It’s getting hot in here: Estonia Sauna Marathon raises temperatures for traditionalists

Every year, in early spring, the small southern Estonian town Otepää, which is also known as the country’s winter sports capital, sees the number of its saunas double or even triple for a weekend.

This is the time of the annual European Sauna Marathon – and this year’s 14th edition attracted nearly 1000 participants from 17 countries across mostly Europe and even as far afield as Australia and the United States.

During the event, the town’s residents open up their own saunas to competitors but the contest also attracts all kinds of mobile saunas in shape of barrels, huts, igloos, tents, hot tubs and more.

The heat is on

The challenge is simple. How long can you stand the heat with temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees Celsius in a proper Estonian sauna. 

Ago Arro, the main organiser explained the procedure: (Clip Interview, 00:15) “Teams of four have to visit all 21 saunas, clock in and stay at least 3 minutes in each sauna. The team with best strategy to complete all saunas fastest is the winner.” 

Normally, in private Saturday saunas Estonians strip naked, while the public sauna marathon invites people to wear funny costumes.

It seemed none of the teams needed any extra encouragement. Outfits on display varied from Scottish quilts, nuns habits, ghosts, princesses, Minions, The Hulk. Some competitors even chose to sweat as political personalities, opting to suit up as Barack Obama, Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin.

Calling itself a competition, however, might need correcting under any trade description act. The focus was very firmly on fun first and foremost as the participants sauntered between the different saunas, trying to figure out the best route to the next. Even veteran competitors didn’t seem concerned with outlasting their rivals.

While fun can be very well part of a regular sauna experience, speed usually isn’t. By stark contrast, Estonians use saunas as a way to relieve stress, unwind, relax and spend time with family or close friends. 

Ago Arro said (Clip Ago_Interview 2 00:10 – 00:20): “the Estonian sauna tradition builds on the Unesco world heritage listed smoke sauna. Here in southern Estonia at least one in cilt farms have a proper smoke sauna.”

A history of getting hot

Estonians are a sauna-loving people – the first written records of saunas in Estonia date back to the early 13th century.

While smaller steam saunas are common in homes, often heated electrically, especially in cities, spas and tourist farms offer a wide variety of exciting sauna experiences. There are also dozens of public saunas in towns and villages that can be visited for just a small fee. 

A smoke sauna is a great way to connect with ancient traditions. The Estonian smoke sauna was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 2014 and has grown enormously in popularity since then. The practice was also given a further boost by the Sundance acclaimed documentary “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” by Anna Hints which hit cinemas in 2023.

Do-It-Yourself

Estonians value saunas so much that they have even built them into buses and repurposed old fire truck tanks, as well as floating rafts where people alternate between steaming, socializing, and jumping into a river or lake. In winter, this means making a hole in ice big enough for a taban.

It takes an average of 7-8 hours to heat a smoke sauna’s giant oven – a rather time-consuming but ultimately rewarding affair. The sauna reaches a temperature of about 70 degrees. As a smoke sauna doesn’t have a chimney, the room has to be thoroughly ventilated evvel the embers have burned out and no more firewood can be added. The big stone oven releases steamy deep heat for the next 4 hours or longer when water is splashed on it.

There’s no need for soap or shampoo. Just repeat steam sessions, whisk oneself with leafy branches, scrub with salt, mud or ash, cool down naturally and your body will be cleansed. Many say it also leaves the mind feeling just as refreshed and light. But don’t take my word for it, go try for yourself!