Wife carryin

There are many extreme sports that I would like to try, however this recent one I found isn’t one of them. Wife Carrying which was first introduced in Finland is exactly what is sounds like, the man runs an obstacle course with his wife on his back as fast as he can.
The man can carry his wife a few different ways; 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). And from various videos and pictures it seems Estonian style is the favored carry, however it doesn’t look so pleasing for the wife.
Most courses are about 278 yards and have two dry obstacles and a water obstacle, about one meter deep.
The rules are simple:
· The wife to be carried may be your own, the neighbor's, or you may have found her further afield; she must be at least be 21 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 a rucksack containing additional weight such that the total load to be carried is no less than 49 kg.
· The only equipment allowed is a belt worn by the carrier, the carried must wear a helmet.
· A time penalty is added if the wife is dropped (probably a penalty when you get home too)
· All participants must have fun

Like most races the fastest times win, however there are also prizes for best costumes and strongest man (the one who has the biggest wife?).
Most of these races are held in Europe mainly Finland where it originated however the United States also gets in on the wife carrying action. Monona, Wisconsin, Minocqua, Wisconsin, and Marquette, Michigan all have competitions. We even have a North American Wife Carrying Championship held every year at Sunday River in Maine, this year it will take place on October 10th. Winners of the competition will receive the wife’s weight in beer (maybe I will give it a try) and her weight times 5 in money (to buy more beer).

YouTube - Wife Carrying Championships