Highland Games Basics: Caber Carry

Highland Games Basics: Caber Carry

When I first started throwing, I struggled greatly with the caber, and that’s no exaggeration. Just ask some of my fellow HASA members and they’ll tell you.. So, I did what any newbie would do - I turned to YouTube. Through my rigorous research, one man kept coming up as a dude who crushed monster cabers; legend was that there wasn't a caber this guy couldn't turn. Mike Smith is this man's name, and I quickly decided that if I want to be even pedestrian at this event (it took me five games before I even turned my first one), I had better replicate what this man was doing. His "pick" was pretty standard, but it was his carry that set him apart. Mike Smith would carry the stick so high, it was almost at shoulder level, it seemed. In each instance I saw, he made a conscience effort to get the caber positioned higher.  I'm no smart man, but I did the math:

Dude turns more monster cabers than anyone
+
No one carries it like him
____________________________ 

Worth trying

Now, before I describe a caber carry or even defend it, know that I'm not saying there aren't plenty of different, and successful, ways to carry a caber. I'm just explaining how I do it and how I coach it.

We've already gone over the "pick" so let's jump into the carry. Once you've gathered yourself after catching this huge toothpick, work your hands up to chest level. So, what you have now is you're holding the caber with your elbows bent and the stick tucked in tight against your neck and shoulder.  It doesn't matter what side you carry the caber on (I throw right-handed but carry the caber on my left side), just that you're comfortable with the caber and feel as if you can somewhat control it … yeah, I know, I know..

I like to carry it high for a few reasons:

Less Drop - When I'm about to pull the caber and flip it, the "drop" of that caber is critical. If you jump stop your approach (don't, by the way, but again, more on that later), you're fighting yourself. The lower my carry is, the longer pull I have at the finish, and the more momentum I have to fit as I pull that stick all the way up. With a high carry, I can more easily hit that explosive finish position I want, without having to drop down in the basement to gather for a big turn.

Tight Shoulder - I want to feel in control of the caber. The higher I hold it and the tighter it is against my chest, shoulder and neck, the more control I feel that I have on it. I can pull it in closer to my body as needed for counter-balance and more easily give it a final "nudge" when it's time to pull it (more on that in another section). This all leads me to the last reason ...

Drive the Caber - I think a lot of people make the mistake of a simple mindset; don’t just run with the caber, drive it! With a high carry, I can really drive the caber - kind of like a football sled. You cannot carry a sled and run, you have to drive it forward – let’s do the same with a caber.  I even go to the extreme of keeping my head down during the entire "drive" phase.  In my thought process, if I can apply forward force to the caber, then I am speeding up the top end of the stick, making it that much more likely to turn.

And if you've not Googled Mike Smith by now, I've done you the favor of linking one of my all-time favorite caber tosses.

Carry on. 

 

751 comments

  • CNC Intelligence

    RECOVER YOUR LOST CRYPTO ASSETS WITH CNC INTELLIGENCE.

    CNC Intelligence is a team of Cyber Intelligence, Crypto Investigation, Asset Tracing and Offshore Legal experts. Working together to form a boutique cyber and crypto intelligence group focused on providing results.
    Using the latest Cyber Tools, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and cutting edge technology, we provide actionable intelligence to our clients.
    WHY CHOOSE CNC INTELLIGENCE?
    - Expert Cyber Investigation Services —Our cyber investigators are certified in the US, UK and experienced with investigations spanning 6 continents.
    - Cryptocurrency And Digital Asset Tracking -- We are able to track the movement of several different cryptocurrencies and assets. If the cryptocurrency has been moved, we are able to follow it.
    - Strategic Intelligence For Asset Recovery - The first step to recovery is locating recoverable assets. Our experienced team will be able to walk you through the process.

    Schedule a mail session with our team of professionals today via – cncintel247 (@) gmail (.) com to get started immediately.

    BEWARE of FABRICATED reviews and testimonies endorsing fraudsters, do not get scammed twice.

    Disclaimer: CNC Intelligence is not a law enforcement agency and not a law firm. Like all investigators, we cannot guarantee specific results, but we apply our expertise and resources to every case professionally and ethically.

  • Anthony

    Personal growth is important for achieving success in life. All these words were shared with me by Lord Meduza, who performed a spell reading for me and created a lottery spell that turned me into a lottery champion of $112 million here in Arizona. Within 48 hours of adhering to all of Lord Meduza’s divine instructions, he granted me the chance to use the divine lottery numbers to enter the lottery after I bought my ticket in Tempe. A week later, I was informed that I had become the fortunate Jackpot winner of the game, and this was all made possible by Lord Meduza. Kindly express my gratitude to him for his impactful words and actions. For a transformative opportunity, contact him via
    Email: Lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com
    Call/WhatsApp: +1 807 907 2687
    You can also search him on Facebook via: Lordmeduzatemple

  • lisa

    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. Seek options: (dronobunspiritualhome@gmail.com or directly on his WhatsApp contact +2348051300199 )

  • Roy Stubbs

    The importance of acting quickly and seeking help from the right people is never to be overlooked, as this saved me from losing $190K of my hard-earned money after I fell victim to a crypto investment scam.
    I was able to recover my crypto funds because I acted quickly and sought help from people and the internet. I was directed to Morphohack Cyber Service by my friend and I went online quickly to research Morphohack Cyber Service and found several reviews about them and their successes in the recovery of crypto. I was very eager to see what they could do about my case, and they didn’t disappoint me as Morphohack Cyber Service was able to recover my crypto successfully. I was truly pleased by their response and efforts, it was very refreshing to see that there are amazing people like them out there who care about this and do all they can to help you recover your crypto. I’ve put their contact information below this post.

    Morphohack@cyberservices.com
    WhatsApp: (+1) 213 –  6724092

  • muriel halley

    I never thought my grandmother’s book club would save my crypto fortune, but life is full of surprises. In the mayhem of moving into a new apartment, I mislaid my hardware wallet containing $400,000 in Bitcoin. I had packed it securely-at least, that’s what I thought-but after unpacking every single box, it was nowhere to be found. First, I kept my cool. It had to be here somewhere, right? But when hours turned into days, my confidence crumbled. I tore through bags, checked jacket pockets; I even looked in the fridge in sheer desperation. Nothing. Next came panic: Had I thrown it out accidentally? Had the movers taken it? I couldn’t get this vision out of my head that somehow my fortune had poofed into thin air. Frustrated and exhausted, I mentioned my predicament to my grandmother during a phone call. Instead of the usual “You should be more careful” speech, she surprised me. Oh, I’ve heard of a company that helps with that!" she said cheerfully. I almost dropped the phone. My grandma knew about crypto recovery? Turns out, her book club had a guest speaker, a retired cybersecurity expert who raved about Digital resolution services. She even remembered their website. At this point, I would have tried everything. I contacted them, and from the first conversation, I knew I was in good hands. Their staff was professional and patient, above all confident. They asked for detailed questions relating to my wallet, where I last saw it, and how it was backed up. Days later, they cracked the case. Using forensic data recovery and some advanced tracking techniques, they helped me regain access to my lost Bitcoin. It was a feeling of relief that cannot be described because I went from utter dejection to pure joy in a moment. More than a recovery service, Digital resolution services taught me something: never underestimate grandma’s wisdom. Now, my hardware wallet is stored safely, with multiple backups, and I will never forget this lesson: when Nana talks, I will listen.

    Don’t fall victim, reach out to Digital resolution services for any cryptocurrency related issues.

    Email: digitalresolutionservices  @   myself.com

    Website: digitalresolutionservices.com

    Be safe
    muriel halley

Leave a comment