Preparing for 1st Competition

[Ayin McFye]

Ok, so things fell apart a bit for me to be able to compete at the November Games in Tucson but I still plan to try for the February Games in Phoenix.

My question is this. If there is going to be an event at a games that you've never done before, should you still compete?

Part of the reason why things fell apart for me to compete in November was because I have never attempted to throw a caber and for the C class it's the first event on Sunday, and I figured I'd feel very self concious about going out there and looking like a moron trying to throw the caber for the 1st time in front of everyone.

Now alternative plans have been made and it's too late to change course. I'm still planning on going to the games on Saturday but I won't be competing.

So anyways, back to the question. If you have never done an event before would you still attempt to compete? Or would you want to have tried it at least once before taking the field at a games?

[Sionnach]

Would I compete for a first time at something I have never done before? Sure, but I might ask everyone to turn their backs to me first. No not really, I would find a way to practice.

[jgorley]

Keep in mind that there are tons of people who try Highland games for the first time at the games. Most Novices have never even seen most of the implements. I wish you would have posted this before making the other plans. I would have told you to still try. When you see how most of the people look you will relax. Remember, it is the overall score you want. For me my hammer is my achilles heel. I rock the rest of the board, but have not really improved my hammer since novices. My first game was in June, and I threw the light hammer 75 feet, as an A I have only thrown it 83 feet or so. Train hard and hopefully you will find a caber to try before Phoenix. I am still trying to get to Tucson this year. We will see. It is a financial issue. Plane tickets and entry fee makes for an expensive weekend.

James

[Yaish]

Absolutely you should compete, even if you've never done the event before. There always has to be a first time right? It's not like most of us have cabers in their backyards to practice with. (Ok, several of us DO have cabers in our backyards, but that's not the point)

Too bad you won't be competing in Tucson. The judges will definitely show you the basics and especially safety tips on all the events if you're not sure what to do. Also, other throwers will show you what to do, and give you tips along the way.

Don't worry about doing well, just go out and DO! Highland Games are fun, so enjoy yourself and never worry about who might be throwing further.

[Ayin McFye]

I truly wish I hadn't made other arrangements before posting this to the group. I regret now that I won't be competing in November. I wasn't afraid really of not doing a good throw, I was just really nervous about looking like an idiot. I'm comfortable enough with all the other events that I don't feel that I'd look silly. I was just concerned with the Caber since it looks the most difficult and would have liked to throw one a few times in a park before attempting to throw in front of everyone. Regardless if i was successful wasn't the point. You've all brought up good points though.

Thank you everyone for the great responses. If you're at the Tucson games I'll still come by and say hi and cheer you on. I'll be there on Saturday.

[Cynthia]

I started training the weekend before there was an event here. At the time, we didn't know there would be no novice category and to be honest, I'm not sure if I would have been stuck in the women's category or throwing with novice (I have no clue how this all works, that's how new I am).

On my first weekend, they had me working on WFD (one spin only), and hammer throw (again, only the one start-up spin). I had thrown braemar for a while on Saturday, but I didn't get to practice it Sunday.

That's all I've worked on. I've never even touched a caber and have no clue what events I would even be doing. I heard something -- and I could be wrong -- that novice doesn't throw WFH events here... again, I may have misunderstood that, and even if I did hear it correctly it could just be something in my area. I also know that at these particular Games everyone was gearing up for, there would be a few events that they wouldn't be doing (I could swear it was Open stone).

They wondered if I wanted to compete that following weekend (again, we didn't know there would be no novice category) -- everyone in the group encouraged me and said I could easily do it despite my saying "no". I personally wasn't ready because of the fact that I had literally just started that weekend to even see if I was interested and I wasn't sure I would be able to get any practice time in during the week to be ready for the next weekend. However, I ultimately said "no", because I had a lot of stuff going on at the time and was stressing about things without worrying about my first event. Long story I don't want to get into, but it wasn't the lack of preparation for the Games themselves that had me saying no.

My husband has had two weekends more practice than I have and he wanted to compete. Unfortunately, he never heard back from the person to register with and it turned out there was no novice category anyway. He was disappointed, but understood.

The way we saw it, you are getting out there and giving it a go. Like wearing the kilt with confidence and not worrying about it. If anyone is going to think of you as being not good enough to try the caber or another event you haven't tried or haven't practiced enough, I say let THEM get their behinds out there and try it and see if they can do it even better.

The thing is, do YOU want to do it? Like I said, my husband was game to give it a go, knowing he'd look like the obvious newbie who can't throw as well or far. I'm proud of him as it is, and it didn't take me giving things a try to understand how hard it is to throw the 56lb weight in WFD. I definitely don't have to try tossing the caber to appreciate anyone willing to give it a go -- whether or not they actually turn it or can even pick it up.

My husband has had trouble with a pituitary tumor and has only just started building muscle (he's a big guy, but knew he could be in better shape), and his testosterone levels still aren't where they should even be. When we pulled up for his first practice and saw these guys throwing, he literally slumped in his seat a bit, and whimpered "I'm the smallest one here". He's 6'3" or 4" or so, and weighs a good amount still, but they had more muscle. Still, he took a deep breath, went out and threw with them. They were so supportive and helpful, that his confidence skyrocketed and he was instantly hooked. As for me, I may not be throwing guys' weights, but I sometimes throw their light weights (womens' heavy weights) and talk about feeling like the weakest one out there (I have decent leg strength, but my upper body strength has always lacked). Thankfully, we have some gals who come to practices, so I don't feel like I'm too surrounded by testosterone, but you know what I mean.

I'm going to wait a bit for my first competition, mostly because of stress and financial reasons. The two events coming up are out of town, but had those issues not been there, I might have considered the closer one on November 8th, even if I didn't get enough practice in. I would rather not have preferred my first time with a caber to be at an event, but at the same time getting out there and giving it a try and having fun would have been okay too.

Again, I'm a gal, so I'm not sure how different it is for a guy. I am highly competitive, and it's mostly against myself (I can be very hard on myself when I don't do well enough -- at least how I think I should have done).

I do understand wanting to at least try every event before competing, much less get enough practice in. Again, I would prefer this, but on the off chance my group cannot find a proper women's caber (they're looking, bless them... I love that group!), I'm going to have to get out there eventually, and I definitely plan to start doing events next year.

[Jack Daw]

I wouldn't pick up anything heavy without advice from your coach on proper form and carry. Self-consciousness is the least thing to be concerned about if you might seriously hurt yourself.

[Detroitpete]

Yaish is right--show up and compete!

You NEVER forget your first caber pick ;-)

I've found that our athlete's are some of the nicest guys and VERY helpful. Every event I've competed in, most of the guys spend the time between throws talking technique and teaching eachother. All you have to do is ask--and you'll have several guys helping you out. WE want you to succede and have a fun time too.

I've gotten some of the best coaching I could get--during an event. From a guy saying "Ya know, if you extend your arms just a bit more...lean back a little more--your hammer throws will improve" to full-on quasi-clinics on everything from stones to cabers.

Show up--have fun, listen, ask , learn--and again have fun! ;-)

[BigMikeLV]

You can always come up to Vegas in April for our games...