To boldly go where skinny guys dare!

[PanhandleThrower]

My first thread into the Heavy Athletics forum. I'm a rather hungry novice in the sport, and have competed at a less than standard games. But man, what a blast. If anybody is moderatly interested in trying their hand at the Games, I say do it. I'm currently in the lightweight pool, but if genetics have anything to say I could be looking at the Class C in the next five to ten years.


Still, I've loved watching the Games whenever I could catch it on ESPN 2, or something of the like. So when I found out that I could compete in a class of guys my same weight, I jumped at the chance. I started hitting the weight room, and watching YouTube as much as possible. I got creative and made a practice weight for WFH and WFD, plus when I added a lentgh of chain, I was able to make a rather shotty hammer. I got really industrious, and found three 13' 2x4"s, and with about ten lag bolts I had a decient practice caber. I have since redesigned the weight, adding more plates and a new handle, got the materials for a decent hammer and liberated three stones from a local river area, one 48 pounder, one sixteen and one fourteen. I try to throw as much as possible, which amounts to once every two weeks or so.

As a new guy, cutting teeth, I have to say this is one hobby I can see pursuing for years to come. I encourage anyone who is thinking about trying to at least try one games. Now, research and read as much as possible. And know what your getting yourself into, but give it a try. You just might like it.

[Alan H]

THIS......so so so SO this. THIS is how you do it.

Not asking a million questions on the forum and then disappearing forever. You take what you've got and you DO IT. Cobble together what you can....use craigslist as a resource, there are usually weight plates on there for dirt cheap.

A chain hammer is a great practice implement. A thirteen foot caber held together with glue and lag bolts ain't fancy but it's a hell of a lot better than NO caber, or the "caber" that the guys who are all talk and no "DO", have. Please don't try to single-arm that 48 pound rock, but two-arm it for a workout? I'm so *there*.

Throw as much as you can, as much as "life" will let you. Get int he gym and push some weights when you can. Then get to a few Games during the season, strap on your kilt and DO IT.

Guid on ye, lad.

[Martin Roy]

Welcome aboard. Keep at it, practice regularly, lift consistently and smartly, and you'll improve. And, you'll have great fun in the process. Keep logging whenever you do something. Your log will be read and we, having big mouths, fast fingers, and decided opinions, will comment.

(and if you don't log, we'll notice that, too.)

Go for it.

[PanhandleThrower]

Well I've been using the 48 lber for Braemar stone work, withy the thought of making the 23lb throw easier. The caber is showing major signs of cracking and splitting. So some more Macguyvering is necessary. The practice weight has only shown weakness in the bolt that connects the handle assembly to the cap of the weight stack.

I have the somewhat good fortune of living in a place with minimal snow/rainfall, the flip side is that we have about 320+ days of wind, avg speeds 13 mph, making caber tossing a bit more fun than it should be.

I'm looking to build a foundation of understanding the throws before trying to tinker with technique. I'd sacrifice a few feet as long as I know the basics. I'll work on fine tuning things once I feel comfortable and am ready to move forward. One area that I'll need the most disciplined is the art of stretching. And maybe it's something I'll have to learn with aches and age.

[o1d_dude]

Run with the caber so that the wind is at your back.

Try to throw downhill whenever possible.

Srsly.

[Alan H]

Here's what I'd do with that 48 pound rock....seriously. OK, they're silly videos in a gym with a med ball, but if you do basically that same thing and see how high and how far out you can throw the rock like this, it will absolutely translate to stone throws and everything else, for that matter. I'd do it outside, though...and not up against the gym wall!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C0z1_uNHU0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkR0m-jsXMQ

IMHO, 48 pounds is just a bit much to load up on one arm, unless you're one outrageously huge dude. Go find a 22-25 pounder for Braemar practice.

[o1d_dude]

I wouldn't try catching the 48 lb rock, tho.