ELKTON, Fla. (AP) 鈥� The Florida Man Games are back for Round 2, as teams from around the state gather to prove they have what it takes to join the ranks of the world鈥檚 worst superhero.
Following the success of last year's inaugural in downtown St. Augustine, organizers have moved Saturday's event a few miles away to the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, where they expected to have room for more spectators and tailgating.
The games were hosted by Florida comedians and .
Poking fun at the state鈥檚 reputation for bizarre stories, last year's teams competed in Florida-themed events like the Evading Arrest Obstacle Course and Beer Belly Sumo Wrestling. New events added this year include 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, were returning to defend their snakeskin championship belt. Also competing this year was an all-female team called the Ball Busters.
Croix Bruns, a 29-year-old technician for Dave & Buster鈥檚, participated in the weaponized pool noodle competition. He has lived in Florida his whole life, with the tattoos 鈥渢o show for it,鈥� and he said he believes that a 鈥渢rue Florida Man鈥� doesn鈥檛 prepare for the games.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e just born ready to be great,鈥� Bruns said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e born ready for the trophy and ready for the title, and each year someone new has to be born for it.鈥�
The Florida Man Games are something you won't find anywhere else, he said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got the Olympics and they鈥檝e been around forever, but they don鈥檛 have gator tossing,鈥� Bruns said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have a contest where you've got to hold your beer and fight someone else at the same time.鈥�
Besides watching the events, guests have a chance to get up to Florida Man shenanigans themselves. They can interact with alligators from and ride a mechanical alligator. The games also feature a show by " " and lawnmower racing hosted by NASCAR driver Jeffrey Earnhardt.
To announcer Che Durena, the games embody Florida in a competitive sense.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exactly on-brand the way I thought it would be,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the right level of grimy and extravagance and debaucherous. It鈥檚 exactly what I want. It鈥檚 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.鈥�
The 鈥淔lorida Man鈥� phenomenon seeped into the nation鈥檚 consciousness thanks in part to a Twitter account that started in 2013 with the handle @_FloridaMan. The account touted 鈥渞eal-life stories of the world鈥檚 worst superhero,鈥� sharing news headlines such as 鈥淔lorida Man Bites Dog to 鈥楨stablish Dominance鈥� 鈥� and 鈥淔lorida Man Tried to Pay for McDonald鈥檚 With Weed.鈥�
Daniel Kozin, The Associated Press
