Resort’s 2012 North American Wife Carrying Championship to host former champion couples from North America, Nova Scotia, and the World Games in Finland

Newry, Maine (September 26, 2012)—On Saturday, October 6, 2012, Sunday River will host its most competitive North American Wife Carrying Championship (NAWCC) to date with a playing field of 50 couples that includes the 2009 North American champions, the 2012 Nova Scotia champions, and the four-time Wife Carrying World champions.

Inspired by Finnish wife-carrying folklore, the winners of the NAWCC take home the wife’s weight in beer plus five times her weight in cash.

Former champions competing in this year’s event include the 2009 NAWCC champions, Dave and Lacey Castro from Saco, Maine; the 2012 Hants County Exhibition champions, Josh Mulholland and Nicole Vanzutphen; and the four-time Wife Carrying World champions, Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina Haapanen.

Located in the Western Mountains of Maine, Sunday River’s North American Wife Carrying Championship is part of the resort’s Fall Festival Weekend. This annual event draws thousands of spectators to the resort each year.

The event itself takes place on the snowless slopes of Sunday River, on a custom-built 278-yard alpine course complete with wooden hurdles, sand traps, and the always-popular “widow maker” water hazard.

Competing couples do not need to be married, but must comprise of a man and a woman, and both must be 21 years or older. Either partner can be carried and method of carry is up to the competing couple.

Couples compete two at a time, for time, until the top two fastest times have been determined. Those two couples with the fastest times then go head-to-head for the North American Wife Carrying Championship title and prizes, which include the wife’s weight in beer as well as five times her weight in cash.

Winners of this year’s event also secure a spot in Sunday River’s 2013 North American Wife Carrying Championship.

For more information on the North American Wife Carrying Championship including high resolution imagery and b-roll, visit sundayriver.com or contact Darcy Morse at dmorse@sundayriver.com or 207-824-5243.

About Sunday River—Sunday River is located in the Western Mountains of Maine. By summer, the resort is an alpine playground that includes scenic lift rides, Zipline Tours, 30 miles of mountain biking, and an award-winning golf course. Come winter, Sunday River transforms into New England’s ideal snowsports destination with eight peaks of infinite fun, two Grand Resort Hotels, and fun events like the resort’s annual Santa Sunday and Parrothead Festival. More information at sundayriver.com.