Introduction
2010 event - one-off departure from the UK on 29 June
The Wife-Carrying World Championships are held every July in the little Finnish town of Sonkajarvi, centrally located and just a 60 minute flight from the capital, Helsinki. A Finnish event annually since 1994, it has deep roots in local history dating back to the 1800’s when it was common practice for the men to steal women from neighbouring villages and prove their worth to the area ‘big-wig’ over a challenging track. Little has changed really although all the women participating in today’s contest generally do so of their own free will!
Competition is fierce and entrants come from far and wide – in this year’s event native Finns will be joined by Canadians, Americans, Irish, Australians and Lithuanians, to name a few! The objective is for the man to carry the woman (not necessarily his wife) over a specially designed obstacle-laden track which includes crossing water. The carrying techniques are ingenious and there are serious rules to be observed although all in all, everyone has a lot of fun. And the prize they are competing for is the ‘wife’s’ weight in beer so there is a fine line between having a heavier wife and yet not too heavy.
In addition to the contest which takes place over two days, other events are organised around town including Karaoke contests, live music and dance events.
Helsinki is a charming mix of styles: Art Nouveau influences as well as quirky modern touches means it never takes itself too seriously, unlike some other Scandinavian cities. The restaurant and café culture is elegant yet laid back, the shopping covers the full gamut of tastes from flea-markets to trendy boutiques and there is culture galore. There are plenty of green spaces too and whiling away a few hours ‘people-watching’ in a park is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.
On this two-centre break first stay at centrally situated Hotel Glo, which houses Carlito’s restaurant, boasting a great view of Helsinki. There are 144 well-equipped rooms (of varying standards) which include a 32” flat screen TV, private facilities with either bath tub or shower and Internet connection – there is also a direct entrance from the hotel into Helsinki’s major shopping mall. The hotel in Iisalmi, home to Finland’s largest independent brewery and close to where the Wife-Carrying Championships take place, is the Sokos Hotel Koljonvirta. It has a total of 80 rooms, an Italian-inspired family restaurant, a traditional pub and a night club.
So if this has whetted your appetite for alternative sports, why not join our one-off departure and enjoy the delights of a capital city and the eccentricities of one of Finland’s stranger traditions.
Need to know facts about the championship:
The Wife-Carrying World Championships are held every July in the little Finnish town of Sonkajarvi, centrally located and just a 60 minute flight from the capital, Helsinki. A Finnish event annually since 1994, it has deep roots in local history dating back to the 1800’s when it was common practice for the men to steal women from neighbouring villages and prove their worth to the area ‘big-wig’ over a challenging track. Little has changed really although all the women participating in today’s contest generally do so of their own free will!
Competition is fierce and entrants come from far and wide – in this year’s event native Finns will be joined by Canadians, Americans, Irish, Australians and Lithuanians, to name a few! The objective is for the man to carry the woman (not necessarily his wife) over a specially designed obstacle-laden track which includes crossing water. The carrying techniques are ingenious and there are serious rules to be observed although all in all, everyone has a lot of fun. And the prize they are competing for is the ‘wife’s’ weight in beer so there is a fine line between having a heavier wife and yet not too heavy.
In addition to the contest which takes place over two days, other events are organised around town including Karaoke contests, live music and dance events.
Helsinki is a charming mix of styles: Art Nouveau influences as well as quirky modern touches means it never takes itself too seriously, unlike some other Scandinavian cities. The restaurant and café culture is elegant yet laid back, the shopping covers the full gamut of tastes from flea-markets to trendy boutiques and there is culture galore. There are plenty of green spaces too and whiling away a few hours ‘people-watching’ in a park is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.
On this two-centre break first stay at centrally situated Hotel Glo, which houses Carlito’s restaurant, boasting a great view of Helsinki. There are 144 well-equipped rooms (of varying standards) which include a 32” flat screen TV, private facilities with either bath tub or shower and Internet connection – there is also a direct entrance from the hotel into Helsinki’s major shopping mall. The hotel in Iisalmi, home to Finland’s largest independent brewery and close to where the Wife-Carrying Championships take place, is the Sokos Hotel Koljonvirta. It has a total of 80 rooms, an Italian-inspired family restaurant, a traditional pub and a night club.
So if this has whetted your appetite for alternative sports, why not join our one-off departure and enjoy the delights of a capital city and the eccentricities of one of Finland’s stranger traditions.
Need to know facts about the championship:
- Competitors race over a distance of 253.5 metres
- Surface is partially sand, asphalt and grass
- There are two dry obstacles and a water obstacle about 1m deep
- Minimum weight of the wife being carried is 49kg
- Couples are given time penalties for a drop
- The top couples complete the full course in around 1 minute
- The most important thing is that all contestants and attendees have plenty of fun
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