Whereas its origins are usually not precisely politically right – greater than 30 {couples} competed within the North American Spouse Carrying Championship in entrance of cheering crowds.
The occasion sees rivals splash by means of water, leap over logs and trudge by means of mud – all whereas carrying their companion like a sack of potatoes.
It’s believed to be based mostly on a nineteenth century Finnish legend involving a person referred to as “Ronkainen the Robber”, whose gang was recognized to pillage villages and carry away the ladies.
Historically, the Finnish occasion featured male rivals carrying a lady.
On Saturday, competing {couples} didn’t must be married, nor did they must be a person and a lady.
One contestant – the provider – was dressed as Mr Unimaginable, whereas his “spouse” was dressed totally in pink.
They and others have been cheered on by crowds on either side of the 254-metre course at Sunday River ski resort.
Molly Sunburn carries Megan Crowley over a sand pile through the North American Spouse Carrying Championship. Pic: AP Picture/Robert F Bukaty
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Many of the individuals use a method by which the “spouse” is carried like a backpack – the wrong way up – to make sure the runners’ arms are free for the best agility.
The champion leaves with the load of the “spouse” in beer and 5 instances the “spouse’s” weight in money.
To estimate the quantity they win, the successful “spouse” is placed on one facet of a see-saw-like scale that organisers stability out on the opposite facet with circumstances of beer.
“We come every year for the enjoyable,” mentioned Wade Porterfield of Cuba, New York, who competed together with his spouse, Sara Porterfield.
