground and participate in the cherry pit spitting contest held every year in the Rhineland region of German. The current world record is 21.71 meters (71.23 feet).

In the idyllic town of Hermeskeil in Germany, people jump on ordinary trash cans and ride them down a hill. It takes a great deal of skill to make it the entire way down without touching the ground with your feet or the lid. Racers even reach speeds of up to 60 kph (37 mph). Trash bins hold between 80 and 240 liters (21 - 63 gallons), although a mid-sized can of 120 liters is best for balancing.

Ever get angry at your mobile? Once a year, you could head to Savonlinna to Finland to throw it and get your rage out. Since the annual contest could get expensive, though, participants toss old phones heavier than 220 grams rather than smartphones. In addition to the classic distance throw, there is also a freestyle contest, which is judged on creativity, as well as contests for teams and kids.

Known as the Handtaschen-Weitwurf-Weltmeisterschaft in German, the annual purse throwing contest in Bottrop is abbreviated as HTWWWM. Inventor and organizer André Puchta came up with the idea after witnessing a bag being stolen in a Cologne café. There are four disciplines in the championship: throw between the legs, discus-style, freestyle, and crank throw where the arm is rotated vertically.

The so-called Wattolümpiade, or mud Olympics, are taking place for the 12th time from July 30 - 31 in Brunsbüttel in northernmost Germany. Tickets for participants reportedly sold out within just one minute. Mud fans that didn't luck out can still prove their mud capabilities by taking part individually in parkour.