Couple wins U.S. wife carrying competition, taking home the "wife's" weight in beer

Maine couple wins 15th Annual North American Wife Carrying Championship, to take home the "wife's" weight in beer and five times her weight in cash.

NEWRY, MAINE, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 11, 2014) (SUNDAY RIVER) -   Maine couple Jesse Wall and Christina Arsenault won the 15th North American Wife Carrying Championship on Saturday (October 11).Fifty couples raced along a 278-yard (254 meter) course with the women mostly clinging upside down to the men's backs.

The race, which originated in Finland, is intended to evoke the spirit of a legendary Finnish brigand, Rosvo-Ronkainen, who made those who wanted to join his gang run through a forest carrying heavy sacks on their backs.

In the modern version, couples race along a track, tackling mud, a pool and hurdles, with the men carrying the women on their backs. According to organizers, most "wives" are volunteers.

Wall and Christina Arsenault have been competing since 2010, with two second-place results and two third-place finishes, before claiming their first North American title with a time of 1:04.10.

"It feels absolutely incredible to finally be the winners," said Wall. "As a local guy who skis Sunday River all the time-and I'm getting married here next June. So it will probably be the last time."

Wall and Arsenault took home Arsenault's weight in Shock Top beer and Johnny Appleseed cider as well as five times her weight in cash for a grand total of $482.50.