Caber Toss: why long sticks give you trouble

Caber, highland games, mckim -

Caber Toss: why long sticks give you trouble

It can all crumble at the end if you're not careful. You might have an amazing "pick" that just drops into your hand cradle, a high carry that allows you to drive the stick with speed, and a quick gather step that puts you in just the right position to finish the throw ... but now what? I've seen it countless times in competitions and all too many times to me. When, and how, should we pull the caber?

Timing
This is such a hard, hard thing to coach, as it all depends on the length of the caber - that is, physics wise. Now, this won't surprise anyone, but I'm no genius thrower. I never have been, and never will be. You see, I'm a simple man and I like my throwing to be as simple as possible, too, as I believe it equates to fewer errors. I'd like to give you "x" recipe for long sticks and "y" recipe for short sticks, but I just can't. I have to make it more simple than that.
I was once told I needed to initiate my pull as soon as the caber left my shoulder. I've really stuck with that through the years, as it works better than the other cue I hear a lot; "pull as soon as the caber passes your eyes." I've found that when I do that, I pull far too late.
Think of it this way, as soon as you stop running, the caber is slowing down. Once you stop applying speed to it, it's no longer gaining - you're losing. Whatever the visual you need, realize you will rarely EVER hear the words, "Wow. You just pulled too early." I've only seen this a few times in my career, as the opposite is almost always the case. I feel I can best say it this way: pull sooner than you think you should or need to.
Now, I do have a small "recipe" for a long stick, but it's not really a "recipe;" more of a microwave meal.
Longer cabers fall much slower than the shorter, heavier cabers. You'll hear throwers say, "I just can't get it off my shoulder." That's code for, "Wow, this caber is huge," or, "Wow, this caber is long." To help with that, you've got to give it some shoulder. As you're driving the caber and sprinting down the field with the speed of a deer, fleet-footedness of a mountain goat and the physique of a Greek statue, throw your shoulder forward into that stick when it comes time to pull. This helps speed up the top of the caber and gets it falling faster. This "recipe" is important, and none more critical when it comes to a long caber (20'+). Admit it, you've always enjoyed throwing your weight around.

Pull
The pull is such a critical component of the throw, and is the final piece to turning big sticks and getting 12:00's awarded. The big thing to remember is that you aren't throwing it out away from you - you want an upward pull. Letting your hands get out and away from your body on the pull limits your power and control of the caber. Instead, think of pulling the caber up and through your chin. Pull fast and pull hard, but don't stop those hands! I hate seeing people stop their hands at chest level - it completely kills the caber's speed and your power to flip it. Follow through! Finish with your hands up and over your head.
Lastly, use your legs. My absolute best pulls have always included me actually leaving the ground. If I am in a caber funk, I can usually accredit it to a few things, and if I'm struggling with heavier or longer sticks, my lack of "pop" off the ground is a part of it.

So, in short, the caber is super easy, right? Wrong. Get your time in with one in your hands - you'll be glad you did, and so will the crowd.

156 comments

  • kim

    People actually believe there is no cure for herpes due to what our medical Doctor’s do always say to us. But now I know that there is a cure for it Through herbal remedy i and my boyfriend was once having HSV1&2 . I contacted Dr Onobun for herbal treatment and he prepared us some herbs which we take for some couples of days, and we take it as he says before 2 weeks’ i and my boyfriend was perfectly cured from it and never experience any Outbreaks again. please friends if you have herpes virus and you really want to get rid of it permanently, Kindly contact this great herbalist Dr Onobun for herbal treatment and you will get rid of it permanently .. truly truly home remedies works perfectly. you can email him at dronobunspiritualhome@gmail.com or directly on his WhatsApp contact +2348051300199

  • charlotte adams

    Few months ago, I found myself in a suicidal situation one of which could have taken my life having lost access to my Bitcoin. I became so depressed that I had to inquire on how to recover lost digital asset them I stumbled upon a review that spoke about “ TROJANHACK CYBER SECURITY COMPANY who became my guiding light.

    I had lost a staggering 7 BTC and 25,000 USDT. it felt as though my whole world was crumbling around me and hopelessness enveloped me. From our very first interaction, their team exhibited a remarkable blend of professionalism, empathy, and dedication that truly distinguished them.

    TROJANHACK CYBER SECURITY COMPANY took the time to delve into my circumstances, patiently listening to my concerns and addressing every one of my questions. They provided a comprehensive overview of the recovery process, outlining the precise steps they would take to reclaim my lost funds. Their unwavering transparency and open lines of communication throughout the entire experience were truly commendable.

    What impressed me the most was TROJANHACK’s profound expertise in the realm of Bitcoin retrieval. They harnessed cutting-edge technology and implemented sophisticated techniques to navigate the intricate landscape of the blockchain. Their meticulous methodology and keen attention to detail were apparent in every action they undertook.

    After countless hours of diligent work, TROJAN HACK CYBER SECURITY COMPANY succeeded in recovering my Bitcoin. The moment I received the news, a wave of emotions washed over me as I can’t hide my feeling of relief, gratitude, and sheer amazement at the incredible feat they had accomplished. TROJANHACK not only restored my lost assets but also rekindled my belief in the possibility of recovering cryptocurrencies.

    Through their innovative strategies and unwavering determination, TROJANHACK CYBER SECURITY COMPANY did not only retrieved my lost BTC but also educated me on the best practices for securing digital assets. Their commitment to client success and professionalism are truly worthy of recognition. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, do not hesitate to reach out to this reputable recovery firm as they are undoubtedly the best in the business, and they will tirelessly advocate for the recovery of your stolen funds.

    URGENTLY HIRE TROJANHACK CYBER SECURITY COMPANY TODAY TO GET SUPPORT IN RECOVERING YOUR STOLEN CRYPTO .

    Email: Trojanhack@qualityservice.com

  • Jack Frampton

    Hello, I’m Jack Frampton from San Antonio, Texas. I want to share my story of how I fell victim to a crypto Ponzi scheme when I came across a phony website pretending to be a genuine crypto exchange, I never knew they created a fake exchange page where their victims deposit cryptos in the hope of their huge profits unknowingly that they were being conned. Morphohack Cyber Service made me realize that I was a victim of these scams after I contacted them when this same exchange website refused to let me withdraw my crypto funds. I was devastated and contacted Morphohack Cyber Service who was able to recover my crypto funds and told me about this scam. I would advise people out there to be more careful and do their due diligence before investing in crypto. Morphohack Cyber Services can be reached via (Morphohack@cyberservices.com & WhatsApp+12136724092)

  • Ava Thorpe

    BITCOIN, USDT, RECOVERY SERVICES FOR FROZEN INVESTMENT AND LOST OF ACCESS TO CRPTO WALLET AND SEED PHRASE ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY SPYHOST CYBER SERVICE. And, they are indeed the best i have came across so far. My name is Ava Thorpe and I am from the United Kingdom. I genuinely attest to the fact that SPYHOST CYBER SECURITY COMPANY is a trustworthy company who are among the best to work with regarding cyber fraud solutions, particularly in the area of money recovery. I nearly lost my credit score and $486,090.00 in funds due to a mistake I made when I wanted to invest with a broker who deceived me into thinking I could become a multimillionaire in three weeks. Fortunately, SPYHOST CYBER SERVICE recovery team were able to recover all of the money I had been scammed. And, I won’t say anything more than to give their contact information. WhatsApp, +1(228) 313-3152 or email, Spyhost@cyberdude.com

  • Neil T. Stover

    I lost 200K after I was deceived into buying fake ICOs by a forex trader and it turned out I was being manipulated into buying nonexistent coins.
    I would advise everyone who intends to go into crypto trading to be wary and avoid these people who pretend to know it all and claim to be forex managers who are only out to steal from you. I’m grateful for the intervention of Morphohack Cyber Service, who was able to help me detect this was a Fake ICO and told me how they were creating these fake and worthless coins to convince their victims in other to steal from them, Morphohack Cyber Service was able to trace the crypto I sent to them to put into this platform, Morphohack retrieved my crypto funds and we reported the outcome of the investigation to the authorities. I strongly recommend Morphohack Cyber if you want to recover your crypto funds from these crypto scammers.
    You can contact Morphohack via the  following:
    WhatsApp: (+12136724092)
    E-MAIL:(Morphohack@cyberservices.com)
    Thanks
    Neil T. Stover

Leave a comment