Ok, this first weekend in September brings the first really cool evening - I understand snow flakes were seen just south of Calgary in the foothills - and the Highland games. For those that are not familiar with this competition, it generally consists of competitions in highland dance, bagpipes and drums, and a number of manly activities testing one's strength.
Now I say manly, but you must remember that these activities are performed by men in skirts, and they come from the same origins that brought us that other great game ... golf. Ok, so it may not be great, often being the primary cause for the onset of (at least in me) Tourettes Syndrome - you know - the disorder that leads to involuntary swearing and knee jerk reactions like throwing your clubs, kicking the ball, etc.
Of coarse, the first thing I would want to do, walking around in a skirt, is to show how manly I am by throwing a big rock. This would definitely enhance my manliness. Who better to demonstrate this but Rick Mercer (Canadian comedian) who made an appearance at the games filming his weekly show. Bully for Rick holding his own, given the lads that were competing in these events were extremely large guys.
Of coarse, failing getting the attention of the fairer sex, they turned to the next obvious strength competition - throwing a tree. Now I assume they cut the branches off because they catch the hem of the kilt in flight, creating embarrassing moments for all concerned. The caber toss, as it is known, consists of the trunk of a small tree being lifted and tossed using two hands. once thrown, the participant simply struts back to the starting point, clearly in awe of all the babes.
The next event - throwing the weights, consists of throwing a 56 lb weight (25 kilos) (lesser men - read old farts - use 42 lbs weights) over a horizontal bar. Not only do they toss the weight with one hand over a height 14 ft or higher, but as gravity is a factor they need to dodge it on the way down. This dodging is done cavalierly, often without looking at the weight, waiting until it is accelerating to a skull crushing speed. Anything to attract women.
And the hammer throw. I am curious if this is the precursor to the olympic event. Note that the participants do not spin, instead they twist to release the hammer..
Now I say manly, but you must remember that these activities are performed by men in skirts, and they come from the same origins that brought us that other great game ... golf. Ok, so it may not be great, often being the primary cause for the onset of (at least in me) Tourettes Syndrome - you know - the disorder that leads to involuntary swearing and knee jerk reactions like throwing your clubs, kicking the ball, etc.
Of coarse, the first thing I would want to do, walking around in a skirt, is to show how manly I am by throwing a big rock. This would definitely enhance my manliness. Who better to demonstrate this but Rick Mercer (Canadian comedian) who made an appearance at the games filming his weekly show. Bully for Rick holding his own, given the lads that were competing in these events were extremely large guys.
Of coarse, failing getting the attention of the fairer sex, they turned to the next obvious strength competition - throwing a tree. Now I assume they cut the branches off because they catch the hem of the kilt in flight, creating embarrassing moments for all concerned. The caber toss, as it is known, consists of the trunk of a small tree being lifted and tossed using two hands. once thrown, the participant simply struts back to the starting point, clearly in awe of all the babes.
The next event - throwing the weights, consists of throwing a 56 lb weight (25 kilos) (lesser men - read old farts - use 42 lbs weights) over a horizontal bar. Not only do they toss the weight with one hand over a height 14 ft or higher, but as gravity is a factor they need to dodge it on the way down. This dodging is done cavalierly, often without looking at the weight, waiting until it is accelerating to a skull crushing speed. Anything to attract women.
And the hammer throw. I am curious if this is the precursor to the olympic event. Note that the participants do not spin, instead they twist to release the hammer..
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