Weird But True

Everything You Need To Know About The 20th-Annual Wife-Carrying Championships

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year: The Wife Carrying World Championships start today, in Sonkajarvi, Finland! I’m sure you know all the ins-and-outs, but if for some strange reason you don’t, here’s an extensive primer.

It has questionable origins.

“In spite of its humorous aspects it has deep roots in the local history. In the late 1800’s there was a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen living in the area. In his troops he is said to have accepted only the men who proved their worth on a challenging track. In those days, a common practice was to steal women from the neighbouring villages. Today, not even a gentle compulsion is being used, the ladies volunteer for the mission of the championships.”

Well, I didn’t think that the women were forced into it, but thanks for clearing that up. Good to know the competition has honorable roots!

Tickets are 20€ for adults and 5€ for children under 12.

The bargain of the century. For the same price of an average bottle of wine, you can go to the World Championships of Wife Carrying. This is the best Wife-Carriers in the world. The best of the best. Bring the whole family!

It’s the 20th annual championships held in Sonkajarven, but only the 16th World Championships.

So… I guess there’s controversy over four world champions! Who doesn’t love controversy?

There are contestants from the US.

The Miracle on Wifes?

The world record is 55.5 seconds by an Estonian couple.

The “track” is 253.5 meters. For comparison’s sake, Usain Bolt split 25.4 at the 250 mark during a 300m run. But he didn’t have a wife on his back. And there are three obstacles on the wife-carrying course. That’s three more obstacles than that sissy Usain ran over en route to any of his world records. Obviously, Estonian couple > Usain Bolt (science!). I’ll say it again, these are World Champions, we’re talking about. FAT CHANCE Usain could run a 55.5.

The wife must be over 17 years of age, but need not be your own. She also must be over 49kg (108 lbs.).

Ah, so single men are eligible. But pedophiles are fortunately not. And if you try to pull a fast one and put Nicole Ritchie on your back, she will “be burdened with a heavy rucksack” until she reaches 108 lbs. Integrity! Parity!

It costs 50€ to participate.

They don’t do it for the money; they’re the best type of athletes! More integrity!

If you have good sex, you will be a good wife-carrier.

“You can sense the excitement in the air during the wife carrying competition. The core of the race is made of a woman, a man and their relationship. The wife carrying and eroticism have a lot in common. Intuitive understanding of the signals sent by the partner and becoming one with the partner are essential in both of them – sometimes also whipping.”

Saucy.

[h/t reddit; Official Wife-Carrying Website]

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