14 DAY TRIAL // Probably because other extreme sports aren't quirky enough for him, Mirko Hanßen of Germany has come up with an entirely new one. It's called handskating and it comes down to skating on one's hands.
To his knowledge, young Mirko Hanßen isn't just the inventor of this wacky sport. He's also the sole practitioner. No surprise here. After all, one can only assume it takes a very creative mind to put skates on hands rather than feet, where they are supposed to go.
How Mirko Hanßen took up handskating
The 20-year-old says that, ever since he was a boy, he's loved nothing more than stand on his hands and skate. One day, the thought came to him to mix these two hobbies of his.
He went to his bedroom, put his skates on his hands and attempted a handstand. He did manage to flip his body upside down, but he came tumbling down seconds later. Rather than give up, he kept trying.
When his body finally caught up with what he was trying to do, he managed to hold his balance. In time, he even taught himself to glide ever so slowly around the room.
Once he gained some confidence, he ventured out of the house. At first, he would go to back alleys to avoid being seen. Then, when he got better, he started filming himself and posting videos online.
Handskating is kind of like his job now
Mirko Hanßen's bizarre way of skating has made the 20-year-old into a celebrity. In fact, Oddity Central tells us that, not long ago, he was invited to appear on a TV show in Germany.
Things are going so well that Mirko Hanßen has even decided to quit school and try and make a career in handskating. Perhaps he could earn a living teaching others this sport or appearing on other shows, he thinks.
Truth be told, handskating doesn't really leave him much time for school. To have enough strength to try new tricks and techniques, the young man says he must work out three to four hours each day.
