It’s time to separate the Florida men from the boys.
The annual celebration of the exotic Sunshine State species known as “Florida Man” is upon us, and organizers are holding open tryouts for applicants to showcase their mud-splattered mettle.
“If you can chug a beer in record time, hold your own in a brawl, or handle Florida’s most infamous reptile with ease, this is your moment,” said Pete Melfi, founder and commissioner of the Florida Man Games.
Have you been shirtless since late 2011? Can you slap a half nelson on an ornery gator? Have you outrun Johnny Law more than Bo and Luke Duke? Enter the arena.
The games this year are also open to the ladies. “Some of the best ‘Florida Man’ stories are ‘Florida Woman’ stories,” Melfi noted.
WWE star and pioneering Florida Man Sam Shaw will host the tryouts at his St. Augustine wrestling academy on November 17 at 11 a.m., and registration is open now.
Mefli’s olympics of outrageousness will take place in fertile Florida Man terrain — the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton on March 1.
Rest assured, organizers have made clear that there will be no New Yorking My Florida Man Games.
To protect against out of state infiltration, contestants must present valid identification proving their permanent Sunshine State residency.
Crowds will delight in a variety of Florida-specific challenges, including a Sumo wrestling variant where brawlers must stabilize a cup of beer during combat.
The innovative “Gator Throw” competition combines marksmanship with reptile rasslin’, as contestants try to hurl a gator through a drive-thru window and knock down an attendant.
Proceeds from the hotly anticipated event will benefit Jimmy Jam Community Outreach, a local organization that lends a hand to residents in need.
“Florida’s known for its larger-than-life stories, and this is where those stories come to life,” Melfi said. “If you’ve ever felt like you’re made for more, this is your chance to prove it.”
