The Florida Man Games on Saturday returned for Round 2, as teams from around the state gathered to prove they have what it takes to join the ranks of the world’s worst superhero.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural Florida Man Games in downtown St Augustine, organizers moved this year’s event a few miles away to the St Johns County Fairgrounds, to make room for more spectators and tailgating.
The games were hosted by Florida comedians Josh Wicks Robinson and Kevin Flynn.
Photo: AP
Poking fun at the state’s reputation for bizarre stories, last year’s teams competed in Florida-themed events such as the Evading Arrest Obstacle Course and Beer Belly Sumo Wrestling. New events added this year included Hurricane Party Prep: Grocery Aisle Brawl and Human Beer Pong.
Ten teams from around the state, from Fort Myers to Pensacola, were competing. Last year’s winner, team Hanky Spanky from St Augustine, returned to defend their snakeskin championship belt. Also competing was an all-female team called the Ball Busters.
Croix Bruns, a 29-year-old technician for Dave & Buster’s, participated in the weaponized pool noodle competition.
Photo: AP
He has lived in Florida his whole life, with the tattoos “to show for it,” he said, adding that he believes that a “true Florida Man” does not prepare for the games.
“They’re just born ready to be great,” Bruns said. “They’re born ready for the trophy and ready for the title, and each year someone new has to be born for it.”
The Florida Man Games are something you would not find anywhere else, he said.
“We’ve got the Olympics and they’ve been around forever, but they don’t have gator tossing,” Bruns said. “They don’t have a contest where you’ve got to hold your beer and fight someone else at the same time.”
Besides watching the events, guests had a chance to get up to Florida Man shenanigans themselves. They could interact with alligators from Gatorland and ride a mechanical alligator. The games also featured a show by Midget Wrestling Warriors and lawnmower racing hosted by NASCAR driver Jeffrey Earnhardt.
To announcer Che Durena, the games embody Florida in a competitive sense.
“It’s exactly on-brand the way I thought it would be,” he said. “It’s the right level of grimy and extravagance and debauchery. It’s exactly what I want. It’s a lot of people day drinking, a lot of people getting sunburnt, a lot of people just partying and acting foolish in the best way.”
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