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

  • Wendy Taylor

    My name is Wendy Taylor, I’m from Los Angeles, i want to announce to you Viewer how Capital Crypto Recover help me to restore my Lost Bitcoin, I invested with a Crypto broker without proper research to know what I was hoarding my hard-earned money into scammers, i lost access to my crypto wallet or had your funds stolen? Don’t worry Capital Crypto Recover is here to help you recover your cryptocurrency with cutting-edge technical expertise, With years of experience in the crypto world, Capital Crypto Recover employs the best latest tools and ethical hacking techniques to help you recover lost assets, unlock hacked accounts, Whether it’s a forgotten password, Capital Crypto Recover has the expertise to help you get your crypto back. a security company service that has a 100% success rate in the recovery of crypto assets, i lost wallet and hacked accounts. I provided them the information they requested and they began their investigation. To my surprise, Capital Crypto Recover was able to trace and recover my crypto assets successfully within 24hours. Thank you for your service in helping me recover my $647,734 worth of crypto funds and I highly recommend their recovery services, they are reliable and a trusted company to any individuals looking to recover lost money. Contact email Capitalcryptorecover@zohomail.com OR Telegram Capitalcryptorecover Call/Text Number +1 (336)390-6684 his contact: Recovercapitalcyberservices.com His website: https://recovercapital.wixsite.com/capital-crypto-rec-1

  • Charles agrimes

    Running the small business was hard enough in itself without having to suffer such stress as loss of access to a Bitcoin wallet. I had put $532,000 into Bitcoin for my business in case of emergencies, but one day, the wallet was nowhere to be seen. I had trusted it to my friend while he managed my financials, little knowing he would prove less than trustworthy. I couldn’t envision the gut-wrenching feeling coupled with a great feeling of folly for having placed so much trust in someone else’s hands. I could not believe my eyes to see that all of my digital fortune was gone. Literally, every second of my busy day froze in disbelief as I tried to conceive the loss. I remembered the hours I had put into building my business, securing my investments, and planning for the future. Now, I was staring at an empty wallet that once held my safety net. This hit me hard-not only had I lost $532,000, but the betrayal hurt further because it came from someone I considered reliable. The emotional toll was huge, and this financial hit could cripple my business. In the midst of my despair, I knew I had to act fast. I went online, searching everywhere for a solution through which I could get back in control of my finances. That is where I came across Digital resolution services. I knew them for recovery related to lost crypto, but also somehow skeptical. At that point, it looked like I had nothing left to lose. I reached out, and with our very first conversation, I gained the impression that they did understand my situation. Their team was nothing short of extraordinary. They approached my case with professionalism and empathy, meticulously explaining the recovery process in clear, simple terms that alleviated some of my anxiety. They set realistic expectations while promising to do everything possible to retrieve my funds. Over the next several weeks, they worked tirelessly, employing advanced blockchain forensic techniques and sophisticated tracking tools that I’d never even heard of before. It kept me informed with constant updates and gave me hope in this desperate time. Finally, it came-the day Digital resolution services recovered my lost Bitcoin. Relief overwhelmed me, and it wasn’t all about the money but control and self-trust in my financial future. This experience taught me the most valuable lesson: never lose control over your own financial security and never put blind trust in anyone. With Digital resolution services, I recovered not only my $532,000 but also learned how to protect my assets better in the future.

    Contact Digital Resolution Services:

    Email: digitalresolutionservices (@) myself. c o m

    WhatsApp: +1 (361) 260-8628

    Stay protected
    Charles agrimes

  • Olivia Higgins

    After I and my husband got married, we relocated to another city and we both got jobs and started working and living together happily. We never had any problems until a colleague of his started doing all she can to get my husband’s attention. I never knew all along what was going until he started sleeping out and making excuses. Things got out of control and he eventually stopped attending to my needs. I knew at that point I needed help so I contacted Dr Isikolo and explained everything to him. He told me all that has been going and promised to fix the problems for me which he did. He cast a love reunion spell for me which reunited i and my husband and he started being the man I always loved him to be just after 48 hours Dr Isikolo worked for me. We are both happy now and it would not have been possible if not for Dr Isikolo.  Contact him if you need any help. His webpage: https://isikolo-temple.com or text him on WhatsApp via: +2348133261196.

  • Destiny

    Dear friends online my name is Destiny Hudson and i live in the USA. I am here today to appreciate the good work of Dr Ogudugu, for helping me curing my HSV 1&2 Disease, I contacted the virus from my Partner, i found out he was cheating on me, so i broke up with him, 2 month later i went to test myself in the hospital when i was seeing sore on my mouth and Private areas, i was diagnosed of HSV 1&2. i tried using the acyclovir medicine but it didn’t help in curing it, i went on a search and found out Dr Ogudugu curing people illness, and so i got his email and i was told how i can get his herbal cure, 3 days later i received his medicine after using it for 2 weeks i was tested again and was confirm negative, today i am totally free. If you are over there looking for solution email: greatogudugu@gmail.com or contact him on WhatsApp +2348163026536 and share your own testimony. And He also has herbal cure for the Following DISEASES, eczema, urethra wart, chronic problems. Herpes, Cancer, Als, Hepatitis, Diabetes, HPV ,Infections, ulcer ETC.

  • Olivia Higgins

    After I and my husband got married, we relocated to another city and we both got jobs and started working and living together happily. We never had any problems until a colleague of his started doing all she can to get my husband’s attention. I never knew all along what was going until he started sleeping out and making excuses. Things got out of control and he eventually stopped attending to my needs. I knew at that point I needed help so I contacted Dr Isikolo and explained everything to him. He told me all that has been going and promised to fix the problems for me which he did. He cast a love reunion spell for me which reunited i and my husband and he started being the man I always loved him to be just after 48 hours Dr Isikolo worked for me. We are both happy now and it would not have been possible if not for Dr Isikolo.  Contact him if you need any help. His webpage: https://isikolo-temple.com or text him on WhatsApp via: +2348133261196.

Leave a comment