The aim of Kiiking, as a sport, is to get over-the-spindle with the longest shaft. To add a centimetre to the shaft is making the getting over-the-spindle for the athlete as difficult as adding a centimetre to the high bar for high jumpers. Regular kiiking, where the heights are set lower, the centimetre would not matter but in the terms of a competition it can be determinative. For example the first men's Guinness record – 7.01 metres - set in 2000, was unbeatable for four years. In 2004 the record was beat only with 1 centimetre (7.02 m) and only in 2012 it was again beat with another centimetre (7.03m).

Kiiking as a sport is unique and very difficult for sportsmen. Most sports with several tries offer the possibility to better your score in case of a failed try with another at the same height. This is prohibited in Kiiking. Already the first failed try sends you off the competition. In the course of a Kiiking competition, every athlete has the right for five successful tries and already the first failed try eliminates him from the competition. Comparing to the high jump, the competitor is not allowed to have a second try at the same height of the shaft (parallel to a high bar). Every try has to be successful. This requires the athlete to be specially concentrated and does not allow letting yourself loose. This means that the competitor has to know his abilities very specifically while in case he starts out on a lower shaft height, the tries may be over by the time he reaches the shaft height equal to his full potential.

At the same time, it is important not to over-evaluate ones abilities. The competition is also made difficult with the rule that whoever exceeds the former height is the winner. The competitors must know exactly whether they can reach the chosen height.   It is not possible to check the opponents' level, while the new height is set before the other starts to swing. Therefore it is not possible to know whether your opponent is in good shape or not. If the competitor uses his 5 tries without reaching his full potential, he has lost the competition.
There have been cases, when the competitors over-evaluate their actual abilities and set the starting height too high, therefore not being able to reach it. This gives the opportunity to far weaker competitors to get the medal.

“Kiiking is a fair sport which requires physical strength and strategic planning. The results are unambiguously measured and no one gets extra points for class. The winner is the one to get over-the-spindle with the longest shaft!”