2010 Progress

[jgorley]

Well, I have made it to five games so far. Unfortunately only one of them has entered numbers on Nasga. So I am guessing on the actual numbers. The season is shaping up nicely.

Event-----------Goal---Season Record
Heavy Stone----33'----31+'
Open Stone-----45'----40' (Exactly, two throws in a row, in the same game!)
LWFD-----------68'----64'8.5"
HWFD-----------33'----30'6"
16# Hammer----105'---104'7"
22# Hammer-----84'----81'10"
WOB------------14'---12'
20# Sheaf-------28'----23'
Caber----------A Turn-So far, no turn.

Overall I am on track to make my goals for the season.
Hammers have made a huge jump. Now If I could just get the WOB and Caber to come along.

I will post some more videos soon!

How are your goals coming along?

James

[o1d_dude]

Solid numbers! Especially the hammers.

Wish I could say the same. Hit 67'6" with heavy hammer this past weekend but only 82' with the light. On the plus side, I tossed the 16# bag over the top of the standards (23'6") so I'm fairly confident in giving a good account of myself in the sheaf at the Masters Worlds in Denver. We rarely contest the sheaf down here in Cali so it's all about the practice throws. Here's a snap of a couple of forks I made...



Glad to see you finally got a turn on the caber. It's a mental thing when something resists you like that. You've got to believe you can do it.

Throw far.

[jgorley]

Glad to see you finally got a turn on the caber. It's a mental thing when something resists you like that. You've got to believe you can do it.

Throw far.

Well, I guess I was not clear. The goal is a turn, so far no turn this year. But thanks for the positive reinforcement! Great forks!!!!

[Detroitpete]

J,

Nice goals and good work towards them. Ahh...my experience with the caber is that when I stop thinking about it, I usually do well (that's because I'm only 5'7"). Key is practice. Get a caber that is tough to turn and keep at it.

Old dude---now those are SWEET forks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are a man of wisdom and style!

[Alan H]

Nice forks!!! Please oh pleeeeeese bring them to Monterey!

[jgorley]

J,

Nice goals and good work towards them. Ahh...my experience with the caber is that when I stop thinking about it, I usually do well (that's because I'm only 5'7"). Key is practice. Get a caber that is tough to turn and keep at it.

I have one, 17'+ and 96#. I turn it usually 1 out of 4 times. I could toss the same caber in comp and not get close, like 60 degrees. I think that I am just over thinking it. I just need to toss the dang thing!!

[Detroitpete]

I have one, 17'+ and 96#. I turn it usually 1 out of 4 times. I could toss the same caber in comp and not get close, like 60 degrees. I think that I am just over thinking it. I just need to toss the dang thing!!

I've gotten fairly good a picking cabers and as long as they are under 110-120 lbs, I can give em' a go. Anything over 20 feet and I'll bet you I won't turn it--just too long for a short guy like me---unless they are very light.

---but---

Last games, I wasn't paying attention during my first run at the caber--just sort of 'checked out' at the exact WRONG time.

I picked the thing and for some reason, just forgot to drop my hands under the caber! I'm standing there with a bear grip on the sides of the trunk about 4 inches from the end. So what does a smart feller like me do???

I grunt, squeeze harder and braemar toss the thing for a 50 degree mark.

The judge--a friend of mine says, "Pete, I believe that's the ugliest thing I've EVER seen in a Highland Game. It is even worse than your one-spin-one-legged WFD"

[Alan H]

I have one, 17'+ and 96#. I turn it usually 1 out of 4 times. I could toss the same caber in comp and not get close, like 60 degrees. I think that I am just over thinking it. I just need to toss the dang thing!!

I'd say to get a slightly smaller one...or even better, get one about the same size but more top-heavy. Get something you can turn 3 out of 4 or 4 out of 5 times. Throw it and throw it and throw it and throw it and throw it some more until you get the timing down. At least, that's what I did and suddenly I started turning cabers in competition. This season I've gotten a turn at every Games so far, though the one at Santa Cruz was pretty pathetic.

OK, well....I also spent the whole winter in the weight room!

It's all *pop* in the legs, right? OK, and timing, too. One thing that my friend Jim told me that helps is that when you heave that sucker, reach for the sky at the finish. "Shake hands with God" is what he said. That will keep you from quitting the throw too early, and losing that last foot or so of pop.

Maybe do some fast squats in the gym...moderate weight, say 75% of your max, but move the weight really fast, or do dumbell snatches off the floor. Power cleans....lots of power cleans: move that bar from the knees to the chest as fast as you can by popping it up with the legs....Anything to develop fast strength in the quads. It's too late for that for Enumclaw, but this winter?

[jgorley]

Well, the season is progressing nicely and I have made some big jumps in my numbers. After the Bitterroot games last weekend here are my current PRs.
Heavy Stone 24# 32'11"
Open Stone 15.5# 40'
HWFD 32'6.75"
LWFD 66'9.5"
HH 86'10"
LH 110'8"
WOB 12'
20# Sheaf 24'
16# Sheaf 29'
Caber 15' 91# 12:30 (a small A Caber, but turned it 2 times...celebrate the small victories!)

Still have at least 2 games to go. Good luck to all as we near the end of the season! Stay safe, stay strong and throw far!
James

[Alan H]

I STILL think you should come down for Pleasanton.

Good marks, all of 'em.