“Unite people and bring peace on earth.” Sound like a United Nations resolution? It’s actually the motto of a fun family yard game called kubb. Hailing originally from Scandinavia, kubb has taken off around the world in recent decades, and is gaining a stronger presence today in the Northern Wilds thanks to two brothers: Shane and Erik Linge. So, what is kubb and why does it have such a lofty motto?
Kubb is a lawn game that originated on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Two teams of up to six players each, using six wooden batons, take turns trying to knock down their opponent’s five wooden baseline “kubbs” (Swedish for “wooden blocks”), placed 8 meters away. Batons must be thrown underhand. As the baseline kubbs are toppled, they are “inkasted” onto the field (pitch), then stood back up by the opposing side, becoming field kubbs. The two teams take turns knocking down field and baseline kubbs, until one team has cleared all of their kubbs. The final shot is to slay the king—a larger wooden block with a crowned top that stands in the center of the pitch. First team to slay the king wins.
Viking Beginnings, American Nostalgia
Kubb is like horseshoes, bowling, and bocce, all mixed together, with a Scandinavian flair. Rumor has it, kubb was started over 1,000 years ago by the Vikings. It’s possible the game was originally played using the bones of the Vikings’ slayed opponents—that could also be total myth.
Kubb’s modern-day origins can be traced back to early 20th century Sweden. But the game really took off in the late 1980s, specifically on the island of Gotland. The Kubb World Championship was started in 1995 and continues to be held annually in the town of Rone, on the southern end of Sweden’s largest island. Gotland is located in the Baltic Sea, about 100 miles due south of Stockholm.
Kubb has a strong Northland connection thanks to Erik and Shane, who both live in Superior. They are the founders of Lake Superior Kubb—a club based in the Twin Ports that hosts kubb tournaments and promotes the sport locally.
Erik first saw kubb being played at the Viking reenactment camp at the Renaissance Festival in Minneapolis. “It just had this nostalgic, historic draw to it,” he recalls.
Soon the brothers started playing kubb themselves and organized their team, called “The Darkness.” That’s when they understood how open the kubb community is. “Like in any lesser-known, niche sport, the people are just phenomenal,” Erik observes. “The community is the main draw to the sport,” adds Shane.
Lake Superior Ice Festival
The Linges quickly developed an obsession for kubb. After founding Lake Superior Kubb in 2019, they soon started hosting their own kubb tournaments at Lake Superior Ice Festival, held at Barkers Island in Superior each January. They also have a residency at Earth Rider Brewing in Superior, where they teach anyone to play.
This year, the brothers are organizing two kubb events at the Ice Festival. The 2024 Lake Superior Kubb Tournament will be played from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26. There will also be a concurrent “Learn to Play Kubb” event throughout the same day. They invite everyone to play, including total beginners.
Kubb is played at the Ice Festival on the frozen Duluth-Superior Harbor. Both Linges note the cultural significance of playing kubb on snow or ice. “I enjoy winter play, because it really separates the diehards from the leisure players,” explains Shane. He notes that 90 percent of the teams that come to the Lake Superior Kubb Tournament are top teams nationally. “These are big teams, and they don’t turn down a chance to play, whether it’s on the ice or wherever.”
The Linges give Eau Claire, WI, credit for being the kubb capital of the United States. “We’re lucky—it’s really not that far away,” Erik says. “That’s where the national championship is held. We’ve built relationships with all the big teams by playing there ourselves. Many of the best teams are located in Eau Claire, and they come up to Ice Festival.”
An additional winter theme is embedded within the Linge’s team name—“The Darkness.” Erik gives the reason behind the name: “The first time we ever played kubb was on New Year’s Eve. It was dark and wintertime. Then we learned about a kubb tournament at the Ely Winter Fest. We went up there, and that was the first time we ever competed. It’s just nostalgic for me—when I think of kubb, I think of winter, and playing in the cold and dark.”
Strong Etiquette
“Kubb unites people and brings peace on earth” is the motto of the Kubb World Championship. So where did this ethos come from? Both Linges identify the concept of fair play as key to kubb’s culture. “The big thing about kubb is all skill levels are welcome at every tournament. I’ve played the five-time U.S. champions in games, and they’ll come over and give you advice in a competitive game. It’s very open,” says Erik about the supportive attitude. There are no judges or officials at kubb matches either. “The etiquette of sportsmanship is just so strong in the culture,” the brothers conclude.
Go take some throws for yourself this winter in Superior—the Linges will provide you the kubb sets. Wield the baton, knock out some kubbs, and see if you can slay the king at the Lake Superior Ice Festival. Embrace the culture, and take a step toward world peace.
More information is available at Lake Superior Kubb’s website and Facebook page.
