Technique and strategy

Looking at that Estonian lift more closely, and reading more about it, it seems that the success of it depends on the abilty of the lifter to run with his arms unhindered, requiring the wife to hold on with her own legs by either hooking her feet together or gripping her shins from behind. Doesn't look comfortable, but I guess it lets him pump his arms, aiding speed and gaining better balance. Karen suggested another method which we shall try out, but it shall have to remain a secretive 'winged keel' as it were (unless it doesn't work out, in which case...) There is also the danger of the water in the water hazard with the head down methods (see left). I wonder if she should wear a snorkel?

We plan on starting training in earnest on Saturday. I hope my biceps have recovered from attending Karen's group fitness session last Sunday. They still ache, dammit.

I have also noticed some of the subtle differences between the Australian and the World championship courses. The Aussie is slightly shorter at 200 metres (I'm sure it will seem long enough...), although the World does include a Sprint 100 metre event (and a team event with three men and beer chugging...). Also, the 15 second penalty for dropping doesn't apply in the water, which isn't mentioned in the World rules (?). The wife limit is slightly heavier at 50kg. The Aussie also has '2 log jumps 1 water hazard and 1 mystery hazard' compared to the World 'two dry obstacles and a water obstacle, about one meter deep'. While the mystery hazard must remain a mystery (hence the name I suppose...) it would be nice to know in advance what constitutes a 'log jump' for training purposes.

The beginning...

So last night I said to the wife: 'I want to carry you all the way to Finland.'

I can't remember how I found out about the Finnish sport of Wife Carrying, but when Karen was doing her Personal Training qualification I suggested it as a fun and obscure sport to base a training schedule on for an assignment. Its origins lie in the need for fresh blood in mateship in dark age Europe driving men into other villages to abduct women for their wives. Gotta love the dark ages for romance... Although a further claim is made that the sport '...has deep roots in the local history. In the late 1800’s there was in the area a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen, who is said to have accepted to this troops only those men who proved their worth on a challenging track.' Is there a little bit of PC spin going on there? Either way, it has now evolved into a fun international sport (dominated by the Estonians) with the following rules:

• 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 kilos. If it is less than 49 kilos, the wife will be burdened with such a heavy rucksack that the total weight to be carried is 49 kilos.
• 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 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.

http://www.sonkajarvi.fi/?deptid=15228

So you can see it combines strength and endurance with aerobic fitness. The wife should be as close as possible to 49kg (50kg for the Australian Championships). Dropping is not an option.

On the seventh of July, 2007, in Sonkajärvi, Finland, the twelth Wife Carrying World Championships will be held, and we now plan to be there. The Australian Championships, at Countryfest in Singleton on the tenth of March 2007, is our first objective. The location holds a particular significance for us, since it was the town where Karen and I first met: the wife-to-be that would one day be carried. It was in the bowling club car park, where she had forgotten where her car was parked and I duly assisted her (she maintains that it was all a ruse, but I'm not so sure...).

After discussing the event last night we had fun experimenting with several of the various holds. The Estonian method (see above left) seemed to be best, and seems to be the hold that the most winners have used on the website. Time will tell. Our children got very excited by all this carrying around the living room and soon got involved. Cody (13), our eldest, expressed his doubts (quite sensibly) regarding our ability to win such an event. Callan (6) giggled so uncontrollably while being firemans carried that it was almost dangerous, and little Cassidy (5) just wanted to stay up in the air all night.

Interesting times ahead, and this blog shall plot them all, dear e-reader.

Dave

For more about Wife Carrying check out:

www.countryfest.com.au (Australian)
http://www.sonkajarvi.fi/?deptid=15136 (World)
http://www.centrebet.com/finnish-wife-carrying-championships.php
http://www.lcfinlandia.powerup.com.au/wifecarrying.htm