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The strange subculture of rubber duck racing | The strange subculture of rubber duck racing |
(about 20 hours later) | |
The governor of Wisconsin is due to set into law a bill which will legalise rubber duck racing in the US state. But what is this strange subculture of bath toy racing, asks Vanessa Barford. | The governor of Wisconsin is due to set into law a bill which will legalise rubber duck racing in the US state. But what is this strange subculture of bath toy racing, asks Vanessa Barford. |
For most people, the only place they are likely to have seen a small, yellow rubber duck is in a child's bath. | For most people, the only place they are likely to have seen a small, yellow rubber duck is in a child's bath. |
Others may have seen a giant version of the popular bath toy - designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman - visiting cities such as Sydney, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong and Amsterdam since 2007. | Others may have seen a giant version of the popular bath toy - designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman - visiting cities such as Sydney, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong and Amsterdam since 2007. |
But in some parts of the world, rubber duck racing is a popular pastime. | But in some parts of the world, rubber duck racing is a popular pastime. |
The US is credited with inventing it, but the activity now has a fan base all over the world, with races normally organised by charities and non-for-profit organisations as fundraising events. | The US is credited with inventing it, but the activity now has a fan base all over the world, with races normally organised by charities and non-for-profit organisations as fundraising events. |
Their legality in Wisconsin was called into question after the state justice department warned the village of Mishicot its annual rubber duck race amounted to illegal gambling because it "constitutes a lottery... and lotteries are illegal". The new bill will create an exemption for duck races - similar to existing laws in Minnesota and Michigan. | Their legality in Wisconsin was called into question after the state justice department warned the village of Mishicot its annual rubber duck race amounted to illegal gambling because it "constitutes a lottery... and lotteries are illegal". The new bill will create an exemption for duck races - similar to existing laws in Minnesota and Michigan. |
Like in the US, rubber duck races are classed as a form of lottery in the UK, so every race needs a licence from the local authority. | |
But what actually happens at a race? | But what actually happens at a race? |
Barry Cole, who organises rubber duck races in the UK, says a typical rubber duck race starts at £1 for a duck to enter the race. | Barry Cole, who organises rubber duck races in the UK, says a typical rubber duck race starts at £1 for a duck to enter the race. |
Then it sounds a lot like Pooh Sticks. "Somebody puts them all in the water together and then the first one to the finish wins. All the ducks have numbers on them," he says. | Then it sounds a lot like Pooh Sticks. "Somebody puts them all in the water together and then the first one to the finish wins. All the ducks have numbers on them," he says. |
Unsurprisingly most of the participants are children. But adults tend to get competitive too, according to Cole. | Unsurprisingly most of the participants are children. But adults tend to get competitive too, according to Cole. |
There doesn't seem to be an art to winning. | There doesn't seem to be an art to winning. |
"There's no skill, it's just luck. But it makes a great day out for the family, and our events have additions like fairgrounds and dragon boat racing too," he says. | "There's no skill, it's just luck. But it makes a great day out for the family, and our events have additions like fairgrounds and dragon boat racing too," he says. |
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