I'm giving it a go

[HeathBar]

I had a blast! It was different being involved in that part of the games. We were away from the clan tents, but we had a good group of spectators up till about 2 o'clock. I guess it was just too hot to sit and watch. All the guys were real good about advice and encouragement no matter how short your throw was.

[Detroitpete]

Welcome to the brotherhood!!!!! I hope that you experience what has become the norm in my area. You show up, say hi to old friends and meet new ones, laugh hardily, throw for all your worth (then forget it and move on to the next event) encourage others, laugh even harder...

And truely enjoy another day above the turf with the sun on your face and your muscles just a bit sore from healthy, brotherly competition.

[JolyStNicholas]

Advice? Hum!!!

1. Hang tuff !!
2. Don't get discouraged !!!
3. Do your best !!!!!
4. Have a grand time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're all behind you 100%..........

[HeathBar]

I've come to the conclusion that I will never be a competitive thrower. I have too many other things going on to dedicate the time it takes to be a competitive thrower. But I enjoy the competition. Not necesarily the competition against the other throwers, but the competition between what I do this time as compared to what I did last time. So I have my first one under the belt. My plan is to do better the next time. If I still come in last place, so what, as long as I improve something, it was worth it. That's the way I see it.
I don't need shiney medals. They'll only get stuck in a drawer. Some of these guys were on their 14th game of the season. My guess is they don't have wives. If I do 2 or 3 a year, I'll be happy.

[ScottEPooh]

I think that's a great outlook man! You may have inspired me. I too have been in the "I'd like to do that...someday..." tent for a couple of years now. Of course, I am also wildly out of shape. Did you begin a lot of weight training before throwing?

[HeathBar]

I think that's a great outlook man! You may have inspired me. I too have been in the "I'd like to do that...someday..." tent for a couple of years now. Of course, I am also wildly out of shape. Did you begin a lot of weight training before throwing?

You'll never know unless you try. I say go for it. No one will fault you if you can't throw it like everyone else. Heck, my best throw on the HWFD was 15 feet and that was underhanded with no spin. When I tried it with a spin it went 8 feet. I was not able to even pick the caber. I was able to get on my shoulder, but I could not control it enough to throw it. But that was the first time I had ever TOUCHED a caber. Weight over bar...8 feet was my best. They told me I was holding on to the weight too long, so that is something I will work on. Sheaf toss...14 feet was the best I could do. Unless you have a fork, sheaf and standard, its pretty hard to practice that. My best events were the LWFD and the Hammer. Even though I was still behind the others, I did better than I thought I would.

I had about three weeks to prepare. I built some homemade pieces and lifted a few weights. My office has a small gym with some free weights. I did just enough to familiarize myself with heavy things. I did this maybe 3 or 4 days and I spent about an hour or so one Saturday throwing the homemade weights. Could I have spent more time, yes. Would it have helped, probably not. At least not in three weeks.

Next step for me is to make some lighter weights. Something I can handle well enough to work on technique. Then add a little weight each session. I may try for some games in September in Chicamauga.

[Alan H]

You'll never know unless you try. I say go for it. No one will fault you if you can't throw it like everyone else. Heck, my best throw on the HWFD was 15 feet and that was underhanded with no spin. When I tried it with a spin it went 8 feet. I was not able to even pick the caber. I was able to get on my shoulder, but I could not control it enough to throw it. But that was the first time I had ever TOUCHED a caber. Weight over bar...8 feet was my best. They told me I was holding on to the weight too long, so that is something I will work on. Sheaf toss...14 feet was the best I could do. Unless you have a fork, sheaf and standard, its pretty hard to practice that. My best events were the LWFD and the Hammer. Even though I was still behind the others, I did better than I thought I would.

I had about three weeks to prepare. I built some homemade pieces and lifted a few weights. My office has a small gym with some free weights. I did just enough to familiarize myself with heavy things. I did this maybe 3 or 4 days and I spent about an hour or so one Saturday throwing the homemade weights. Could I have spent more time, yes. Would it have helped, probably not. At least not in three weeks.

Next step for me is to make some lighter weights. Something I can handle well enough to work on technique. Then add a little weight each session. I may try for some games in September in Chicamauga.

This is a smart way to go about it.

You know, I have invested probably $300 in "stuff"...from cleats and turf shoes, to lumber for some cabers, to weights to a made-for-me light weight for distance, to disposables like hammer handles. Add in the cost of signing up for games...about 5-6 Games a year at $25 a pop, and this is some cash.

I practice 2 x a week (more or less) from early March through mid October. I lift weights once-twice a week during the season and 2-3 times a week during the winter. This is a lot of time, but compared to some guys, it's nothing. I know guys who practice every day! Personally, this old body simply can't deal with that. If I practice more than 2x a week, I will hurt myself.

All of the above, said, I'm pretty serious about it, and I know lots of guys who don't practice nearly as much as I do. You just need to find a "place" that works for you and try to do better next time. It's not about "beating the other guy" at our level. It's about competing with yourself.

[beowulf67]

I'm a little late chiming in on this, but better late than never, etc etc.

Heath, I'm glad you enjoyed the games, it was great having you there and I hope I did OK as a newbie judge.
We had a good group with quite a few first time throwers in it so everyone was learning and very helpful. Once you get into it, it is like a big family. You may see someone just once or twice a year but every games becomes like a reunion. One of the things I always enjoyed was that the best athletes on the field will gladly take time to offer advice and encouragement to the new guys, unlike in some other sports where they will do their best to keep you from getting better.

I hope you get to come back next year and maybe I'll see you around some of the other games.