Arkansas Throwers

**hornedhelm** · 16th July 13, 02:46 PM

Hey gents, I'm a newbie to the heavy athletics. I'm looking for anyone in the Little Rock or Central Arkansas area to train with. If you guys know of anyone I'd sure appreciate it. Arkansas seems pretty devoid of highland athletes... and culture for that matter! Thanks much!

**Father Bill** · 16th July 13, 02:53 PM

I'm no heavy athlete, but I know you'll get a response soon enough,

... and Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

**Alan H** · 17th July 13, 10:23 AM

Nobody here that I know of, but go check over at http://www.nasgaweb.com and post in the "newbie" forum and I bet you'll locate someone.

I know guys in Texas, Georgia and Alabama, but not Arkansas.

**hornedhelm** · 18th July 13, 11:38 AM

Thanks for the replies, gents! I've gone through about every available option to find other athletes in the area short of standing at a busy intersection holding a sign that says "Highland Athlete?" Come to think of it, this may not be a bad idea. Perhaps if I set a hat on the ground I can bum enough money for my traveling expenses to the Tulsa games in September...

**sydnie7** · 18th July 13, 01:58 PM

Have you contacted organizers of Arkansas Scottish Festival to find out who organizes their games? You might get a semi-local contact there. Link at bottom of that page says contact Jimmy Bell, Director - Scottish Heritage Program and provides an email and phone number.

**hornedhelm** · 18th July 13, 02:06 PM

Thanks I will certainly shoot the fella an email. I planned to attend the Lyons College games this past go 'round but they cancelled the competitions for some reason. I was hoping to make some contacts then. Hopefully they will have enough interest to have the games next year. I believe the Lyons College games are the only ones left in Arkansas.

**Alan H** · 19th July 13, 12:49 PM

You know, when I started, I didn't have anybody to train with. I mean, I threw with Tim C a fair bit, and my second season I threw with another Master pretty often, but Tim didn't know any more than I did and the other Master is one of those guys who doesn't "help" much...we just threw together a lot until I started beating him and then he disappeared.

So go get some rocks....16 pounds and 22-23 pound more or less.
Make a hammer
make a weight
find a tree with a branch to throw over.

Look at hundreds of YouTube videos..... and start throwing.

It's what I did.

**sydnie7** · 19th July 13, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by hornedhelm

Thanks I will certainly shoot the fella an email. I planned to attend the Lyons College games this past go 'round but they cancelled the competitions for some reason. I was hoping to make some contacts then. Hopefully they will have enough interest to have the games next year. I believe the Lyons College games are the only ones left in Arkansas.

Careful then, you might find yourself becoming their next Games organizer LOL

Good luck with it all.

**Martin Roy** · 19th July 13, 02:56 PM

Ditto what Alan said. When I started throwing 4 years ago at age 56 I didn't know a single person who threw. I got the bug, started obsessively watching video and lifting weights. I signed up for my first game at Woodland never having seen or touched an implement. However, I learned a tremendous amount at the Game and was completely hooked on throwing. Driving home with my brother, we began planning how to acquire or make throwing gear. Our first throwing practice took place about a week later; I've been training continuously ever since.

Find a rock to practice stones. Kettlebells are good to start with for practicing footwork for wfd and wob, and for getting used to throwing something that weighs more than a softball. Load up 3/4" conduit with 5lb plates, cut it to 50", and you have a hammer.

Now just go throw.
Do it again.
Repeat.