The kooky and aggressive world of wife-carrying races is coming to Alberta for the primary time, giving runners a singular likelihood to haul their other halves for a shot at beer, money and glory.
The Alberta Spouse Carrying Championship—the province’s first competitors formally sanctioned by the North American Spouse Carrying Championship—will get underway Saturday within the hamlet of Lac La Biche, about 220 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
Whereas new to Alberta, wife-carrying races—wherein individuals sling their partner on their again and dash down a 254-metre obstacle-laden course to the end line—has been attracting aggressive {couples} and amused crowds in the USA and Europe for many years. The North American Spouse Carrying Championship was based in 1999, and has been held each October on the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine. {Couples} can qualify for this continental championship by profitable sanctioned state, provincial or regional wife-carrying occasions.
Based on the group, the occasion is predicated on a nineteenth century Finnish legend of Ronkainen the Robber, who made potential members of his band show their price by navigating a troublesome course with a heavy sack (or a lady grabbed from a neighbouring village) on their again. The primary modern-day wife-carrying occasion was held in Finland in 1991.
A contest as unusual as this calls for an equally novel prize, and wife-carrying races don’t disappoint. As is the case with different sanctioned occasions, the Alberta Spouse Carrying Competitors boasts as its high prize the profitable spouse’s weight in beer and 5 occasions her weight in money. The runners-up of Saturday’s ultimate might be awarded half that quantity.
{couples} who haven’t tied the knot needn’t fear—pairs don’t must be married to participate in Saturday’s occasion. Contributors do must be no less than 20 years previous, nevertheless. In contrast to Spouse Carrying World Championship guidelines requiring that the carried participant weigh no less than 49 kilograms (or put on a loaded rucksack that weighs sufficient to make up the distinction), North American Spouse Carrying Championship guidelines don’t name for a minimal weight. In fact, because the prize quantities hinge on the load of the “spouse,” a heavier companion will yield a better reward.
Saturday’s occasion kicks off at 2 p.m. on the Lac La Biche Agricultural Society Grounds as a part of the Lakeland Nation Truthful and Rodeo. Registration data for the Alberta Spouse Carrying Championship may be discovered right here.
