'splain THIS!??

[Derek Conley]

Detroitpete, I'm curious; I'm only 5'6" or so and 175lbs, and always considered myself to short, really, to do much of anything with Highland games. Am I totally incorrect? I have a "stocky" build but the height thing has always deterred me.

[jgorley]

At some of the games there is a lightweight division. I believe it is the under 190# division. And I am pretty sure they use the masters weights. The 42 pounders, instead of the 56. I have a friend who is 5'2" and about 150lbs, and he wants to try it next season! Good luck to you. As for the real thread, I know many A division throwers who take the entire winter off and set new PRs in early season. We all need a break sometimes!!

James

[Detroitpete]

Detroitpete, I'm curious; I'm only 5'6" or so and 175lbs, and always considered myself to short, really, to do much of anything with Highland games. Am I totally incorrect? I have a "stocky" build but the height thing has always deterred me.

Sometimes I get lucky and because I'm over 40 years old, get to throw in a Masters Division--but again, that doesn't mean they're all lightweights like me.

The thing is--you and I are about the same size and hey--if I can do it--so can you. The hardest events for us smaller guys can be the 56 WFD and WOB. Buy heck, toss that chunk of iron around and do you're best--at the end of the day you can be proud that you gave it your all.

I've been able to compete with Masters weights and with other lightweights and it's great too. So come on in--you'll LOVE it. We need more lightweights in the Games!

You can believe that at a good Games--when small guys like us pick a monster caber--the crowd REALLY knows the work and effort we're putting forth and responds well.

I've had the fortune of being in games with some of the best pro throwers in the world--and they appreciate us small-guy am's too.

I've met some of the best guys out on the field--there's VERY few with any sort of primadonna attitude. Somehow, you just can't have that and play these games--it weeds out guys like that.

So--Come on out!! Give it a whirl--my guess is you'll get hooked like the rest of us--and if we meet out on the field--I'll by the first round (AFTER we toss the caber)

[Ryan Nielson]

Detroitpete, I'm curious; I'm only 5'6" or so and 175lbs, and always considered myself to short, really, to do much of anything with Highland games. Am I totally incorrect? I have a "stocky" build but the height thing has always deterred me.

I would recommend to anyone don't start with the assumption that you have to be competitive or win your division to participate in highland games. My brother is about 5'7" and 310lbs. not athletic, nothing comes natural to him, he tries to improve a little each time. But he honestly doesn't really care how he places. He enjoys it tons and wants to compete at every event in the area and have a lot of fun. Nothing wrong at all with this type of guy competing. He takes it seriously and respects it but he is there just for the comradarie and good times too. He definately has the respect of everyone who practices with him no matter what numbers he's putting up.

[Derek Conley]

So--Come on out!! Give it a whirl--my guess is you'll get hooked like the rest of us--and if we meet out on the field--I'll by the first round (AFTER we toss the caber)

Ah ha! I may just hold you to that.

Now, my problem is not knowing anyone in the area who competes; we have a bunch of Games around though, so I know they're there.

Are there places online you could suggest looking at for informative reading?

I would recommend to anyone don't start with the assumption that you have to be competitive or win your division to participate in highland games. My brother is about 5'7" and 310lbs. not athletic, nothing comes natural to him, he tries to improve a little each time. But he honestly doesn't really care how he places. He enjoys it tons and wants to compete at every event in the area and have a lot of fun. Nothing wrong at all with this type of guy competing. He takes it seriously and respects it but he is there just for the comradarie and good times too. He definately has the respect of everyone who practices with him no matter what numbers he's putting up.

Now that right there is inspiring. Kudos to your brother!

[Alan H]

Ah ha! I may just hold you to that.

Now, my problem is not knowing anyone in the area who competes; we have a bunch of Games around though, so I know they're there.

Are there places online you could suggest looking at for informative reading?



Now that right there is inspiring. Kudos to your brother!

Search around YouTube for keywords "Highland Games", weight over bar, scottish hammer, caber, stuff like that.

Active forum for athletics: http://www.nasgaweb.com

I'm Alan H there. If you go up on the "for newcomes" forum and say you're in FL and want to practice, I bet you'll get a response.

i want to re-interate that FACT that this sport is not just for gigantoid humanoids, only. Nobody is getting rich and famous doing this, we all just do it for ourselves. TimC from this forum throws in the 40+ Masters and he's about your size.

[jgorley]

I second that! I do it for the friendship and fun of competition. If it were for the money I am way in the hole!! Lets see, the approximate cost of each game, food---$15, lodging---$60, gas---$100, entry fees---$25....season winnings---$100.....lets see....yup, I am losing money! Isn't it great!! I love every minute of it! Nasgaweb, the fountain of Highland Games knowledge. I visit it almost daily, just to keep up on the news. I also like to keep up on the rankings, just for fun. I like to see how my fellow competitors are progressing. It feels good when you throw with them and work on a few pointers, and the you can see their numbers improve.

James Gorley
B class

[SteveB]

Hey Gang it's about the fun.
I am 6'1" and about 190 lbs. at 57 years old. I go to the Games with the idea of participating in the show. I occasionally do well with the caber. Most of the time I do less than well. In every occasion I have fun and enjoy the friendships that the overgrown toothpick has given me. I have tossed with world champions beside me as well as other amateurs like myself. All of us enjoy the work of presenting the Highland sports to the audience. The very rare occasion of a good sound twelve o'clock is all I need to keep up an interest in these ancient sports. The twelve o'clock doesn't even have to be mine. Just the thrill of being on the field when it happens, and congratulating the person that tossed it.
Go for the enjoyment. There is no Caber Hall of Fame, and I hope there never is.