'splain THIS!??

[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.

[jgorley]

I haven't thrown since my last competition in October. I haven't done much of anything except for work. I've worked out a couple of times each week, but since my knee still isn't up to it yet, my squats are light and I've basically have just lfted to stay in some for of shape until I decide on an off season training regime.

So...

I decide to throw my gear into my truck and go throw on my day off (made a sweet KILLER caber hacked down from a 14' 6X6).

And...

My stones looked like I shot them out of a cannon!!!! WHERE was this during competition? My form didn't seem any different. The only difference I noticed was right at the power position/hip block (the place I call "the Crank") I felt more in the groove and stronger--and BAMM.

Again--I'm only 5'7ish and 189lbs right now--and both my Breamar and light stones 'popped' out there.

Hmmph...maybe I should'nt 'train' so hard during the season???

Thoughts????

Pete,

I have had the same happen to me. My "Achillies Heel" is the hammer. I usually throw 75 to 77 feet. I took 3 months off and was throwing consistantly 80+ feet with the light hammer Saturday. Really I wasn't trying, just focusing on the release. My coach says my swing was really long and relaxed. I was really supprised with the last 2 throws being each 87 feet. Maybe I should take more breaks!

[Detroitpete]

James,

87 feet!!!!!! I'd retire after a toss like that ;-) Seriously though...I think the breaks are a good thing. I'm already looking at my schedule for next year and think that ONE event per month may give me the time in between I need to rest. This year I think I pushed it just because I was so glad to be able to compete after my injury.

I also know what you mean about a relaxed swing/focusing on release. I'm throwing better in the rain and snow now than I was during this summer. I think it's a combination of being relaxed and just letting my form 'happen' and not being too tense that I shorten my arms and try to muscle the hammer.

Too bad the "Frozen Stones" are too far away for me to travel ;-)