Wife Carrying
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wife Carrying (Finnish akankanto or eukonkanto, Estonian naisekandmine) is a sport of carrying women. A team has one male and one female, and the objective is for the male to carry the female team member through a special obstacle track. The sport was first introduced at Sonkajärvi, Finland.
Several types of carry may be practised: piggyback, fireman's carry (over the shoulder), or Estonian-style (the wife hangs upside-down with her legs around the husband's shoulders, holding onto his waist).
Major wife-carrying competitions are held in Sonkajärvi, Finland (where the prize is the wife's weight in beer) and Marquette, Michigan.
The North American Wife Carrying Championships take place every year on Columbus Day Weekend in October at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. The 7th Annual event takes place October 7, 2006. Many North American Champions go on to compete in the Finnish World Championship.
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[edit] History
The sport originated as a joke in Finland, supposedly reminiscent of a past in which men courted women by running to their village, picking them up, and carrying them off. The Wife Carrying Contest has very deep roots in Sonkajärvi's local history, despite its humorous aspect. In the late 1800s a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen was staying in the area. He allegedly only accepted troops who proved their worth on a challenging track. The sport is now practised around the world and has a category in the Guinness Book of Records.
[edit] Rules
The original track in the rough terrain with fences, rocks and brooks has been altered to suit modern conditions. These following rules set by the International Wife Carrying Competition Rules Committee apply:
- The length of the official track is 253.5 meters, and the surface of the track is partially sand, partially grass and partially gravel
- The track has two dry obstacles and a water obstacle, about one meter deep
- The wife to be carried may be your own, the neighbour's or you may have found her farther afield; she must, however, be over 17 years of age
- The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 49 kilograms. If she is less than 49 kg, the wife will be burdened with such a heavy rucksack that the total weight to be carried is 49 kg.
- All the participants must have fun
- If a contestant drops his wife that couple will be fined 15 seconds per drop
- The only equipment allowed is a belt worn by the carrier, the carried must wear a helmet.
- The contestants run the race two at a time, so each heat is a contest in itself
- Each contestant takes care of his/her safety and, if deemed necessary, insurance
- The contestants have to pay attention to the instructions given by the organisers of the competition
- There is only one category in the World Championships and the winner is the couple who completes the course in the shortest time
- Also the most entertaining couple, the best costume and the strongest carrier will be awarded a special prize
- Participation fee is 50 euro
[edit] Champions
- 2006 – Margo Uusorg (Estonia) and Sandra Kullas (Estonia) time 56.9 seconds (World record)
- 2005 – Margo Uusorg (Estonia) and Egle Soll (Estonia).
- 2004 – Madis Uusorg (Estonia) and Inga Klauso (Estonia) time one minute and 05.3 seconds.
- 2003 – Margo Uusorg (Estonia) and Egle Soll (Estonia) time one minute 0.7 seconds.
- 2002 – Meelis Tammre (Estonia) and Anne Zillberberg (Estonia) time one minute and 3.8 seconds.
- 2001 – Margo Uusorg (Estonia) and Birgit Ullrich (Estonia) time 55.6 seconds.
- 2000 – Margo Uusorg (Estonia) and Birgit Ullrich (Estonia) time 55.5 seconds.
- 1999 – Imre Ambos (Estonia) and Annela Ojaste (Estonia) time one minute and 4.5 seconds.
- 1998 – Imre Ambos (Estonia) and Annela Ojaste (Estonia) time one minute and 9.2 seconds.
- 1997 – Jouni Jussila (Finland) and Tiina Jussila (Finland) time one minute and five seconds.
[edit] Trivia
- Former NBA-superstar Dennis Rodman was a participant at the Wife-carrying World Championships in Sonkajärvi in 2005.
- North American champions Ehrin and April Armstrong were featured as guests on a first season episode of GSN's revival of I've Got a Secret.
