Odd Champs. vol 3: Wife Carrying

The World Wife Carrying Championship


We Finns have been wife-carrying since the late 1800's when
it was quite normal to steal women from the neighbouring villages. Today we carry wifes every summer in Sonkajärvi.

The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 49 kilos.
If the weight is less than 49 kilos, the wife will be burdened with a heavy rucksack. Blimey.
If a contestant drops his wife, that couple will be fined 15 seconds per drop. Nice one.

The track is 253.5 meters long, partially sand, grass and asphalt. Don't drop her there. There's also about one meter deep water obstacle. If you are the wife, learn to swim.

Besides Wife Carrying Triathlon, also Team Competition is held. Three men carry the wife in turns and at the exchange point the carrier has to drink the official wife carrying drink.

Dennis Rodman participated last year. When is your turn? If you can beat the Estonians you will win the first price: the wife's weight in beer. Bottom's up!