An annual event in Maine involving mud, beer, and cash has once again drawn dozens of eager competitors to a ski resort. More than 30 couples gathered to participate in the North American Wife Carrying Championship, a 278-yard race where contestants carry their partners like a sack of potatoes through water, over logs, and in mud.
The sport’s roots trace back to a 19th-century Finnish legend of “Ronkainen the Robber,” where men would carry off women in village raids. Traditionally, the Finnish event featured male carriers and female partners. However, in the recent competition, couples didn’t have to be married or adhere to specific gender roles.
Participants showcased creative attire, with one contestant dressed as Mr. Incredible and their partner in pink. Spectators cheered on the competitors as they navigated the course at the Sunday River ski resort. While most managed the terrain successfully, some stumbled in the mud, regrouping before continuing.
The carrying technique commonly used involves carrying the partner like a backpack, upside down, to allow for greater agility. Competitors, sporting smiles and grimaces, ended up wet and muddy by the race’s end. The champion walked away with their partner’s weight in beer and cash worth five times their partner’s weight.
“We come each year for the fun,” shared Wade Porterfield of Cuba, New York, who competed with his wife, Sara Porterfield. “There is really a low chance of us winning. Pretty much everybody cheers everybody on, and it’s a blast.”
The event exemplifies camaraderie and a light-hearted competitive spirit among the participants, making it a memorable experience for all involved.