Best New Sport: Competitive Pole Dancing

In the wake of the Olympics, it’s easy to forget that there are other contests out there–sexier contests. No, not beauty pageants. We’re talking about the wonderful world of competitive pole dancing. What was once a device only used for turning men on at the strip club has turned into a favorite piece of equipment for dancers, gymnasts and, yes, strippers who work it for the crowds.

Check out competitive pole dancing video after the jump!

From SFGate.com:

The artists have taken over, as I said: this not-to-be-missed retro black-and-white art film The Art of Pole by Jamilla Deville (probably NSFW) is as mesmerizing as it is the product of a trained professional. A great example of the pole-dance non-sex competitions is this video of Miss Pole Dance 2008: Anouch Proost, winner of the first Belgian pole-dancing championship. In the video, it’s flat-footed Danskin-clad pole dance ballet with gymnastic dismounts (no puns,OK?). Or the fully-clothed, shoeless Pole Dance Championships, Argentina 2008 with competitors from as far away as Ireland. The winner of Miss Poledance Australia 2006 (NSFW) is an Olympic-worthy spectacle; our locals aren’t competing but as you can see in this (non-stripping) video, they should be (NSFW).