Highland games training - be a warrior!

[clancelt]

Ok, we are now entering the off season training period. You have six months until April 30th, Southern Maryland Celtic festival, to get big and strong.

So, I am offering to train anyone who would like to learn how to compete in the heavy athletic events next year. During the game season we have a game almost every weekend all summer long. It's a lot of fun and a great group of guys (and girls).

Ok, the details. I am located in the Annapolis area and train both there and the eastern shore. I can hook you up with people that train just about everywhere. You need to be in decent shape, the weights are heavy. I have all of the equipment and can help you out with gym work that will help you in the sport. Our Amatures here are some of the most competitive in the world. We have many record holders in our ranks.

The weights:

Men under 40 - Open Ams

Stone 16lb - thrown like a shot put
Heavy Weight for distance 56lb
Light weight for distance 28lb
Heavy Hammer 22lb
Caber 16 - 22ft long 90 - 150 lbs
Sheaf toss 16-20lb bag - thrown for height
Heavy weight for height - 56lb

Men over 40 - Masters (But you can still compete with the Ams if you choose)
Same except that the Heavy weight is 42lb instead of 56lb and you throw the light hammer 16lb instead of the 22lb. Generally you throw a smaller caber too.

Women -
All of the weights are lighter, but I don't know the exact weights. We do have access to them on the weekends though. So if you are a girl and want to compete, let me know and we can hook you up!

So, if this sounds like something you would want to do please contact me:

-Eric
My Email
Home phone:410-827-3149

We await mighty warriors!

(P.S. You get to wear your kilt of course )

[switchblade5984]

know anyone in California?

[clancelt]

know anyone in California?

Yep:

Scottish American Athletic Association
David P. Garman, President
326 N. Western Ave. Suite 254
Los Angeles , CA 90004

David Garman email

S.A.A.A's website

Say hello to our left coast brothers ;)

[TimC]

Hey Switchbalde5984, my brother throws and he's up the road form you in Modesto. I'm sure he'd workout with you. let me know.

-Tim

[Alan H]

I've toyed with the idea, and I think it'd be a hoot to work out over the winter and then compete at a couple of the smaller games next summer. It'd be a personal thing, I don't expect to "win" anything. I'd compete at the Masters level.

I have weights at home and a lot of experience throwing shot and discus, and a little bit throwing hammer.

My understanding was that you had to "join up" with a local training group and work with them, so that the organizers knew who you were and could place you accordingly. Also, of course there are liability release forms and so on.

OK so how do I get started. I visited the website linked above, and I see the "join up" form, but what about event training?

[Yaish]

Switchblade, I'm in CA and depending on where you are I can hook you up with a couple of groups. There are two Blacksheep chapters in San Diego and Monterey, a small group near Oxnard, and my group meets weekends in Orange County.

[walkerk]

know anyone in California?

Hi Switchblade. Here's the URL that's on the truck at all the games in Northern California this past summer:

http://www.scottish-heavies.com/

[Alan H]

You know, guys, we could get started locally by getting a 16 pound shot put.
Online they cost less than fifteen bucks...

a 15 pound "fake" hammer could be made from three 5 lb weights bolted into a 50-inch piece of schedule 40 PVC. It's a pound light, but big whoop. Maybe we try that first and move on to the 22 pound hammer, later?

A 25 pound weight for distance could be made from 5, 5 pound weights on a big eye bolt, and a honkin' ring through it.

The 42 pound weight over the bar might be a bit of a challenge, but we could fake it with a 40 pound dumbell. That'll cost $$ though.

I wonder what a 14 foot long, doug fir or hemlock 8 x 8 timber would cost, and if it's even close to 75 pounds. It's a bit small for a caber, since they're usually 16 - 20 feet, but to get started it'd probably work.

[morrison]

I can see that by slight modification to some of the training regimes I currently do, I can strengthen many presently weaker areas of mine to become a competitor.

In the gym, what weight training devices and/or free weights would work for me?

For instance: Caber toss, Would I use a strenous workout regime on the rowing/leg press/chinups/etc.?

I realize that there is no substitute for a caber that will give me the practice of actually throwing the caber. But, the muscle groups can be strengthened and therefore afford me a better turn at losing my balance when it's my turn to flip the caber over! :rolleyes:

The weights:
Stone 16lb - thrown like a shot put
Heavy Weight for distance 56lb (over 40yo. for me 42lb)
Light weight for distance 28lb
Heavy Hammer 22lb (over 40yo. for me 16lb)
Caber 16 - 22ft long 90 - 150 lbs
Sheaf toss 16-20lb bag - thrown for height
Heavy weight for height - 56lb (over 40yo. for me 42lb)

Men over 40 - Masters (But you can still compete with the Ams if you choose)
Same except that the Heavy weight is 42lb instead of 56lb and you throw the light hammer 16lb instead of the 22lb. Generally you throw a smaller caber too.

[Prester John]

For the Caber Toss I'd recommend some heavy sandbag lifting, and some clean and jerks (Olympic lifts are very good for explosive strength).

Best to join a gym and get some good training, or, as I said earlier, seek out Coach Staley.