Advice from those in the know?

[Andrew Green]

Hey guys.
I have an interest in competition. I tried to email the guys in charge of the Seattle area Highland games, but got no reply.

How many of you guys have participated in strength events?
What exercise plans worked for you? I know that this ends up being a more individually based thing, but I am just digging for any information I can.
I KNOW I need to put in some serious gym time if I am going to get anything even remotely close to competing (but that's ok, as I need it anyway).

Also, what type of strength events are held? I know of Caber, Hammer Throw, and I think Shot Put (or in some cases the stone... this holds the most interest for me).

Just fishing for ANY suggestions, information, links, etc.

[N. Campbell]

Check out www.nasgaweb.com

There you will find all the info you need on getting started in the games such as training, and getting or making the equipment you need to prepare for competition. Also, I am sure someone there can give you info about games in the Seattle area.

[Andrew Green]

Thanks for the link. Bookmarked.
Now I get to sniff around there for info!

[Alan H]

How I got My Stuff.

A. ) Caber: a real caber is hard to find/make. I mean, you need a 100 pound trimmed-down tree. It' heavier/thicker on one end than the other...not so easy. So I got a 14-foot 6x6 which weighs about 85 pounds and went after the ends with a power saw and a surform plane so that it's more-or-less round. It's really hard to turn this thing, but the action of picking it, balancing it, and actually tossing it is the same as for a real caber. I got mine for $20, as it was split and the guys at the yard said they'd never sell it, anyway.

B. ) 16 pound stone....I went to the local garden supply and looked at their huge bin of big river stones. They have a sort-of-accurate scale at the yard. I found 2 that were reasonably close to 16 pounds, and roughly egg-shaped, and bought 'em. These stones don't get up to 22 pounds so I don't have a Braemer Stone, but what I have is enough gear to carry around, anyway. These cost me about five bucks.

C.) 16 pound hammer.....go down to the hardware store. Buy a 4-foot long piece of threaded ABS pipe, and a threaded end cap. This will cost you $4. Thread/glue the end cap onto the pipe. Reinforce with 6-7 wraps of duct tape. Now go scrounge three-5 lb dumbell weights with 1-inch holes for the bar. Drop 'em onto the ABS pipe and tape the bedickens out of it all with duct tape. Ta-Daaaaa, 16 pound hammer.

D.) weight for distance/height. Basically, I made my 28 pound weight from used 10 and 5 and 2.5 pounds weights and some plumbing hardware. The weights were surplus weights from the steel yard, and therefore cheap but you could buy new ones. I went to the hardware store and bought a floor flange and a 5 inch riser. The riser is 1-inch in diameter. The weights fit over it just fine....OK, so thread the flange onto the riser and screw it down tight. Now drop the weights over the riser, stacking them up. Now get a 1-inch steel plumbing pipe cap...you can get them with a threaded nipple on them (a reducer) or just plain. Drill out the nipple wuith a 1/4 inch drill. Thread an eye bolt in there, and tighten the nut securely. Now take the cap and thread it down hard on top of the riser. voila, weight! Now you just need a quick-link to attach it to a sturdy handle or a big galvanized ring and you're set.

Tim's bro, Bill showed us this when we worked out with him...

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/8682/heavy/equip.htm

Also:
http://www.saaa-net.org/

[Andrew Green]

Any thoughts on whether picking up a 16lb shot-put would make an ok replacement for a stone if I cannot find a decent one at local shops? I can find the shot on ebay, and maybe local sports stores.