North American Wife Carrying Championship

Marriage is all about supporting and carrying each other through the tough times, but it seems some people might take that notion a little too close to heart. Each year, couples from around the country converge on the Sunday River Resort in Maine to show their love by literally carrying their spouse.

The North American Wife Carrying Championship is the qualifying race for the World Championship in Finland. Competitors are forced to carry their wives over obstacles including sand traps, log hurdles and watery holes in order to prove the mightiest among them are. Okay, so it’s really an opportunity for men to feed their egos, but it’s still pretty hilarious to watch.

The race is grueling and not for the faint of heart, but the winning couple receives automatic entry into the World Championship, five times the wife’s weight in cash and her total weight in Goose Island Oktoberfest beer.

Competitors don’t actually have to be married to enter, just over 21 years of age and a man and woman in moderately good shape. You’ll have to participate in regional races in order to qualify, or you can just visit and act as a spectator to this hysterical event.

Whichever you choose it’s guaranteed to be a hoot, so be sure to bring a camera.