In summer, northern Europeans are prone to go a little bit crazy. It’s probably the long winter that does it: the endless nights; the short, twi-lit days. Huddled indoors, they have plenty of time to think about all the stuff they’ll get to as soon as their part of the Earth tilts back toward the sun.
When, at last, their surroundings are transformed by golden warmth, there is only a limited window of opportunity in which to put their pent-up schemes into action.
Would it, for instance, be possible to drive a snowmobile across an unfrozen lake? Come the first flush of summer, they try it. It turns out it is possible, with sufficient run-up and enough speed (though nobody has tallied how many rusting snowmobiles lie at the bottom of Icelandic lakes from the early attempts).
Can you play soccer in a peat bog? Every June, there is a championship held in Finland proving that you can, though not easily. Or cleanly. You’ll never see a laundry detergent commercial offering to get the stains out of uniforms after a swamp soccer match.
It was within this northern tradition of nutty pipedreams that, in 1996, an Estonian, Ado Kosk, conceived a new sport. Or rather, he revived and formalized an old one, for it seems that Estonians have been kiiking for centuries.
The Estonian language is impenetrable at the best of times. To outsiders, kiiking could refer to … well, just about anything. With a little folkloric research, you will discover that a kiik is a traditional wooden swing. What sets an Estonian swing apart from the childhood swings we’re familiar with is that it dangles from rigid arms, usually made from wood.
But how does a humble swing become the basis for a mad northern European sport?
Kosk’s brainwave was to realize that if the swing’s frame was substantially heightened, and if the wooden arms were replaced with steel, then in theory it would be possible to swing 360 degrees: You would be able to swing right over the top and come back down the other side.
Theory was put into practice in the village of Viimsi, on the shore of the Baltic Sea northeast of Estonia’s capital, Tallinn. The pioneers honed the equipment and devised the techniques necessary to generate sufficient momentum.
The kiiker stands with feet securely strapped to the swing and sweeps back and forth like a metronome, using the entire body to maintain the rhythm, squatting like a skier on the back swing and straightening up on the follow-through.
The swing rises a little higher each time until it is almost vertical above the frame. At this point, the kiiker reaches heights of 30 or 40 feet, depending on the length of the swing’s arms.
The tension builds. A couple of times the swing is momentarily stationary above the frame, with the kiiker perilously upside down. Then gravity pulls it back the way it came. With one final, muscle-sapping effort, the 360-degree swing is completed — as satisfying as hitting a home run or throwing a touchdown pass.
From parochial beginnings, this addictive pastime has spread beyond the Baltic. Kiiking frames are increasingly springing up in the United States; a new summer sport is taking hold.
Back in northern Europe, everything is currently in the cold grip of winter. Frustrated sportspeople endure the long nights, dreaming of summer and the new ideas they will be able to try out. In some remote homestead in Scandinavia or the Baltic States, the next big sporting craze could be in someone’s head right now.
Read This Next
All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Nov 1, 2024Check Out The Beach Terrace, The Only Carlsbad Hotel Directly on the Sand
Looking for the perfect destination to unwind and savor the final days of fall or first weeks of winter? Check out the sunny California town of Carlsbad. Located just 45 minutes north of San Diego, Carlsbad embodies the classic Southern California lifestyle for those looking for that winter escape without the chilly temperatures. The 48-room Beach Terrace is Carlsbad’s only hotel directly on the sand, and with November and December weather still in the 60s and 70s, it is an oasis of relaxation to soak up the sun without the summer crowds.
Sponsored Content
Remarkable Medellín
Visiting Medellín in Colombia: The Country of Beauty is like stepping into a fantastic story — literally, as the city in the Western Colombian Andes region inspired Disney’s Encanto. Here, valleys, the world’s tallest palms, vibrant communities, colorful houses, garden-like balconies and more prove reality is more picturesque than anything on film. And it’s especially more tempting following Medellín’s remarkable transformation, shedding its troubled past and reawakening as a city of innovation, art, cultural richness, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism and resiliency.
Daily
Nov 1, 2024SWISS First Lounge Named World’s Best Airline Lounge for Dining
Swiss International Air Lines recently ranked No. 1 in the World’s Best Airline Lounge for Dining category for its first-class lounge in Terminal E at Zürich Airport in the 2024 World Culinary Awards.
Daily
Nov 1, 2024Embark on Chile’s Lakes & Volcanoes Route
While Patagonia, the Atacama Desert and Torres del Paine are already well-known Chilean destinations for U.S. adventure travelers, the more recently established Lakes & Volcanoes Route is an up-and-coming circuit distinct for its breathtaking fusion of landscapes shaped by active volcanoes and glacial lakes.
Sponsored Content
Discover the Pristine Beauty of the Sporades Islands
Nestled in the northwest Aegean Sea, the Sporades Islands are a hidden gem of Greece, offering breathtaking natural beauty and unique experiences for every traveler. Comprised of four main islands — Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and Skyros — this island cluster is renowned for its lush pine forests, crystal-clear waters and idyllic beaches.
Daily
Nov 1, 2024Peter Sommer Travels Launches New Aegean Türkiye Tour
Guests on Peter Sommer Travels’ new land-based Exploring Aegean Turkey Tour will explore the county’s winding coast south on an exploration through the ancient world. Along the way, enjoy the finest local and traditional cuisine, as well as luxury accommodations including a grand merchant’s house dating back to the 1800s, a winery and a rustic guesthouse.
Discover the Pristine Beauty of the Sporades Islands
Sponsored Content
Make The Londoner Hotel Your West End Base
Daily
Oct 31, 2024Daily
Oct 30, 2024Things to Do in Santa Barbara’s ARTS District
Formerly known as the Historic Theatre District, the recently renamed ARTS District in Santa Barbara, California, offers travelers an array of cultural attractions.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines First to Purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel for ORD
Chicago O’Hare International Airport will soon receive sustainable aviation fuel, all thanks to United Airlines, which became the first airline to purchase SAF for use at the airport, one of the largest in the United States. Neste, a producer of SAF, will provide up to 1 million gallons of its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The first supply arrived in August.
eFlyer Reviews
Oct 30, 2024Art Hotel Villa Fiorella Review
Perched on the hillside town of Massa Lubrense, just beyond Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Villa Fiorella Art Hotel brings modern sensibility to an ancient town, emphasizing artistic expression throughout the property. Less than 5 miles from the more crowded town of Sorrento, Villa Fiorella is a refined escape in an idyllic region.
ShareThis