Kiiking () is a sport which involves a person making a
swing gain increasingly more momentum, to pass over the spindle with the longest shafts possible. It was invented in Estonia by Ado Kosk in 1993;
in
Estonian, ''kiik'' means a swing.
In a kiiking swing, the swing arms are made of steel to enable a person to swing 360 degrees going over the
fulcrum of the swing. A person is fastened to the swing base by their feet. To swing, the person begins to pump by squatting and standing up on the swing. The swing will gain momentum and will, by skillful pumping, take a person over the fulcrum.
Kiiking is regulated by the Estonian Kiiking Association.
History
The practice of swinging has had an important place in
Estonian culture
The culture of Estonia combines an indigenous heritage, represented by the country's Finnic languages, Finnic national language Estonian language, Estonian, with Nordic countries, Nordic and German culture, German cultural aspects. Over the cen ...
for a long time. Traditional
village swings have been prevalent in rural
communal lands for centuries, places where villagers held festivities.
Translated abstract available
The construction of kiiking swings is radically different from village swings, however.
The first kiiking swing was made by Ado Kosk in 1993. Kosk observed that it becomes more difficult to swing over the fulcrum as the arms of the swing become longer. He then designed telescoping swing arms to gradually extend the arms for an increased challenge. The person able to swing over the fulcrum with the longest swing arms is the winner. The first modern kiiking swing with adjustable shafts was made in 1996.
Kiikingswing types
There are three models of swings:
*KIKI1 – shaft height 3–4m
*KIKI2 – shaft height 4–6m
*KIKI3 – shaft height 6–8m
Records
The current Estonian record as well as Guinness World Record for longest swing shafts was set in 2022 by Estonian Sven Saarpere, with 7.43 metres. Estonian Kätlin Kink holds the women's Guinness World Record of 5.93 m, while the Estonian women's record of 6.08 m is held by Helga Ehrenbusch.
An American record of 5.66 m was set by Matt Dart of
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
in 2015. Maxwell White of
Auckland
Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
set a New Zealand record of 4.83 m in 2012.
Previous Guinness records:
*7.38 m, Sven Saarpere, 2018
*7.15 m,
Kaspar Taimsoo, 2016
*7.10 m, Ants Tamme (
:et), 16 September 2015
*7.02 m, Andrus Aasamäe, 21 August 2004
Gallery
Kiiking 06.jpg, Indoor kiiking
Kiiking 09.JPG, Outdoor kiiking
Kiiking 15.JPG
Kiiking Tartus 2012.JPG, Kiiking in Tartu
References
External links
{{Commons category
Estonian Kiiking Association
Individual sports
Sports originating in Estonia