Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
17 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
18 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
20 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
21 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Sweden Vilhelmina Wilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest

Wilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest

Locals perched on icy thrones brave frigid temperatures during this bizarre winter tradition.

Vilhelmina, Sweden

Added By
Henrik Johansson
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Vilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Vilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Vilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Vilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Vilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Every winter, bundled up, brave-hearted people climb a ladder and settle upon an eight-foot-tall chunk of ice. From their frigid perches, they sit tight, wait, and try not to freeze. Those who manage to stay put are crowned as that year’s Ice Pole Sitting champions.

Contests partake in this truly chilling contest during the Wilhelmina Winter Weekend, which spans a few days and is packed with activities. Traditionally, they only had to remain on the ice for 48 hours. But this year, the stakes were raised. Competitors now must endure 66 hours atop their frosty thrones to win.

Though temperatures that plummet below -22 °F are not uncommon, the frigid environment isn’t the only challenge. Participants are only granted a 10-minute break every few hours. They can’t use phones or other forms of electronic entertainment to pass the time, even as the cold darkness sets in. Sleep deprivation is another tricky hurdle sitters must overcome. Contestants have lost after falling asleep and slipping off their ice poles. Luckily, no one has been seriously injured as of yet.

Clearly, sitting in the bitter cold, literally freezing their butts off, is a mental and physical challenge for the competitors. So why do they even do it? Perhaps it’s the prize money, or maybe they're just seeking a good old icy boost to the ego. Whatever their reasons, contestants have been eagerly partaking in the annual tradition since 1999.

Related Tags

Competitions Winter Ice Tradition Festivals

Know Before You Go

The competition takes place every year during the event Wilhelmina Winter Weekend.

Community Contributors

Added By

hrnick

Edited By

erjeffery

  • erjeffery

Published

February 9, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.vk.se/797367/de-satte-varldsrekord-i-kyla
  • https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vasterbotten/iskallt-varldsrekord
  • http://www.folkbladet.nu/1564471/stolpsittarna-pa-plats-i-vilhelmina
  • https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2007-02-10/tre-svenska-varldsmastare
  • https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vasterbotten/jonna-foll-i-istolpssittningen-i-dubbel-bemarkelse
Wilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest
23 E45
Vilhelmina
Sweden
64.626144, 16.652656
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Wildman

Storuman, Sweden

miles away

Lycksele Ice Pillar

Lycksele, Sweden

miles away

Borgvattnet Vicarage

Ragunda, Sweden

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sweden

Sweden

Europe

Places 383
Stories 42

Nearby Places

Wildman

Storuman, Sweden

miles away

Lycksele Ice Pillar

Lycksele, Sweden

miles away

Borgvattnet Vicarage

Ragunda, Sweden

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sweden

Sweden

Europe

Places 383
Stories 42

Related Stories and Lists

9 Winter Traditions You Might Not Have Heard Of

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Lycksele, Sweden

    Lycksele Ice Pillar

    This small town's local tradition is to create the world's tallest ice pillar.

  • The Marathon March shortly after the start in downtown Stockholm.

    Sweden

    Marathon March

    A competition inspired by Stephen King's psychological horror novel "The Long Walk."

  • Pyrotechnics at work.

    Remedios, Cuba

    Parrandas of Remedios

    This Cuban town sets the sky on fire around Christmas each year.

  • The sculpture the team from Mongolia created in their first year.

    Breckenridge, Colorado

    Breckenridge Snow Sculptures

    Each year, teams of the world's best snow sculptors have 65 hours to create frozen masterpieces.

  • Nontron, France

    Soufflaculs de Nontron

    This pair of statues commemorates a once-widespread carnival tradition of blowing on each other’s butts with bellows.

  • La Sardina Encallada

    Murcia, Spain

    'La Sardina Encallada' ('The Stranded Sardine')

    This enormous sardine in the Segura River pays tribute to an annual post-Lent tradition.

  • Picnic Tables provide a rest area beneath the icy cliffs.

    Lake City, Colorado

    Lake City Ice Park

    These towering cliffs crystalize each winter, forming sheer walls of ice that are open for climbing.

  • Lake Morey Skate Trail

    Fairlee, Vermont

    Lake Morey Skate Trail

    Tracing a path of more than four miles around a frozen lake, this is the longest skate trail in the United States.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.