Giant pumpkins hit the water for a rowing competition in Oregon

The Pumpkin, the Bad and the Ugly sailed into Oregon for the annual Tualatin State Pumpkin Regatta.

Organized since 2004, contestants dress up as characters from Elvis or hot dogs to Guy Fieri and a UPS delivery man and go to water in a pumpkin they’ve grown.

Contestants spend the morning carving their pumpkin to get it ready for the water. The more guts that are removed, the lighter the pumpkin becomes, giving its captain a competitive advantage by allowing for faster movement.

The pumpkins are grown locally, often by the same farmers who compete in the race. When asked what it takes to grow a massive pumpkin, one competitor shared his simple recipe for success: “Good seeds, good soil, luck, hard work.”